Some parents are not aware of the offerings of two-year colleges. With the recent modifications to the Advanced Placement Program that now make it difficult for homeschoolers to participate, it is reassuring to know that four-year schools look more highly on excellent grades earned in CC classes than on superb AP scores. In addition, CC classes can also provide a homeschooled student with the objective recommendation letters the college application process requires.

No matter what method you and your students choose to study their elective topics, remember to let the students lead the way. They must understand what needs to be learned and commit to doing so with enthusiasm. These should be the studies that fascinate and energize them!

Music Performance – Music Appreciation; Music History; Advanced Music Theory; Italian; Composer & Style Studies; Composing; Conducting; German.  

Carpentry/Contracting – Geometry; Word Processing/Power Point; Spanish; Advanced Algebra; Three-Dimensional Drawing; Computer-Aided Drafting; Leadership in Business; Residential Electrical.

Catering Business – Nutrition; French; Web Design; Business Communication; Business Math; Safety & Sanitation; Business Law; Time Management.

Participate in Extracurricular Activities

Extracurricular activities are at the heart of a passion-driven education. Through such focused activities, our teens can truly learn and grow. Think of extracurricular studies as all of the learning that takes place outside of books. The more of this real-world style of learning we can incorporate into our children’s lives, the better. The key component in our teens’ quest to reach their dreams is to relate their volunteer work, apprenticeships, clubs, and employment directly to their passions.

Listed below are activity ideas that would work well for our three fictional students. These activities demonstrate the students’ long-lasting commitment to their individual interests. Don’t let the lists overwhelm you though. Some of these are weekly events, while some take place monthly, and some would only occur once a year. I am not implying that a student must be involved with this many outside activities in order to develop and prove his or her passion.  

Teens (along with their parents) must determine what amount of involvement works best for them. For instance, students wishing to earn merit scholarships will want to make sure they are involved with several worthwhile activities that shine a bright light on their gifts and emphasize their leadership skills. Alternatively, students heading directly into the workplace might concentrate more on their apprenticeships and related academics. Teens have gained a reputation, perhaps undeservedly, for changing their minds (we adults, of course, would never think of doing such a thing...), but if they have used their high school years to explore and develop their passions through many avenues, they are giving themselves as many options as possible when graduation day arrives.