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1. WE MAKE LEARNING SPANISH FUN!
At Academia Bilingual Bridges, we offer online Spanish classes to fit your family's schedule.
SPECIAL $20 DISCOUNT FOR HOMESCHOOLERS.
Visit our website at
www.academiabilingualbridges.com
or send us an email (
academiabilingualbridges@gmail.com
) for info.
2. Ice cream, anyone?
Are you aware that Massachusetts has an official “ice cream trail?” Sound too good to be true? Check it out
HERE
.
3. August homeschool days at Old Sturbridge Village
Two Home School Days are scheduled for the end of August: Wednesday the 27
th
, and Friday the 29
th
. Plenty of room still available in workshops, but they tend to fill up, so don’t wait too long to register. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Register
HERE
for 8/27 and
HERE
for 8/29. Here are just some of the workshops you can choose from:
Botanical Watercolors for Beginners
Weave a Bookmark
Working with Herbs
Handwritten Letter Appreciation Society
Ink and Pens and Inkwells, Oh My!
Games Sampler
Hearth Cooking: Herbed Cheese and Crackers
4. Two more weeks of August Adventures
The Highland Street Foundation’s signature “August Adventures” program has returned this year, with one free event, site, or museum on each of this month’s 31 days.
CLICK HERE
to view the wide range of offerings, which span all of Massachusetts, from north to south and east to west.
5. Field trips to “fairytale” Massachusetts spots
Thirteen
DAZZLING DESTINATIONS
from one end of the state to the other.
6. Speaker vault for August – Sonya Shafer
Our newest section of the MassHOPE website features a
CURATED LIBRARY OF
RECORDED WORKSHOPS
from past conventions. Over the years, we have had the privilege of hosting hundreds of inspiring speakers, and we periodically showcase some of their presentations on this page. For August, we invite you to listen to an inspiring message by Sonya Shafer - Laying Down Rails. In this workshop, Sonya explores the transformative role of daily habits in creating a more productive and less stressful home life. She explains how small, intentional actions can set the tone for the entire day and make learning and family life flow more naturally. You’ll discover why habits are so powerful, and come away with practical strategies you can start using right away to nurture habits that promote responsibility and harmony in your household.
7. For your encouragement: encounter at the craft store
Here’s some homeschool humor to pep you up, with
CONVERSATIONS AT THE CRAFT STORE
.
8.
In the news: teen wows the math world
Homeschooled until enrolling at the University of California Davis at the age of 15, Hannah Cairo solved a 40-year old major math “mystery” at 17. The author of this
ARTICLE
takes a couple of puzzling swipes at homeschooling, but an honest reading reveals that Hannah’s achievement was really made possible by her having been homeschooled.
9. FAITH Tutorials in Weston
FAITH Tutorials offers high school classes for homeschoolers in Weston, Massachusetts. Our classes are taught from a Christian worldview and led by highly qualified instructors in a small-class setting.
Courses offered include British Literature with a Writing Tutorial, Biology, Physics, AP Physics 1, Mixed Media Art, and Photography. We are also offering a variety of workshops, including The College Application Essay, Study Skills, Dining Etiquette, Interview Prep, Conversation Skills, and Netiquette.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please don’t hesitate to contact us at
FAITH.homeschoolers.group@gmail.com
. We would love to connect with you and share how FAITH Tutorials can enrich your homeschooling journey.
10. Field trip fun all over historic New England
HISTORIC NEW ENGLAND
, the oldest preservation organization in the country, owns and operates homes, farms, lands, and collections in every New England state except Vermont.
CLICK HERE
for descriptions of properties you can visit.
Most are open only during the summer and early fall months.
11. Speaker vault for July
Our newest section of the MassHOPE website features a
CURATED LIBRARY OF
RECORDED WORKSHOPS
from past conventions. Over the years, we have had the privilege of hosting hundreds of inspiring speakers, and we periodically showcase some of their presentations on this page. For July, we invite you to listen to an inspiring message by Jeff Myers - Cultivating Kids: Raising Children to Live Fruitful Lives. This generation of children has greater potential and opportunity than perhaps any generation in American history—and yet they’re growing up in a culture of aimlessness and passive consumerism. As one of the world’s leading authorities on youth leadership development and a homeschool dad, Dr. Myers weaves together fascinating biblical insights, penetrating social commentary and hilarious personal stories to help you see your child’s potential in a whole new way.
12. For your encouragement: debunking some myths
Here are a few areas you might be worried about.
THIS ARTICLE
should put your mind more at ease.
13. In the news:
almost 6% of U.S. kids are homeschooled
According to the
HOUSEHOLD PULSE SURVEY
of the United States Census Bureau, and reported by the journal Education Next, almost 6% of school-aged children were homeschooled during the 2022-2023 school year.
THIS ARTICLE
also cited data on demographics, income, and participation variation by state.
14. Convention recordings
Did you miss a session because there were too many great workshops to choose from? Or, sadly, did you miss the entire convention? No problem. Order session recordings individually, or get the whole set. Just click
HERE
.
15. Social media triple play
We’re on each of the Big Three: X
, Facebook, and Instagram. Our Facebook and Instagram accounts are linked, so you can follow us on Instagram and get some of the same info we post there. Go to our link -
https://www.instagram.com/massachusetts_homeschool/
-
and click “Follow.”
16. Partner with MassHOPE?
We invite you to partner with MassHOPE in supporting Christian homeschooling families across Massachusetts. As a non-profit organization, your generous donations enable us to continue providing encouragement, resources, events, and advocacy to strengthen and equip local homeschoolers. Every gift, big or small, makes a lasting impact. Please prayerfully consider making a tax-deductible
DONATION
today and join us in building up families in the year ahead.
17. Friends don’t let friends miss out on...
...important information about MassHOPE. So spread the word! Help us share the news about our convention and so much more! Tell all your homeschooling friends about
The MassHOPE Messenger
, MassHOPE's bi-weekly e-newsletter, filled with opportunities and items of interest for homeschooling families. All they need to do to receive it is to send full name and email address to
info@masshope.org
.
Help them stay informed!
Also,
while you’re at it, why don’t you start thinking about volunteering at our next convention? We need you!
18. Discounts from SchoolhouseTeachers.com
Homeschooling can be challenging.
It can be expensive, time-consuming, and confusing to choose classes and curricula for multiple students. We are writing to tell you that
SchoolhouseTeachers.com
will provide all the courses you need for homeschooling each of your preschool through graduating 12th-grade students at the discounted annual price of $179 (you save $90)
.
With hundreds of online courses, lesson plans, quizzes, tests, answer keys, certificates of completion, and streaming videos, your annual
SchoolhouseTeachers.com
membership will ensure you have a full-spectrum, non-Common Core curriculum platform to confidently educate your children at home.
Membership is good for your whole family—including grandparents—no matter how many children you have. Because everything is included online, there is no need to buy textbooks. PLUS, there are no per class, no per child, nor any other hidden fees. You can also generate quarterly report cards for each student and access help with transcript creation for your high schoolers.
SchoolhouseTeachers.com contains nearly every subject imaginable—art history, drawing, computer technology, foreign languages, history, language arts, math, music, science, and loads of electives. Let your kids help pick out their own courses!
19. 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 #21) 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.
20. 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.
21. MassHOPE Facebook discussion group
Connect with us on Facebook at
MassHOPE 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/
22.
The MassHOPE Educator ID Card
Educator IDs are available for benefits such as potential discounts at retailers. Order them from our website
HERE
.
23. 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.
24. Remember to "Like" MassHOPE on Facebook
"Like" MassHOPE's
FACEBOOK PAGE
.
You'll be encouraged in your homeschooling journey and will receive all updates for upcoming events.
25. Are you on our mailing lists?
If you are receiving this e-newsletter, you are on our email list! May we also add you to our “snail mail” list to receive occasional information via the U.S. Postal Service? If Yes, please send your full name and complete mailing address to
newsletter@masshope.org
.
26. How to homeschool legally in Massachusetts
This video features Michael Donnelly, formerly 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
.
27. Special education resources
Here are two valuable resources for homeschooling parents of special needs children.
FREE DOWNLOADS
provides IEP templates, therapy resources, a Getting Started guide, and more.
EMPOWERING HOMESCHOOL CONVERSATIONS
, which covers a wide range of issues.
28. Videos and webinars from HSLDA
T
hree-part video series on getting started:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVOzkYx2vcA&list=PLe7Gz-9V5xsWAtvLTz1gA1CYyPLBBe-Ke
.
How to Start Homeschooling with Special Needs
:
https://hslda.org/teaching-my-kids/special-needs
.
And many, many more
:
https://hslda.org/community/webinars
.
29. Get started homeschooling in Massachusetts
Check out this MassHOPE site for
getting started
.
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