September 2, 2026 – Their Electives Today May Become Their Careers

Hey, Mama!

Gena Suarez, Publisher of TOS

She Screeched Across Kansas

Hey, Mama,

We call them electives. The extras. The fun stuff we get to if there is time left over after the real work is done.

My Chloe picked up a violin at nine. I figured it would go the way these things usually go: a few weeks and then the closet. Then we drove from Tennessee to California for a homeschool convention, and she played that thing the whole way. She screeched us clean across Kansas. It hurt every ear in the van. We let her keep going anyway.

She taught herself. She is sixteen now. She teaches violin and guitar, and towns and cities hire her to play at their events. She learned the marketing from me and runs the business herself.

I did not see any of that in the van. I just heard the screeching.

So let them explore. Let her try something this year and drop it next year if it was not hers. Put it on the schedule instead of the leftovers, and give it real hours on the transcript, because it is real work.

“Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings” (Proverbs 22:29, KJV). Diligence has to get built somewhere. It might as well get built in the thing she already loves.

They are not just filling a schedule, Mama. They are learning what diligent hands can do.

“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men” (Colossians 3:23, KJV). We never know where an interest will lead. But work done heartily unto the Lord is never wasted. The skill may feed her one day. The diligence is hers for life.

His hand is on your head, Mama. Always.

—Gena

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Hal and Melanie Young

The Benefits of Well‑Chosen Electives

At homeschool book fairs, people rush in first to get the curriculum for the basics. Things like reading and literature, math, and science are the top of the list; electives come later if there’s money in the budget left. Certainly, the core subjects are crucial, but don’t overlook the benefits of well-chosen electives!

One of our sons was interested in business from a young age and ran an online business as a teenager. Melanie arranged several high school electives on business topics for him, and he pursued the subject in college. Today, he has a career in finance and a successful real estate business on the side. 

One of our daughters showed a talent in drawing as a child, so we gave her as many opportunities as we could to explore artistic media, techniques, and history, alongside her English and biology. By high school she was teaching co-op classes in art; in college she had professional commissions and internships; now she is finishing a dual degree in studio art and graphic design. 

All our kids had politics and economics as high school electives. Several were intrigued by the subjects, and three went on to major in economics and political science. One of them is now a professor! 

Is there a topic that fascinates your student? It may not be required to graduate, but it might be an early taste of your student’s future! Be sure to leave time for the extras—they might end up being the most important things of all. 

Your friends,

Hal & Melanie

P.S. Get several free resources for homeschooling high school at RaisingRealMen.com/idea !

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About the author

Hal and Melanie Young have been homeschooling almost as long as they’ve been married, and they’re still happy with both decisions! They wrote My Beloved and My Friend: How to Be Married to Your Best Friend Without Changing Spouses to encourage their young adults – find out more at raisingrealmen.com.

American School offers affordable, accredited, print and online courses in grades 6-12, with full-year programs and individual subjects available. Visit www.americanschool.org to learn more.

Mercy Every Minute

Deborah Wuehler, TOS Senior Editor

The Power of Electives

We should never underestimate the power of electives in a child’s life, as they just may grow into careers they love. One adult child is living their dream on a ranch because of their volunteer involvement as a child. One child finds their joy in athletics. Several of the children’s musical interests led to positions as worship leaders, music instructors, and orchestra performers. One child’s American Sign Language class at nine years old, put him on a path to a career as a Certified Deaf Interpreter. One child’s art classes and computer interests led to a career as Art and Media Director. There is power in electives.

God is not only a communicator; God is an artist. He loves music. He is a Creator. If we want our children to be like Him, we should not dismiss these avenues in our instruction. We might call most of these areas electives.

Electives could be involved in the shaping or revealing of God’s gifting within your child. Even if none of the kids become artists or musicians or sports stars, they will all grow in knowledge and Godly character if they are trained to be like Him in these areas. 

Your students will understand the creativity and artwork of God Himself through observing His creation, or worship Him through music and fine arts. He molds and shapes each child for the good works He created for them to do, and sometimes we find that out when they are in an elective that brings them great joy. 

Often, there is a bigger vision that we don’t see and God is leading and taking us places we never thought of. God is faithful to give us opportunities to put before our children. We don’t know which activities will ignite the flame of our children’s future, but God does. As we allow God to guide our homeschool path, He brings forth what He knew all along was in each child.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10

~Deborah

More from the pages of The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine:

Choosing the Best Electives by Jan Burt

Art Education: More Important than One May Think by Dr. Heather Allen

Dramatic Teaching: Recognizing the Importance of the Arts by Joy Kita

The Divine Source of Musical Creativity by Sarah Carson

Planning a Homeschool Photography Course for Fun or Developing a Career by Naomi Musch

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Heidi Mosher

An Honest Look at Electives (from a Mom who Overscheduled)

They have to want it

My sister, who also homeschooled, often repeated, “They have to want it,” while planning out the kids’ electives for another homeschool year. My kids proved her wisdom. I found out that sports or instruments can equal misery when a child isn’t interested. They truly do have to want it.

Train for adulthood (not just for jobs)

Electives are valuable as early career training, but children aren’t only training for jobs. They’re training for adulthood. Even now, they are learning how to manage stress, make choices, balance family life. Too much devotion to electives can run a family ragged, teach the wrong lessons.

Consider the cost

Every “yes” to an elective means a “no” to something else. That’s the cost of opportunity. Time is a finite resource. The years are quick! Electives, while valuable and fun, necessarily include hours spent driving or waiting in the car, meals on the run, missed opportunities for lazy evenings.

You’ll know you’ve invested too much of your schedule in electives when you’re relieved at a cancellation. (I welcomed the reprieve of snow days!)

With full realization that I have morphed into the little old lady in the grocery store gazing wistfully at a young family and sharing enjoy-it-while-you-can wisdom, I offer a final thought: My kids appreciated the opportunities our full schedule provided and tell me they wouldn’t have changed much. Looking back though, I wish I would have elected to keep my little family home more. 

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About the author

Heidi Mosher is a writer and editor, honored to contribute to The Homeschool Minute, as it was a lifeline of her early homeschooling years. She is thankful to be the mother of four: three recent homeschool graduates and one in high school.

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” The age-old question implies the reality that there are numerous options available as career paths and income opportunities. Homeschoolers have a unique advantage of time, resources, and parent involvement that can help them hone in on their interests, passions, and skills that would carry over into potential career fields. Do you have a future accountant? A budding photographer? Perhaps your child would benefit from Career Exploration to consider the options. Involve your child in the decision process as you help encourage new learning through the SchoolhouseTeachers.com Electives options.