There's more to learning than academics. Extracurricular activities are an important part of development for teens--especially homeschooled students. Just like their group-schooled counterparts, homeschoolers benefit from participating in beyond-the-classroom experiences. 

It's no secret that opportunities for involvement have been curtailed over the past two years. Many people, including young people, became used to staying home and living life virtually. Screen time has increased--and so have anxiety and depression among youth. With the pandemic in the rearview mirror, it's time for teenagers to get active again.

Extracurricular activities have many benefits for young people. Among them are:

• Improved academic performance: Studies have consistently found an association between participation in extracurricular activities and better grades.
• A broader social circle: Students who participate in extracurricular activities have more opportunities to meet people with whom they have something in common--making it more likely and easier for them to make friends. 
• Practical skill development: The less formal and more interactive environment of extracurricular activities allows teens to hone skills like teamwork, leadership, communication, and problem-solving--all skills that will help them succeed in adult life. 
• Discovering a lifetime avocation or vocation: Extracurricular activities allow students to explore their interests. If they find something they love to do, they'll gain a hobby or interest that will bring them years--even a lifetime--of enjoyment. They may even decide to pursue a career related to that activity. 
• Time management skills: It's a truism that if you want something done, you should ask a busy person. That's not to say that overloading kids with activities is a good idea, but having a favorite activity that they do each week can help motivate students to complete their required schoolwork on time.  
• Impressive resume: Colleges and employers look for young people who have a range of interests and take the initiative to pursue them. While it's not necessary to have tons of extracurriculars on a student's transcript or resume, being part of a few activities makes a student more interesting to admissions counselors and hiring managers. 

Extracurriculars at Mid-Metro Academy

Many of the "classes" MMA offers can count as extracurricular activities. Depending on how you create your student's high school plan and transcripts, the following classes could be electives or extracurriculars. Either way, these classes offer opportunities to break out of the classroom experience and interact with peers in a less formal setting.

• Acting: Acting Techniques
• Acting: Intro to Acting
  
• Art: Drawing Basics
• Art: Mixed Media
• Art: Oil Pastels
• Art: Drawing Realistic Faces
• Art: Portraits in Pastel Pencil
• Crafts: Craft Exploration
• Creative Writing Workshop
• Culinary Arts
• Film and Video: Creative Filmmaking
  
• Film and Video: Video Production
  
• Graphic Design
  
• Group Guitar Lesson
• Memory & Magic
• Music Production 1
  
• Private Music Lessons
• Origami and You
• Photography
  
• Songwriting  
• Swing Dancing

View course descriptions for these classes and register now. Round out your student's schedule with one or two well-chosen extracurricular activities. After all, there's more to learning than traditional lessons. Social learning and fun also help teens develop into happy and successful adults.