Including Electives in your Homeschool Curriculum Choices
When choosing homeschool curriculum one of the subjects we often over look is elective courses. Homeschool Curriculum Electives could include things like music, art, foreign language, life skills and so much more. While these may not be core subjects, they are also subjects you shouldn’t ignore when making your homeschool curriculum choices.
If you stick around here at all you know I am all about not only high school electives but life skills as well! While we include music, art, life skills, and even some foreign language into the younger years of homeschooling, I find it super important to be sure you are using your high school electives wisely – you can do this by including things your teen might be interested in and being sure they have the essential life skills they need to function outside your home!
Finding Homeschool Curriculum Electives
Have you heard of The Homeschool Buyers Co-op?
- With over 190,000 families, the Homeschool Buyers Co-op is the worlds’ largest buyers club for homeschooling families. They use their purchasing power to get their members (that you and me!) the best deals anywhere for homeschool curriculum. {Disclaimer: this post is sponsored by Homeschool Buyers Co-op and the links included are affiliate links. Please see my full Disclosure Policy for more details.}
- Their mission is to find the very best curricula for each subject, grade, teaching style, and learning style. We are interested in quality, not quantity.
- Every deal on their website represents the best value anywhere for that product. {To the best of their knowledge.} If that’s not the case, let them know, and they’ll fix it!
- And it’s FREE to Join!
Beyond the homeschool curriculum you can purchase, they provide a wealth of free resources and services that can support you on your homeschooling path. Check out:
- The world’s largest database of free Homeschool Curriculum.
- An incredibly cool FREE Homeschool ID Card generator.
- An amazing guide to Field Trips that are ideal for homeschooling families.
- A free Summer Fun Reading Program that encourages and rewards reading.
- And many more! Look under “Free Resources” in the left margin and to the top right side of the site in the header menu.
The Homeschool Buyers Co-op has an award-winning selection of electives, including typing programs, health curriculum, driver’s education, foreign language learning, arts and music programs, critical thinking programs, and more. It’s also a great resource for including things like music and art in the younger years, as well as more complex things like Driver’s Ed, Psychology, and Personal Finance in the high school years.
Homeschool Curriculum Elective Choices
While there are many courses/products to choose from, here are just a few I thought I would highlight for you.
1. HomeSchool Piano
HomeSchoolPiano video and PDF lessons can teach your students how to become fully expressive piano players who are as comfortable creating music as they are reading music.
Program at a glance:
- After purchase, you own ALL of the material. No monthly fees
- You can download all of the music and lesson videos for offline access
- You learn to read music as well as improve your ear
- HSP can be perfect for absolute beginners at the piano
- The program takes most students 18-36 months to complete
- 18 units are broken into 6-steps which you can download or review as often as you like!
- 18+ hours of video with our proprietary virtual keyboard which lights up each key
**Special Notice: Great News! HomeSchoolPiano has a FREE for Summer subscription offer that ends August 31, 2017! Click here to register for free access today! When you’re ready to buy, come back & join the GroupBuy on this page by August 31st!
2. Middlebury Interactive Languages
We have used Middlebury Interactive in our homeschool for multiple years. While my elementary aged daughter loved and used it, we also plan on using it for upper level Spanish in high school!
You can check out my review of Middlebury Interactive and then hop over to The Homeschool Buyers Co-op to save 24%!!
3. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) Homeschool Electives
HMH High School Electives Homeschool Programs not only revolutionize and enhance instruction, but they also engage, inspire, and encourage the love of learning. They provide tools that help students connect with the content, see its relevance and importance in their lives, and integrate strategies and support to help them experience success.
The Homeschool Program Features include:
- High-interest features to illustrate relevance
- Critical thinking and active learning features
- Access the textbook chapters online using easy navigation methods.
- eActivities: Chapter-specific online activities, interactive maps, video, and section assessment and online quizzes, along with eResources such as graphic organizers, the Holt World Atlas, the Current Events page, and other online tools and resources.
- Chapter and section resources
- Section and chapter review assessments
- And more!
By joining this GroupBuy offer, members save 25% on Holt McDougal High School Electives Homeschool Programs.
Here’s where to get more information about Holt McDougal Electives Homeschool Programs:
- Visit the Holt McDougal Psychology and/or Sociology web page on the HMH website for more information.
- Review the HMH Homeschool Catalog pages for Holt McDougal Electives Homeschool Programs.
4. Driver’s Ed.com
With DriversEd.com, students enjoy state-approved online drivers education course that lets them learn at home and on their own schedule. DriversEd.com is approved by the Road Safety Educators Association and the Driving School Association of the Americas.
With DriversEd.com, you enjoy:
- Online convenience and fun, interactive lessons.
Access to the course 24/7 for as long as needed with engaging online lessons that help you learn essential safe-driving skills. - Complete and up-to-date information.
Get the latest defensive-driving information and rest assured that the course includes everything you need. - Instant online feedback.
With strategically placed quizzes, you get instant feedback that helps you pinpoint exactly where to focus your study efforts. - Free unlimited practice permit tests.
Prepare for the written permit test, with free unlimited state-specific practice permit tests (in most states).
After you complete the course, DriversEd.com will mail your Certificate of Completion free of charge. In addition, with the completion of this course, teens can enjoy potential savings of up to 10% off their auto insurance. Please speak to your insurance agent to determine eligibility.
DriversEd.com offers state-approved drivers ed in all states that certify online drivers education: Arizona, California, Georgia, Idaho, Minnesota*, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia. In all other states, DriversEd.com offers quality drivers education that teaches teens essential safe-driving information and can provide potential savings on auto insurance.
5. Dave Ramsey’s Personal Finance Curriculum
SAVE UP TO 60%
on Dave Ramsey’s Personal Finance Curriculum
for Kids and Teens
This GroupBuy features Co-op Member Favorites:
-
- Foundations in Personal Finance: Middle School Edition for Homeschool – Dave’s curriculum for middle school level students; it’s the premier curriculum for teaching middle school students about money. Bonus: Two free activities for you to try out at home! See below for details!
- Foundations in Personal Finance: High School Edition for Self-Study (Digital) – Dave’s newest curriculum for high school students is a fully online self-study edition with the same great content as the print edition!
- Foundations in Personal Finance: High School Edition for Homeschool – Dave’s industry-leading curriculum for high school level students; it’s the premier curriculum for teaching high school students about money. Bonus: Two free activities for you to try out at home! See below for details!
- Financial Peace Jr. – Tailored for ages 3-12, Financial Peace Jr. will get your students prepared the right way for a strong financial future.
- Junior’s Smart Saver Bank – Teach your kids how to give, save and spend! The Smart Saver bank is completely revised and redesigned.
- Book Title Favorites – ‘Rhinoceros Success’, ‘Start’, ‘The Legacy Journey’, ‘Total Money Makeover’ and MANY MORE! We all know that leaders are readers, and readers are leaders. With tons of titles to choose from, you can help your whole family continue the road to success.
- And much more!
The Bottom Line Here?
Don’t fret over electives! There are tons to choose from and at the best prices you will find!