Student Choice: Middle School Electives

It’s Friday after lunch and there’s a lot of buzz and shuffling happening in the middle school hallways. Students are swapping out their lunch boxes for the supplies needed from their lockers before they venture off to their next class.

But today, their class is different; it’s not their typical academic class. They are all going to their chosen electives.

Middle School electives are offered every Friday in the afternoon for two periods. It is an opportunity for students to explore and possibly discover new interests or skills in a plethora of topics. It provides student choices, creative outlets, and for many, stress relief during a long week of academic courses. While there might not be the same amount of homework and grading as Core, Math, or English, electives play a huge part in helping students grow.

A major goal of Middle School is to prepare students for upcoming challenges socially and academically. Allowing students to determine, in part, their course of study, provides them with increased feelings of independence and accountability. The Willows understands the myriad of interests of our student body. Our goal is to create a place for individuals to explore what excites them most.

Our current Middle School electives include:                                                     

Book Fair Play, Comic Book Design, Dance, Debate, Future Fighters, Gardening, Photography, Junior Classical League (JCL), Maker, Mathletics, Movies, Printmaking, Robotics, Rockband, Sports and Games, and Starcraft.

Electives Develop Interests and Abilities

Electives are the perfect opportunity for students to showcase their talents and develop new interests and abilities. It gives them the freedom to break away from the traditional subjects, dive deep into a topic that resonates with them, and step out of their comfort zone and explore something new. It provides students opportunities to find new interests and explore different varieties of topics that may not have been available to them otherwise.

Electives Help Prepare Students for the Future

Elective courses offer students the opportunity to learn about themselves and the world while developing important life skills that will help them in the future. With the wide range of electives offered in Middle School, students may learn the intricate elements of storytelling, strategy, and graphic design that go into creating video games, being an activist in our community, or addressing the important issues happening in our society. These electives may potentially inspire students to pursue careers in such fields.

Electives Provide a Sense of Autonomy

Electives allow students to choose their own classes. Students appreciate the ability to have a voice in their education and the option to learn practical skills. Teaching them early to have a sense of ownership prepares them to be better decision-makers in the future. By giving students autonomy, students tend to be more engaged, empowered, and active in their learning.

Learn more about The Willows program HERE!