If you’re using the ACE curriculum for your homeschool or Christian school, the main content areas of English, Math, Science, and Social Studies are pretty straightforward. Just keep working through the 12 PACES at one level, and move on to the next level!
But sometimes you have a teen who just struggles with a subject area and needs an alternative. For instance, I’ve had students do a year of Creation Science, or Health and Nutrition, instead of slogging through physics or chemistry.
Or maybe you have a student who is just really “into” Biological sciences and wants to do Marine Biology or Advanced Human Anatomy . . . though ACE doesn’t have those courses there is a way you can meet that need.
What should you do for a Bible course each year of high school?
Should you include music, art, foreign language, speech, computer, home economics, shop, small engine repair, graphics design, photography, first aid, etc?
Electives are a good way for you to personalize the curriculum for a teen, tailoring it to his interests and abilities. Sometimes electives can be assigned to keep an excelling student busy and growing in a new area.
How do you give credit for electives on a transcript?
If it happens to be a PACE elective, then it’s easy — 6 PACES is 1/2 credit, and 12 PACES is full credit! If you are using a different curriculum, or making up a creative course like “Home Economics”, then keep track of skills learned and time invested. Four hours each week (120+ hrs for the year) is equivalent to one credit. Two hours a week (minimum 60 hours for the year) would be a 1/2 credit. You can even assign 1/4 credit for something that is faithfully an hour a week.
Here are some electives that many homeschoolers include on their transcript:
- Physical Education – 1/2 credit for regular exercise, perhaps participation in karate or a team sport
- Music – 1/2 credit for taking piano lessons and practicing 20+ min per day (I give full credit if they are committed and perform a few times)
- Home Economics – 1/2 credit for learning new skills with baking, cooking, meal preparation, sewing, crochet, etc. I don’t think teens should earn credit for cleaning their room and helping with household chores.
Electives Lists and Reviews
I have compiled some lists and reviews of ACE electives and courses and some alternatives that will work well in a an ACE homeschool or school setting:
- Bible electives
- Fine Arts electives
- Science – alternative courses
- Math – alternative courses
- Foreign Language (coming soon . . . but we use Rosetta Stone and offer 4 different languages this year in our school)
- Computer and Business – check out this source
Very timely. Thank you so much.
Excellent suggestions
Great info but concerned. What ACE examining board recognises this electives like home economics and physical education?
It sounds like you are in Europe or some country other than the U.S. You would need to check with your regional accreditation organization about approved credits. This article is probably more applicable to homeschoolers in the U.S.