1. The David Story: Shepherd, Father, King
From Kyle Murnen, Director of Online Learning, Hillsdale College
As we prepare for Christmas, I am reminded of the profound insights Dr. Arnn provided about one of history’s most famous and important families in his introduction to our new online course, “The David Story: Shepherd, Father, King.”
In his lecture, he explains how the entire story of the Bible is “worked out in human history, first with the chosen people (including David) and then with the arrival of the Son of God, amongst the people prepared for the purpose of being His host.” We, too, can prepare for Jesus’s arrival by learning more about those who first prepared the way for Him.
What better time than now, then, to return to this fundamental text and examine the monumental life of David? I urge you to join us in exploring the beautiful and enduring lessons the David story teaches about family, politics, suffering, and prayer.
To hear more from President Arnn, as well as gain access to the rest of the free course, click on the secure link: https://online.hillsdale.edu/landing/the-david-story
I wish you and yours every good thing in this Advent season. Please enjoy President Arnn’s introduction to “The David Story.”

2. Learn through primary sources with free resource
From Therese Perlowski: tperlowski@internet2.edu
The Presidential Primary Sources Project is a partnership with the National Archives and the National Parks Service to provide live, interactive, video conferencing programs for students to analyze primary sources to learn about presidents like Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, and John F. Kennedy.
All of our programs are presented by National Park Service rangers and educators at the Presidential Libraries. Programs start in January 2022 and focus on analyzing primary source documents to understand a variety of different moments in history. For more information, check out our WEBSITE.
2022 PPSP Program Schedule: *All programs are live at 11am ET and 2pm ET on their scheduled day and applicable to students grades 4-12.
January 18: The War of 1812, Andrew Jackson’s HermitageJanuary 20: “The Johnson Treatment”: LBJ’s 1964 Campaign, LBJ PresidentialLibraryJanuary 25: Roosevelt and the World Today: Issues Then and Now, Franklin D.Roosevelt Presidential Library and MuseumJanuary 27: Lights, Camera, Action: 75 Years of The State of the Union onTelevision, Nixon Presidential Library, Clinton Presidential Library & TrumanPresidential LibraryFebruary 1: Understanding Conflicting Primary Sources: When Hoover Met Hitler, Hoover Presidential Library and MuseumFebruary 3: Primary Source Detectives: Learning About President Ford and the1970s Energy Crisis through Primary Sources, Gerald R. Ford PresidentialFoundationFebruary 8: President Grant and Civil Rights, Ulysses S. Grant National Historic SiteFebruary 10: Lincoln’s Evolving Legacy in Washington, D.C.: Places as PrimarySources, Ford’s Theatre & the National Mall and Memorial ParksFebruary 15: President Kennedy and the Bill of Rights, The Sixth Floor Museum atDealey PlazaFebruary 17: Civic Literacy: Article II and The Presidency, Carter Presidential LibraryFebruary 22: America’s Presidents Through Portraiture, Smithsonian NationalPortrait GalleryFebruary 24: I Like IKE: Election Icon, Eisenhower FoundationMarch 1: 1986 Immigration Reform, Reagan Presidential LibraryMarch 3: Memorializing Young Abraham Lincoln, Lincoln Boyhood NationalMemorialMarch 8: Theodore Roosevelt’s “First Family, Theodore Roosevelt Center at DSUMarch 10 How RBG Came to Be: The Process of Appointing a Supreme CourtJustice, Clinton Presidential LibraryMarch 15: The Constitution and Presidential Powers, National ArchivesMarch 17: 7th Street Challenge: Lincoln’s Commute, President Lincoln’s CottageMarch 22: Rosalynn Carter: Partner-in-Chief, Jimmy Carter National Historical ParkMarch 24: Who Started the Cold War?, Truman Presidential LibraryMarch 29: Becoming Eleanor Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Libraryand MuseumMarch 31: Young Teedie, Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic SiteApril 5: The Role of the First Lady, First Ladies National Historic Site

3. 18 years or older? Spend this winter at Camp Monadnock!
Camp Monadnock in southern New Hampshire will be the site of a 12-week discipleship program, providing mentoring, hands-on ministry experience, and training for students 18 years or older. Gain a variety of camp skills as you grow in your faith and serve the mission and ministry of Camp Monadnock.
More details are available HERE. Email Laurel Taaffe at ltaaffe@berea.org for application materials.

4. Free course on C.S. Lewis
From Kyle Murnen, Director of Online Learning at Hillsdale College
I’d like to invite you to join me in Hillsdale College’s free course studying the greatest Christian apologist of the 20th century, C.S. Lewis.
C.S. Lewis, best known as the author of The Chronicles of Narnia, also authored works on apologetics and philosophy, including The Abolition of Man and Mere Christianity. This free online course studies both Lewis’s apologetics and his fiction, as well as his philosophical and literary writings and their continuing significance today.
Hillsdale President Larry P. Arnn delivers three of the nine lectures, and is joined by Michael Ward, a leading expert on the works of C.S. Lewis, and Hillsdale Professor of English, David Whalen. I hope you enjoy the course.
You may enroll in “An Introduction to C.S. Lewis: Writings and Significance” and begin learning today by clicking on this SECURE LINK.

5. Still time to view Schoolhouse Rocked
“There’s a revolution transforming education and it’s NOT happening in the classroom!”The new feature-length documentary, Schoolhouse Rocked: The Homeschool Revolution, examines the incredible growth of homeschooling and why thousands of families across the country are choosing this path for their children’s education. The premium streaming release of SCHOOLHOUSE ROCKED launched on November 12, but there are plenty of viewing dates left. You can see a trailer or order your tickets HERESchoolhouse Rocked will impact countless lives by…

  • Encouraging families who aren’t yet homeschooling to dive in,
  • Bringing much needed encouragement and resources to current homeschool families so they will stay the course, AND
  • Breaking down the misconceptions and negative stereotypes that many people believe about homeschooling.

Gather your family, other families, your support group/co-op, even skeptical friends and family members, and have a movie night! With each ticket purchased, 15% of the purchase will be kicked back to MassHOPE. Thank you, and enjoy the show!

6. Great deal at Great Wolf Lodge! 
Looking for a fun local winter getaway? Consider trekking to Great Wolf Lodge in Fitchburg for a splashing time! Located in northern Worcester County, Great Wolf Lodge has “pawsitively” something for everyone to enjoy. Check out their website for more information, including COVID-related regulations. We are pleased to announce that MassHOPE has blocked rooms for the nights of Monday, 1/24/22 and Tuesday, 1/25/22. The room rate is $119/night and includes access to both the water park and the ropes course! Access begins at 1:00 p.m. on the day of check-in and ends when the water park closes the night of your check-out date! What a deal! 
Come alone as a family, or make it a time to get together with other families. Make your reservations by calling (866)980-9653by 1/1/22, and use our unique code – 2201MAHOPE2 – to take advantage of this special offer. Please note: Unless a cancellation is due to someone in your party being sick, a $40 fee is incurred for any cancellation until 72 hours prior to arrival date. Any cancellation made within the 72 hours of arrival date will be charged 100% for one night’s room rate plus tax.

7. TeenPact Massachusetts 2022
TeenPact is an “awesome Christian ministry” where your kids can learn about government from a Biblical perspective. They will learn how a bill becomes a law and how elections are run, and hear from elected leaders on site at the State House.
Email Ken at ken.tangel@teenpact.com to RSVP or for further information. Please share with your friends! 
TeenPact Massachusetts will be April 25-29, 2022.

8. MassHOPE Facebook groups
Did you know that MassHOPE has two private Facebook groups in addition to its main Facebook page? If you would like to join the MassHOPE Massachusetts Homeschool Discussion and Support Group (described in Item #10, below) or the MassHOPE Massachusetts Homeschool Marketplace and UCS group, or if you invite anyone to join these groups, please note that there are questions you will need to answer in order to be approved. If you don’t get approved soon after your request to join, perhaps you didn’t answer the required questions.

9. MassHOPE advertising opportunities
MassHOPE has a variety of advertising options available at reasonable rates in several media paths – MassHOPE website, dedicated email, Facebook, MassHOPE Messenger. If interested, please send an email to advertising@masshope.org. All ads are subject to availability and space. MassHOPE reserves the right to accept or reject ads as we must apportion limited space and evaluate relevance to our audience.

10. MassHOPE Facebook discussion group
Connect 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. Itspurpose 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/

11. The MassHOPE Educator ID Card
Educator IDs are available for benefits such as potential discounts at retailers. Order them from our website HERE.

12. 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.

13. 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.org and we will review it for possible inclusion in the MassHOPE Messenger. 

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. Support MassHOPE through AmazonSmile
Do 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!

17. How to homeschool legally in Massachusetts
This video features Michael Donnelly, HSLDA’s designated counsel for Massachusetts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmELLON4OFI&list=PLe7Gz-9V5xsWzxwNhyZUNrdz0K-tbkz9a&index=21. The link referenced for further Massachusetts-specific articles is https://hslda.org/legal/massachusetts.

18. NEW videos and webinars
Could Homeschooling Fit My Family?—Q&A, with Rochelle Matthews-Somerville, HSLDA Special Needs and High School Consultant, and Tj Schmidt, HSLDA Staff Attorney.Single-Parent Homeschooling: Success Strategies—Q&A, with Kim Sorgius, Not Consumed community founder, and Erin Eskew, Have Soldier: Will Travel blog.Helping Your Child Love Learning—Q&Awith Ainsley Arment, Wild + Free founder, and Natalie Mack, HSLDA High School Consultant.Homeschooling Through Major Life Changes—Q&Awith Faith Berens, HSLDA Special Needs Consultant, Tracy Klicka, HSLDA Director of Development, and Sunny Coté, state department spouse.9 Tips for Homeschooling in the Military—Q&A,with Natalie Mack, HSLDA High School Consultant and U.S. Navy Chaplain’s wife, and Sabrina Riley, Army National Guard, active duty spouse.11 Ways to Homeschool More Efficiently—Q&A, Nov. 11, 7 p.m. ET, with Vicki Bentley, HSLDA PreK–8 Educational Consultant (and homeschooling mom to eight biological kids plus nine foster kids through the years), and Tiffany Jefferson, writer, speaker, homeschool coach (and homeschooling mom to 10).Ask Any Question About Homeschooling (Except Legal Advice!)—Q&ANov. 18, 7 p.m. ET, with Rochelle Matthews-Somerville, HSLDA Special Needs and High School Consultant (and homeschooling mom to six), and Darren Jones, HSLDA Senior Counsel and Director of Group Services (and homeschool grad and dad to four).Homeschooling through the Holidays? (or taking a month off? or flexing with hands-on learning and unit studies? or . . . ?) with Vicki Bentley, HSLDA PreK-8 Educational Consultant and homeschooling mom to eight biological kids plus nine foster kids through the years), and Chelsea Moore, HSLDA blogger (and homeschooling mom to two).hslda.org/Webinars Three-part video series on getting started: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVOzkYx2vcA&list=PLe7Gz-9V5xsWAtvLTz1gA1CYyPLBBe-Ke.Helpful overview of how to start homeschooling: https://hslda.org/post/ready-set-go-choosing-homeschool-curriculum-and-more.You Can Homeschool Through High School: https://hslda.org/post/you-can-homeschool-through-high-school.How to Start Homeschooling with Special Needs: https://hslda.org/post/how-to-start-homeschooling-midyear-with-special-needs-q-and-a.

19. MassHOPE: homeschooling in Massachusetts
Check out this MassHOPE site for getting started.

20. A bevy of materials, offers, and helps
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/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.

21. 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.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.

22. 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 families by Tiffany Kafer5 Tips From Homeschool Veterans For Parents New To Learning At Home by Laura Isensee