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Electives

We're not exactly sure who determines what are electives and what are "core" subjects, or why. Okay, maybe math is more useful than tracing your family tree because you can't balance your checkbook using scions and second cousins. But what about your family history, and the history of, say, Guam or Haiti? Is there something inherently better about reading "the classics" than learning Mandarin Chinese? Why are physics part of the main coursework for high school students, while robotics is optional?

Unfortunately, we aren't qualified to answer those questions, but we can defend electives on another level. Electives are essentially those subjects best suited to a student's personal interests, talents and abilities. In that sense, they're almost more important than core subjects, though we aren't going to make an argument that you should learn French before mastering English grammar (as long as you live in an English-speaking area, that is). We are arguing for advances beyond the necessary "standards," however, and for a broad curriculum that is child-specific.

Some electives are more important than others. Learning to manage one's money, how to interpret the Bible, and (these days) how to operate and understand computers are all more important than taking an acting class (though the acting class will be very important for some on a different level altogether). Technically, none of these are required courses, though for Christians particularly the first two are essential for a proper education. There are plenty of similarly important topics as well, though each family will need to prioritize.

There seems to be a move toward less specialized education. As our society becomes increasingly homogeneous, we spend less time focusing and more time absorbing "the big picture." We ignore either one at our own risk. We must have a larger framework in which to fit the smaller pieces, but take away the framework and you're left with relativity and chaos; the smaller pieces, and you have only an impersonal and meaningless ideology. Electives are a way to assert the need for both, and to have fun doing it.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he is a husband and father, teaches adult Sunday school in his Presbyterian congregation, and likes weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur.Read more of his reviews here.
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20 Exciting Plays for Medieval History Classes
by Dean Bowman
from Walch Publishing
for 7th-9th grade
in Middle Ages (Location: HISW-MID)
$25.00
All New Square Foot Gardening
by Mel Bartholomew
3rd edition from Cool Springs Press
for Adult
in Gardening (Location: SS-GAR)
$24.99
Art of Interpretation
by Nicholas R. Elledge
from Institute for Cultural Communicators
for 9th-12th grade
in Speech & Debate (Location: SPEECH)
$10.00 (2 in stock)
At Play: Teaching Teenagers Theater
by Elizabeth Swados
from Farrar, Straus and Giroux
for 7th-Adult
in Theater, Drama & Film (Location: ELE-THEAT)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Backyard Homestead
by Carleen Madigan
from Storey Publishing
for Adult
in Self-Sufficiency (Location: SS-Self)
$18.95
Bankruptcy Of Our Nation
by Jerry Robinson
from New Leaf Press
for 10th-Adult
in Economics Resources (Location: ECON-REF)
$15.99
Best of Sewing Machine Fun for Kids
by Nancy Smith & Lynda Milligan
1st edition from Possibilities
for 4th-8th grade
in Sewing, Knitting & Crocheting (Location: SS-SEW)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Better Homes and Gardens: Annuals Perennials and Bulbs
from Meredith Corporation
for Adult
in Gardening (Location: SS-GAR)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Botanical Gardens - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Dot Barlowe
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Flowers & Plants Coloring Books (Location: COL-BOT)
$4.99
Child Star
by Lydia Weaver
from Viking Press
for 4th-7th grade
in Great Depression (1929-1939) (Location: HISA-20GD)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
City Gardener's Handbook
from Random House
for Adult
in Gardening (Location: SS-GAR)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Coding for Beginners Using Scratch
First Edition from Usborne
for 3rd-7th grade
in Computer Literacy (Location: ELE-COMP)
$9.00 (1 in stock)
Coding Games in Scratch 3.0
by Jon Woodcock
from Penguin Random House
for 3rd-6th grade
in Computer Literacy (Location: ELE-COMP)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Colour Schemes for the Flower Garden
by Gertrude Jekyll, introduced and revised by Graham Stuart Thomas
1983 revised edition from The Ayer Company
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Gardening (Location: SS-GAR)
$7.00 (1 in stock)
Common Weeds - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Stefen Bernath
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Flowers & Plants Coloring Books (Location: COL-BOT)
$4.99
Contained Garden
from Viking Press
for 10th-Adult
in Gardening (Location: SS-GAR)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Country Flower Drying
in Crafts & Hobbies (Location: SS-CRA)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Cutting Garden
by Sarah Raven, foreword by Penelope Hobhouse
from Reader's Digest
for Adult
in Gardening (Location: SS-GAR)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
David Hicks Garden Design
by David Hicks
from Routledge & Kegan Paul
for Adult
in Gardening (Location: SS-GAR)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
DK Eyewitness: Film
DK Eyewitness Series
by Richard Platt
from Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.
History Reference for 4th-8th grade
in Theater, Drama & Film (Location: ELE-THEAT)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
DK Ready Set Grow!
from DK Publishing
for 3rd-6th grade
in Gardening for Kids (Location: SS-GAR)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Do People Grow On Family Trees?
by Ira Wolfman
from Workman Publishing
in Genealogy (Location: XFA-GEN)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Don't Make Me Think
by Steve Krug
2nd edition from New Riders
for 9th-Adult
in Career Planning (Location: HSR-CAR)
$27.00
Down & Dirty
by Ellen Zachos
1st edition from Storey Publishing
for 7th-Adult
in Gardening for Kids (Location: SS-GAR)
$19.95
Failure to Connect
by Jane M. Healy
1st edition from Simon and Schuster
for Adult
in Brain Development & Learning Styles (Location: HSR-BRAIN)
$17.00 $12.00 (1 in stock)
Family/Consumer Sciences
1st edition from A Beka Books
for 11th-12th grade
in Home Economics Curriculum (Location: SS-HOMEC)
$20.00 (5 in stock)
Family/Consumer Sciences - Lab Manual with Recipes
from A Beka Books
for 11th-12th grade
in Home Economics Curriculum (Location: SS-HOMEC)
$10.00 (4 in stock)
Family/Consumer Sciences - Quiz/Test Key
from A Beka Books
for 11th-12th
in Home Economics Curriculum (Location: SS-HOMEC)
$4.00 (2 in stock)
Family/Consumer Sciences - Quizzes/Tests
from A Beka Books
for 11th-12th grade
in Home Economics Curriculum (Location: SS-HOMEC)
$4.50 (5 in stock)
Favorite Roses - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Ilil Arbel
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Flowers & Plants Coloring Books (Location: COL-BOT)
$4.99
Favorite Wildflowers - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Ilil Arbel
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Flowers & Plants Coloring Books (Location: COL-BOT)
$4.99
Floral Bouquets - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Charlene Tarbox
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Flowers & Plants Coloring Books (Location: COL-BOT)
$3.99
Flower Garden - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Ruth Soffer
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Flowers & Plants Coloring Books (Location: COL-BOT)
$4.99
Fruits & Berries of the Pacific Northwest
in Gardening (Location: SS-GAR)
$7.00 (1 in stock)
Garden Almanac
by Penelope O'Sullivan
from Hearst Books
for Adult
in Gardening (Location: SS-GAR)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Garden Flowers - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Stefen Bernath
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Flowers & Plants Coloring Books (Location: COL-BOT)
$5.99
Gardener
by Sarah Stewart & David Small
from Sunburst Book
Realistic fiction for Kindergarten-4th grade
1998 Caldecott Honor Book
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$8.99
Gardening With Children
from Brooklyn Botanic Garden
for 3rd-8th grade
in Gardening for Kids (Location: SS-GAR)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Gardening Wizardry for Kids
by L. Patricia Kite
from Scholastic Inc.
for 4th-6th grade
in Gardening for Kids (Location: SS-GAR)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Give Me a Hand! History Skits 1942-1945
by Rebecca Locklear
for 8th-12th grade
in Theater, Drama & Film (Location: ELE-THEAT)
$12.00
God of the Garden
by Andrew Peterson
from B&H Books
for 10th-Adult
in Creating Culture (Location: XCU-CRE)
$17.99
Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!
by Laura Amy Schlitz
from Candlewick Press
for 5th-9th grade
2008 Newbery Medal Winner
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$12.99
Great Ancestor Hunt
by Lila Perl
from Clarion Books
for 4th-6th grade
in Genealogy (Location: XFA-GEN)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Green Thumbs
by Laurie Carlson
from Chicago Review Press
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Gardening for Kids (Location: SS-GAR)
$10.00 (2 in stock)
Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades
in Gardening (Location: SS-GAR)
$4.00 (2 in stock)
Home Economics Family/Consumer Sciences - Teacher Edition
from A Beka Books
for Adult
in Home Economics Curriculum (Location: SS-HOMEC)
$21.00 (1 in stock)
Homesteading
by Abigail R. Gehring
2nd edition from Skyhorse Publishing
for 9th-12th grade
in Self-Sufficiency (Location: SS-Self)
$27.95
Illustrated Encyclopedia of World Costume
by Doreen Yarwood
from Dover Publications
for 9th-Adult
in Diversity & Multicultural Books (Location: HISMC-MUL)
$22.00 (1 in stock)
Interpretation of Dreams
by Sigmund Freud
from Basic Books
for 12th-Adult
in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19)
$12.99
Invention of Hugo Cabret
by Brian Selznick
First Edition from Scholastic Inc.
for 4th-6th grade
2008 Caldecott Medal winner
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$29.99
Jesus of Nazareth
by William Barclay
from Collins
for 3rd-7th grade
in Theater, Drama & Film (Location: ELE-THEAT)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Keeping Financial Records for Buisness - Textbook & Teacher's Edition
10th edition from Thompson Learning
for 9th-12th grade
in Consumer & Career Math (Location: MATR-CON)
$65.00 (1 in stock)
Keyboarding & Document Processing - Teacher Guide/ Solution Key
2nd edition from A Beka Books
for 10th-12th grade
in Computer Literacy (Location: ELE-COMP)
$28.00 (1 in stock)
Keyboarding & Document Processing - Teacher Quiz/Test Key
2nd edition from A Beka Books
for 10th-12th grade
in Computer Literacy (Location: ELE-COMP)
$8.50 (1 in stock)
Keyboarding & Document Processing - Quiz & Test Book
2nd edition from A Beka Books
for 10th-12th grade
in Computer Literacy (Location: ELE-COMP)
$5.50 (2 in stock)
Keyboarding & Document Processing - Quiz & Test Book
2nd edition from A Beka Books
for 10th-12th grade
in Computer Literacy (Location: ELE-COMP)
$5.50 (2 in stock)
Keyboarding & Document Processing - Quiz/Test Key
2nd edition from A Beka Books
for 10th-12th grade
in Computer Literacy (Location: ELE-COMP)
$8.50 (4 in stock)
Keyboarding & Document Processing - Solution Key
by A Beka
from A Beka Books
for 10th-12th grade
in Computer Literacy (Location: ELE-COMP)
$4.00 (2 in stock)
Keyboarding Skills
from Educators Publishing Service
for 3rd-6th grade
in EPS Writing (Location: WRI-EPS)
$32.39
Language of Flowers
by Kate Greenaway
from Dover Publications
for all ages
in Poetry Anthologies (Location: POET-ANTH)
$6.95
Language of Flowers - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by John Green
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Flowers & Plants Coloring Books (Location: COL-BOT)
$3.99
Learn to Cook & Sew with a Home Economics Course - Set
Sunrise Edition from Christian Light Education
for 6th-12th grade
in Home Economics Curriculum (Location: SS-HOMEC)
$34.50 (1 in stock)
Life of Fred: Financial Choices
by Stanley F. Schmidt
from Polka Dot Publishing
for 10th-Adult
in Life of Fred Math (Location: MAT-FRED)
$24.00
Lifepac: Accounting - Teacher's Guide
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 11th-12th grade
in Consumer & Career Math (Location: MATR-CON)
$26.75 $12.00 (3 in stock)
Lifepac: American Literature - Book 1
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 10th-12th grade
in American Literature Curriculum (Location: LITCUR-AM)
$11.50
Lifepac: American Literature - Book 2
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 10th-12th grade
in American Literature Curriculum (Location: LITCUR-AM)
$11.50 $5.00 (1 in stock)
Lifepac: American Literature - Book 3
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 10th-12th grade
in American Literature Curriculum (Location: LITCUR-AM)
$11.50 $5.00 (1 in stock)
Lifepac: American Literature - Book 4
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 10th-12th grade
in American Literature Curriculum (Location: LITCUR-AM)
$11.50 $5.00 (1 in stock)
Lifepac: American Literature - Book 5
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 10th-12th grade
in American Literature Curriculum (Location: LITCUR-AM)
$11.50 $5.00 (1 in stock)
Lifepac: American Literature - Boxed Set
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 10th-12th grade
in American Literature Curriculum (Location: LITCUR-AM)
$74.25
Lifepac: Art - Book 1
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 7th-12th grade
in AOP Art & Drawing (Location: ELEDRA-AOP)
$11.50
Lifepac: Art - Boxed Set
LIFEPAC Electives
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 4th-12th grade
in AOP Art & Drawing (Location: ELEDRA-AOP)
$108.00
Lifepac: Art - Teacher's Guide
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 7th-12th grade
in AOP Art & Drawing (Location: ELEDRA-AOP)
$12.00 (1 in stock)
Lifepac: British Literature - Book 1
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 10th-12th grade
in British Literature Curriculum (Location: LITCUR-BRI)
$11.50
Lifepac: British Literature - Book 2
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 10th-12th grade
in British Literature Curriculum (Location: LITCUR-BRI)
$11.50
Lifepac: British Literature - Book 3
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 10th-12th grade
in British Literature Curriculum (Location: LITCUR-BRI)
$11.50
Lifepac: British Literature - Book 4
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 10th-12th grade
in British Literature Curriculum (Location: LITCUR-BRI)
$11.50 $5.00 (2 in stock)
Lifepac: British Literature - Book 5
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 10th-12th grade
in British Literature Curriculum (Location: LITCUR-BRI)
$11.50 $5.00 (1 in stock)
Lifepac: British Literature - Boxed Set
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 10th-12th grade
in British Literature Curriculum (Location: LITCUR-BRI)
$74.25
Lifepac: Civics - Book 1
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 9th-12th grade
in Government & Civics Curriculum (Location: GOV-CUR)
$14.50
Lifepac: Civics - Book 2
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 9th-12th grade
in Government & Civics Curriculum (Location: GOV-CUR)
$14.50
Lifepac: Civics - Book 3
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 9th-12th grade
in Government & Civics Curriculum (Location: GOV-CUR)
$14.50 $7.50 (1 in stock)
Lifepac: Civics - Book 4
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 9th-12th grade
in Government & Civics Curriculum (Location: GOV-CUR)
$14.50
Lifepac: Civics - Book 5
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 9th-12th grade
in Government & Civics Curriculum (Location: GOV-CUR)
$14.50
Lifepac: Civics - Boxed Set
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 9th-12th grade
in Government & Civics Curriculum (Location: GOV-CUR)
$88.25
Lifepac: Civics - Teacher's Guide
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 9th-12th grade
in Government & Civics Curriculum (Location: GOV-CUR)
$26.75 $6.00 (1 in stock)
Lifepac: Consumer Math - Boxed Set
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 9th-12th grade
in Consumer & Career Math (Location: MATR-CON)
$69.00 $49.00 (1 in stock)
Lifepac: Drawing Basics with Thomas Kinkade - Boxed Set
by Thomas Kinkade
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 3rd-8th grade
in AOP Art & Drawing (Location: ELEDRA-AOP)
$25.00 (1 in stock)
Lifepac: Essentials of Communication - Boxed Set
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 9th-12th grade
in Speech & Debate (Location: SPEECH)
$74.25
Lifepac: Essentials of Communication - Teacher's Guide
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 9th-12th grade
in Speech & Debate (Location: SPEECH)
$26.75 $12.00 (1 in stock)
Lifepac: Family & Consumer Science - Boxed Set
LIFEPAC Electives
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 4th-12th grade
in Home Economics Curriculum (Location: SS-HOMEC)
$108.00
Lifepac: Family & Consumer Science Unit 10
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 9th-12th grade
in Home Economics Curriculum (Location: SS-HOMEC)
$11.50 $5.00 (1 in stock)
Lifepac: Family & Consumer Science Unit 5
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 9th-12th grade
in Home Economics Curriculum (Location: SS-HOMEC)
$11.50 $5.00 (1 in stock)
Lifepac: Family & Consumer Science Unit 6
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 9th-12th grade
in Home Economics Curriculum (Location: SS-HOMEC)
$11.50 $5.00 (1 in stock)
Lifepac: Foundations for Living - Book 10
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 9th-12th grade
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Lifepac: Health - Boxed Set
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 9th-12th grade
in AOP Lifepacs: Health (Location: HEAL-AOP)
$74.25
Lifepac: Health Quest - Book 1
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 6th-8th grade
in AOP Lifepacs: Health (Location: HEAL-AOP)
$11.50
Lifepac: Health Quest - Book 2
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 6th-8th grade
in AOP Lifepacs: Health (Location: HEAL-AOP)
$11.50 $5.00 (2 in stock)
Lifepac: Health Quest - Book 3
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 6th-8th grade
in AOP Lifepacs: Health (Location: HEAL-AOP)
$11.50 $5.00 (3 in stock)
Lifepac: Health Quest - Book 4
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 6th-8th grade
in AOP Lifepacs: Health (Location: HEAL-AOP)
$11.50 $5.00 (3 in stock)
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