1. Webinar this Sunday evening on exiting public schools
Massachusetts Family Institute and MassHOPE are partnering to bring you a Webinar presentation on Sunday, August 2, from 7-9 p.m. There will be an expert panel to discuss different educational options for this fall and to answer your questions.
For more information and to register, click HERE.
Please keep this event in mind as you speak with friends who are looking to leave the public system. Meanwhile, another good resource is Public School Exit. They have a weekly webinar every Wednesday from 2-3 p.m. that will continue through the end of August.
2. Considering homeschooling? Interactive webinar by MassHOPE
Next Monday, August 3, from 10:30-11:30 a.m., MassHOPE will present Considering Homeschooling? An Interactive Webinar by MassHOPE through Facebook Live. To access this presentation, go to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MassHOPE/.
3. Curriculum trunk sale August 8
MassHOPE is planning a trunk sale for Saturday, August 8, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., location TBD. Want to sell your used curriculum? Want to buy used curriculum at great at prices? We will publish details as soon as they are available!
4. Barn pickin’ days (FREE curriculum!!!) August 6 and 7
Since we had to cancel our used curriculum sale this year, we (MassHOPE) would like to clear our storage space of the donated items that would have been in the FREE room at our sale. Donated items (curricula, pleasure reading, manipulatives, etc.) are stored in a barn in Holden.
- Per Massachusetts guidelines, only four people allowed in the barn at a time.
- One-hour slots are available. First slot 9:00 a.m.; last slot 7:00 p.m.
- Appointment required. Email Susan Jacobsen at sjacobsen.masshope@yahoo.com to reserve your slot and get further details about your visit.
- Please BYO box/bag.
- Masks will be required if you are less than 6 feet from the nearest person.
- Hand sanitizer and/or soap/water will be provided for hand washing.
- NO rest rooms available.
- Donations gladly accepted.
5. MassHOPE Facebook discussion group
Connect with us on Facebook at MassHOPE’s brand-new Massachusetts Homeschool Discussion and Support Group. This group provides support and encouragement for homeschoolers pursuing privately-funded, parent-led home education. Its purpose is to encourage and equip homeschool parents to disciple and educate their children for the Lord, and to connect families within our state to give them opportunities to gather together for educational and recreational experiences.https://www.facebook.com/groups/MassHOPEDiscussion/
6. “America’s First Constitution” offer
Yvonne Spalthoff of the Liberty Tree Society has let us know about a free offer to all by that group. Their founder, John Hansel, was prompted by the death of his Mayflower-descended wife of 71 years, to investigate the importance of the Mayflower Compact. Much to his surprise, he found that a number of prominent historians believed the Compact, as man’s first attempt at self-government, should be ranked with the Magna Carta and perhaps considered to be America’s “First Constitution.” And so, in celebration of what many consider to be America’s 400th birthday, the Liberty Tree Society will email a copy of an America’s “First Constitution” certificate, suitable for framing, to you if you are a descendant of a Mayflower Compact signer or passenger, without cost of any kind. And even if you are not a descendant of a passenger but would like to honor America’s the Mayflower Compaect, we will email a certificate of that effect without reference to descendancy – also at no charge.
Please call Yvonne, 800-367-3567, or email libertytreesociety@gmail.com for further information.
7. Chirps of Joy™
From Start Imagining Birds:
We are introducing to homeschoolers a beautiful series called Chirps of Joy™. These are 6″ x 9″ bird photo descriptive cards which can be utilized to bring some fun and educational learning for K-12 students. A beautiful glossy photo of a bird on the front and an easy to read description of the bird on the back can lead to many activities to foster the imagination including arts and crafts, research projects, field trips, etc.Please visit www.startimaginingbirds.com/chirpsofjoy for details on ordering. Also see
https://www.facebook.com/chirpsofjoy and https://www.instagram.com/chirps_of_joy/ for additional bird photos and cute videos.
8. Speech and debate: get involved online and in person
From Brenda Storz, NCFCA State Representative for Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.Online free introduction to NCFCA Speech & Debate: Join us for a free one-week workshop that inspires Christian students to grow in their communication skills. Engage with leaders and experts for an exciting week including 15 interactive workshops. New families and veterans alike will find these workshops helpful. Visit ncfca.org/summit/ to learn more and sign up for this free online event July 27-31. For questions or to learn more, please contact Brenda Storz at
MA_StateRep@NCFCA.org.
Affordable NCFCA Speech and Debate Online Summer Training: For Christian families wishing to challenge their students to sharpen their speech and debate skills, join us for the week-long NCFCA Online Intensive August 3-7, which offers quality speech and debate training practice at a price you can afford. Beginning and advanced students will master new skills on their way to becoming confident and gracious communicators. Cost ranges from $50 per student for two days of speech only or $100 per student for three days of debate only, to $150 per student for five days of speech and debate. Visit ncfca.org/intensive/Â to learn more and sign up. For questions or to learn more, please contact Brenda Storz at
MA_StateRep@NCFCA.org
NCFCA is the leading Christian speech and debate league. We train Christian students to communicate truth with wisdom and grace. “To me, NCFCA is one of the most important organizations on the planet. When I attend an NCFCA event and experience the excellence of the teenage competitors as well as the superb work being done behind the scenes by parents and volunteers, my hope for the future is restored.” (Andrew Pudewa, Founder of Institute for Excellence in Writing)New Speech & Debate Club now forming! Are you feeling the weight of the privilege and responsibility of training your students in the desperately-needed ability to think critically and communicate effectively in a manner that glorifies God and seeks to view life issues through God’s eyes of truth? Club families plan to meet Friday afternoons 1:30-5:30 in or around Andover (as per facility availability due to Covid with the potential necessity to meet online). Parents work together to lead their students in a variety of speech events (students ages 12-18), junior speech events (students ages 8 and up), Lincoln Douglas value debate (ages 12-18), and/or team policy debate (ages 12-18). For questions or to learn more, please contact Brenda Storz at storzlis@gmail.com.
9. Zoo Church Academy!
Zoo Church Academy is offering full- and part-time zoology classes for homeschooled students. With the way the world is now, a lot of parents will be transitioning to homeschool. We are here to make it easier with full-time school, adding training in zoology and botany to your own home school curriculum. This is the school for you if you are passionate about wildlife. You will accomplish your daily curriculum and also learn how to work with exotic animals and agriculture every day. This school will set up all future zoologists for success. Even if you are not planning for a life working with animals it will still be an experience of a lifetime. The only school like this, we truly are one of a kind! Go to our website for more info, or call/email with questions: (978)779-8988, AnimalAdventuresAcademy@gmail.com, or info@zoo.church.
10. A bevy of materials, offers, and helps for you and newhttps://www.mfwbooks.com/
My Father’s World materials. Includes offer of two free activity packs.
https://homeschoolhistory.com/
Notgrass History web-based curriculum. Free trial.
https://www.iew.com/three-weeks-of-language-arts-instruction-from-iew
Free language arts lessons from IEW.
https://coronavirushomeschooling.com/
Getting started, with free access throughout May.
https://homeschoolfreedom.com/
The importance of Christian homeschool organizations for homeschool freedom.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRgV-1tfKz8&feature=youtu.be
YouTube with Dr. Kathy Koch: Having Conversations about Today’s Tough Stuff
https://www.oaclub.org/
Remember Adventures in Odyssey? Free 28-day trial.
https://billygrahamlibrary.org/continue-the-journey-from-home/
Family activities from the Billy Graham Library.
11. Variety of interesting sites suggested by the Heritage Foundation
Science, engineering, and building projects and lessons from The League of Young Inventors.
Exciting free courses from Hillsdale College in literature, politics, history, and economics.
From Joy Hakim: DIY lessons on topics such as the human body, Magellan’s travels, the story of Elizabeth Jennings Graham, and plagues from previous eras.
Students can explore the remains of Athens’ ancient Acropolis, Parthenon, Temple of Zeus, and more in these virtual tours.
Free online language learning materials in English, Spanish, French and German, from Lingoda.
More free language learning from Duolingo, with 23 languages.
Explore Shakespeare with Folger Shakespeare Library, which is offering free access to seven full-cast audio recordings of plays such as Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, and Othello. The library is also providing free access to their video recording of Macbeth. These resources are available free of charge through July 1.
Minecraft has released its Education Edition (free through June 2020) to help children at home. The program provides 50 lessons, STEM, and project based learning activities. Using the platform, students can visit the international space station, explore the human eye, tour D.C.’s most memorable sites, and more.
Core Knowledge offers a vast array of resources. Their Language Arts, History and Geography, and Science curricula are available for free.
TouchMath offers free downloads of TouchMath Workbooks.
12. Browsing corner for vets and newbies
How To (and How Not To) Homeschool During COVID-19 by John Stonestreet by John Stonestreet‘Most Rewarding Thing You Can Do’: Homeschool Experts Offer Hope to Parents in COVID-19 School Shutdowns by Kayla RootHome-school family feels the impact of social distancing, offers advice to other familiesby Tiffany Kafer5 Tips From Homeschool Veterans For Parents New To Learning At Home by Laura Isensee
13. Legal issues
Keeping an eye on the Massachusetts legislature.
Regarding annual testing and the federal coronavirus waiver:HSLDA wants to clear up any confusion that homeschoolers may have.
14. For-fee advertising
The MassHOPE Messenger is a biweekly e-newsletter that is sent free to approximately 2500 mailboxes. Unfortunately, it is not free to distribute. This cost increases each year, and MassHOPE has limited funds. Therefore we charge a nominal fee of $20 for unsolicited submissions from individuals, and from most organizations or groups unaffiliated with MassHOPE, who wish to advertise their for-fee goods or services. Items will ordinarily run in two consecutive issues. Note: Normally an ad will be limited to one round (two issues) per quarter. Contact Anne Smith at volunteer@masshope.org. for specifics.
15. The MassHOPE Educator ID CardEducator IDs are now available for benefits such as potential discounts at retailers. Order them from our website HERE.
16. Are you on our mailing lists?
To those who have been recently added to our email list through our website: if you would also like to be added to our “snail mail” list to receive information (such as our print newsletter) via the U.S. Postal Service, please send your full name and complete mailing address to newsletter@masshope.org.
17. Your news items wanted
Do you know of an event or activity in or near Massachusetts that would edify or interest the homeschool community? Email Anne Smith at volunteer@masshope.organd we will review it for possible inclusion in the MassHOPE Messenger.
18. Remember to “Like” MassHOPE on Facebook“Like” MassHOPE’s Facebook page: facebook.com/MassHOPE?fref=ts. You’ll be encouraged in your homeschooling journey and will receive all updates for upcoming events.
19. Do you receive The Voice of HOPE?MassHOPE publishes a quarterly print newsletter, The Voice of HOPE. In addition to announcements you might also find in the Messenger, we provide three or four full-length articles on a variety of homeschooling topics. If you would like to add your name, please send your name and “snail mail” address to newsletter@masshope.org.
20. Support MassHOPE through AmazonSmileDo you shop at Amazon? If you shop through AmazonSmile, Amazon will make a donation to MassHOPE! If you’re not already signed up, you can do so more easily than ever. To start supporting our organization, simply click this link, which is unique to MassHOPE: http://smile.amazon.com/ch/04-HYPERLINK “http://smile.amazon.com/ch/04-3220412”3220412. That’s all! From then on, when – and only when – you enter the Amazon website through amazonsmile.com,Amazon will automatically donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to MassHOPE. Thank you for supporting the work of your Christian state homeschool organization!
21. How to submit Box Tops for convention savingsYou can earn free or reduced admission to the MassHOPE conventions AND support MassHOPE at the same time! Submissions for the 2020 convention are now closed, but you can start getting credit toward the 2021 convention. Want to submit Box Tops for convention credit but aren’t sure how to proceed? Just click on this link: https://masshope.org/boxtops/.