1. Science classes at Animal Adventures/Zoo AcademyAnimal Adventures’ animal science classes are now available during the day with Zoo Academy and after school with our new After School Club. These classes are great for homeschoolers and anyone looking to learn more about exotic animals. If your student is an animal lover, then this is the place for them! In depth studies, hands-on with animals taught by a Ph.D. zoologist. Inquire about more info on our website.https://www.animaladventures.net/zoo-academy – morning classeshttps://www.animaladventures.net/animal-classes – after-school Classeshttp://www.zoo.church/zoo-church-academy.html – Christian-based teachings
2. MFI’s “The Chicken Is on Us” fundraising celebrationFrom Andrew Beckwith at Massachusetts Family Institute (MFI):Have you signed up yet for the MFI Fundraising Celebration on Friday, October 16? While we normally have 500 people join us for our banquet at the Marriott, this year’s event will be hosted at a local church with a small in person audience (currently sold out) and live-streamed to your home. (You can register HERE.)
Part of the fun of the annual MFI banquets has been sharing food and fellowship with a ballroom full of people who also share your values. Unfortunately, because of COVID, we’re unable to do that this year, BUT, you can still host a watch party at your home, and invite family or friends to view our event with you. And if you provide the fellowship, we’ll provide the food!
Most years, we serve our banquet guests some form of chicken (it is a fundraiser, after all) and distribute organic eggs from our longtime sponsor, The Country Hen. I am happy to announce that this year we have a new poultry-based sponsor: Chick-fil-A of Woburn! Tell us who you’re having over to watch our event with, and we’ll mail you Chick-fil-A gift cards for your whole party.
Our program will be similar to what you’ve experienced at previous banquets: We’ll start at 7p.m. with the national anthem and invocation, followed by presentation of the MFI Citizenship Award. Then I will give a report on MFI’s successes over the past year and we’ll introduce our keynote speaker, Dr. Paul Jehle, to inspire us with the story of our Pilgrim forefathers, who landed at Plymouth 400 years ago this fall. Dr. Jehle is a leading voice for preserving our godly heritage and the legacy of faith and religious freedom in our commonwealth. Many MFI supporters know him from his extremely popular historical tours of the State House during our annual lobby day events. We are excited to hear him address the legacy of faith, family, and freedom founded at Plymouth Rock and entrusted to us by the Pilgrims.
Throughout the evening, you’ll have opportunities to give or pledge online to the work and mission of MFI. (You can also do that right now by clicking on these links: [Give] or [Pledge]).
Will you join us?
3. Communicators for Christ conference November 6-7From Cindy Clarkin:
Now is the time to train up students to have the skills to be able to articulate what they believe and be able to clearly and effectively share their ideas! You are invited to the Communicators for Christ online world tour, making a stop in the eastern time zone November 6-7.
At the Institute for Cultural Communication (ICC) we bring parents and students together to know not just what they believe – but how to talk about their faith. Today, that means being leaders and communicators in both physical and digital spaces. This year the ICC Intern Team includes New England native David Stamp from Rhode Island!
Dr. Teresa Moon writes: When was the last time that you were able to do something together that was truly life-changing for every member of your family? We’ve got that right here for you, at Communicators for Christ!
The programming by our extraordinary Fall Ambassador team of teen leaders has been sensational. They’ve developed something for every age group! Our youngest group (6-10 years) learns about listening, creativity, and more. One Young Communicator for Christ was thrilled: “We played a freeze game where we learned about body language!”
Our Leap Track (11-12 years) focuses on trying new things, collaboration, and the importance of feedback – to name a few. One participant said: “I’m from Minneapolis, and I loved making friends who lived in Texas, who are friends with my friend in East Africa! I enjoyed everyone’s creativity. I’m so glad I came.”
One of our younger teens who learned about safe learning environments, leading yourself well, and consensus-building in the Connect Track (13-14 years) shared: “I learned about the four temperaments, which will help me know my needs and relate to others in positive ways.”
Our Go track teens (15-18 years) collaborate to create media and presentations, discovering cultural intelligence and collaboration in new, real-life ways. I glowed when one first-time CFC-er said: “This conference really helped me to grow motivated to be a better cultural communicator for Christ!”
And that’s just the kids! You can also find a whole lot of information on the transformational content that our remarkable faculty has put together for adults. We don’t want you or any member of your family to miss out on the easiest-to-attend, most chock-full-of-extraordinary-content conference tour we’ve ever hosted! Make sure you get a spot at the next one.
4. Intriguing photo activity: Lost Rolls America Lost Rolls America is a digital archive of photos and memories, offering a free, open-sourced array of multimedia activities for kids and parents focusing on family history, photography, and storytelling across generations. And they say that all the tools you need, you already have at your disposal in your home. Visit Lost Rolls America to learn more.
5. Free programs from Young Audiences of Massachusetts Young Audiences of Massachusetts (YAMA) is bringing diverse, interactive, learning-focused arts education directly into students’ homes! The Remote Arts Learning offerings include more than 40 dance, music, theater, storytelling, literary, and visual arts programs from world-class artists, including inspiring performances, instructive workshops, and in-depth artist-in-residencies. Many programs are offered live online via Zoom, Google Classroom, or your preferred platform, while others are available as pre-recorded videos for flexible viewing, with optional live Q & A follow-up sessions. YAMA has been a trusted arts learning resource for Massachusetts educators for more than 50 years. Website: yamass.org.Since March, YAMA has been offering more than 40 programs remotely online, including performances, workshops, and in-depth “artist-in-residencies:” https://yamass.org/News-Online-Art-Education. Included have been free weekly Remote Arts Learning Showcases, featuring special live previews of several of their programs. Folks can register, and watch video of past events, here: https://yamass.org/News-Remote-Arts-Learning-Showcases-September.Showcase recordings are free for anyone to watch, and individuals are invited to register and attend the next two free events. Each event features 15-minute previews of three of our more than 40 programs, to give you a taste of what the full programs are like. If you have a question about how the full programs work, you can reach out to the program coordinator, Rachel Flood Page, at scheduling@yamass.org.
6. MassHOPE Facebook discussion groupConnect with us on Facebook at MassHOPE’s 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/
7. For-fee advertisingThe 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.
8. The MassHOPE Educator ID Card Educator IDs are now available for benefits such as potential discounts at retailers. Order them from our website HERE.
9. 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.
10. Your news items wantedDo 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.org and we will review it for possible inclusion in the MassHOPE Messenger.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. 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!
14. How to submit Box Tops for convention savingsYou can earn free or reduced admission to the 2021 MassHOPE conventions AND support MassHOPE at the same time! Want to submit Box Tops for convention credit but aren’t sure how to proceed? Just click on this link: https://masshope.org/boxtops/.
15. Video help for getting started, from HSLDA Check out this free 7-part video series sponsored by the Home School Legal Defense Association, discussing how to get started with homeschooling for children at any age level. Watch it all, or skip to the age group of your choice!
16. A bevy of materials, offers, and helps for you and new https://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-iewFree 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.beYouTube with Dr. Kathy Koch: Having Conversations about Today’s Tough Stuffhttps://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.
17. Variety of interesting sites suggested by the Heritage FoundationScience, 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.
18. Browsing corner for vets and newbiesHow 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 families by Tiffany Kafer5 Tips From Homeschool Veterans For Parents New To Learning At Home by Laura Isensee.
