Teacher Maria B. Out of all of the unique middle school electives, this one is probably the most common. However, many schools do not begin their theatre programs until high school, even though middle school is the perfect time to get students on the stage. Acting can inspire confidence in kids and allow collaboration and communication between groups of students.
Students can practice scenes from well-known plays, work on improvisation activities, and even put on a play of their own for the school or greater community. Teacher Katelyn G. It was outside of my comfort zone but quickly became one of my favorite classes! It is important for our students to know where the food they are eating comes from, so why not teach it to them?
Science teacher Erica T. What better way to make students feel comfortable in the classroom than to help them with the learning process itself? Best geared towards 5th or 6th graders, this class walks students through daily academic strategies such as note-taking, time management, backpack organization, and test-taking.
These skills will be not only useful in middle school, but also in high school and beyond. And because they are highly engaging, electives play a role in keeping our students on campus—especially those reluctant learners and ones who struggle academically. The power of engagement, however, is not limited to students alone. Teach one that helps fuel your teaching flame. Teachers are helping to create master schedules that reflect a variety of interests—from gardening to digital storytelling.
Create a class that helps lure students to learning in a way that engages you as well. The Power of Connection Students also reported in the nationwide survey I conducted that they need to be more connected to the adults on campus. Electives Support Core Classes Electives can also do double duty as vehicles for core content standards. Elective teachers can provide evidence of the learning happening by doing three key things: Encourage annotation when students read texts related to the elective topic.
Utilize pre- and post-assessments to show growth in related informational reading comprehension. When Teachers Are Engaged The fact is, while many consider electives the B story in a school, they can, in fact, set the tone for a campus and play a huge role in engagement. This option is an ideal choice for students who aren't sure which elective to take, and it may give them the opportunity of figuring out what most interests them.
It can be exciting to have choices for different classes, and a little planning in advance can make the most of the opportunity for your child.
Consider the time commitment. Before your child signs up for an elective, they should know a little about what that particular class requires from the students. For example, if your child signs up for band, there will probably be a few required concerts that your child must commit to performing in. If your child signs up for theatre arts they may be required to stay after school at certain times during the year to prepare for a play or other production.
It's important to know how an elective will impact your child's schedule before signing up for the class. Allow your child to choose. You may have been in the band when you were in middle school, and maybe you hope that your child chooses band as their elective.
While it's important to stay involved in your child's middle school experience , it's also important to allow your child to make a few decisions on their own.
If your tween is really excited about taking art or theatre class, then it's likely that your child will put a lot of effort into the class, and hopefully get a lot out of the class.
Demanding that your child takes an elective that they aren't keen on taking will only set the stage for resentment and even a bad grade. Think ahead.
Many middle schools will allow your child the option of choosing a different elective every year. For example, your child may take art in seventh grade, and home economics in eighth grade. Make sure that you understand whether or not electives your child is interested in have prerequisites.
For example, can you take Art II in eighth grade if you didn't take Art 1 in seventh grade? Think ahead when helping your child choose their electives. If your child's school offers a few elective choices, after-school activities may be a great way to introduce your tween to other learning experiences. Local museums may offer after-school activities, as may your local library. Enrichment opportunities are a wonderful way to broaden your child's education and infuse some fun into it as well.
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