Choosing middle school electives - any strategies we should be aware of?

[Anonymous]

Anything that will make it easier to get high school credits in 8th/take more electives in high school/etc.? Can middle schoolers take summer PE to be able to do more electives or is that only high school?

[Anonymous]

Middle school PE is a good time for kids to get a break during the school day and build friendships. Please don’t look at your child’s middle school experience as a step in the rat race. Let them take developmentally appropriate classes and be in the here and now.

Electives are a chance to try new things or develop a hobby or skill. Middle school students need to work on being good humans and enjoying life, not planning years ahead. It’s a fleeting moment in their lives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Middle school PE is a good time for kids to get a break during the school day and build friendships. Please don’t look at your child’s middle school experience as a step in the rat race. Let them take developmentally appropriate classes and be in the here and now.

Electives are a chance to try new things or develop a hobby or skill. Middle school students need to work on being good humans and enjoying life, not planning years ahead. It’s a fleeting moment in their lives.

If you read the OP correctly, you would see that my child wants to be able to take more electives. This isn't a question about AAP vs AP etc., electives do help kids enjoy life/develop a hobby or new skill.

[Anonymous]

You can only take online pe in high school.
Many students take their first year of language in 8th grade to be done by 11th/12th and be able to take more electives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Middle school PE is a good time for kids to get a break during the school day and build friendships. Please don’t look at your child’s middle school experience as a step in the rat race. Let them take developmentally appropriate classes and be in the here and now.

Electives are a chance to try new things or develop a hobby or skill. Middle school students need to work on being good humans and enjoying life, not planning years ahead. It’s a fleeting moment in their lives.

If you read the OP correctly, you would see that my child wants to be able to take more electives. This isn't a question about AAP vs AP etc., electives do help kids enjoy life/develop a hobby or new skill.

Op asked about getting high school credit so yeah it is.

[Anonymous]

The one thing we were told is not to take foreign language 1A because it spreads a language credit over 2 years and is kind of pointless. Just wait until 8th and take foreign language 1 in a single year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anything that will make it easier to get high school credits in 8th/take more electives in high school/etc.? Can middle schoolers take summer PE to be able to do more electives or is that only high school?

MS students do not have the option to take summer PE.

Foreign language for HS credit might start in 7th grade, there are different programs at different schools.

Engineering is a pretty popular elective at schools so be aware of that.

[Anonymous]

Skip foreign language completely until college. They won’t use it before then unless it’s Latin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Skip foreign language completely until college. They won’t use it before then unless it’s Latin.

Over on the College sub-forum there was a many, many pages long thread about UVA expecting AP foreign language from admitted applicants (where offered), so I don't know that I'd take this advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Skip foreign language completely until college. They won’t use it before then unless it’s Latin.

That's terrible advice. Many (most?) colleges require it for admissions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The one thing we were told is not to take foreign language 1A because it spreads a language credit over 2 years and is kind of pointless. Just wait until 8th and take foreign language 1 in a single year.

That only works if the middle school offers "1" and "2" of the language the kid wants. Ours unfortunately is just 1a and 1b.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The one thing we were told is not to take foreign language 1A because it spreads a language credit over 2 years and is kind of pointless. Just wait until 8th and take foreign language 1 in a single year.

That only works if the middle school offers "1" and "2" of the language the kid wants. Ours unfortunately is just 1a and 1b.

Well, our school said just take things you like in 7th and then just 1 in 8th. 2 would be in 9th. But yes, they school has to offer 1.

[Anonymous]

If they take Math 7 HN in 7, they can take Algebra in 8th.

Also, if your school offers foreign language, they can take 1 in 7th and 2 in 8th.

They can take HPE 9 after 8th grade to open up another elective in their 9th grade year.

[Anonymous]

Some electives are a full year and others only a semester, so help your kid think through what they're interested in as they prioritize.

Otherwise, we let our kid do whatever they wanted in 7th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some electives are a full year and others only a semester, so help your kid think through what they're interested in as they prioritize.

Otherwise, we let our kid do whatever they wanted in 7th.

Also don't stress too much. Our school basically guarantees you will get your language elective and you can try out for band and chorus which locks those in, but otherwise 7th graders often don't get their first or second choices