WARREN – With a goal of helping students identify their passions as they improve public speaking skills, Warren Middle School added a TED-Ed elective to the curriculum. This culminated in TED-Ed ...

"Middle school students are already too severely restricted in the number and kinds of electives they can take," said Guy Sconzo, superintendent of the Humble school district.

Parent Laura Van de Merghel presents ideas for new elective courses brainstormed in a small group during a Feb. 15 forum at a TeWinkle Middle School forum.

Choosing electives In her article “Tips for choosing electives in middle school,” Andrea Stetson says that kids should try out new things, especially while in middle school.

Corona del Mar Middle School in Newport Beach, for example, lets kids pick from among 21 electives, while Costa Mesa Middle offers 27. While other campuses offer Spanish, Mandarin and French ...