Welcome to The MassHOPE Messenger, an up-to-the-minute e-mail summary of events and other opportunities for homeschoolers as well as other news items related to home education. Please note that listing of items herein that are not sponsored by MassHOPE does not imply endorsement by MassHOPE. Due diligence should be exercised in determining what you consider appropriate for your own family.

Thanksgiving will probably look different for your family this year, but we hope you have time to reflect on the many blessings in your life. Let us not be remiss in thanking the Lord for all He has done for us and for his daily provisions.
Also, for those who may be wondering, there will be no Turkey Bowl football game! We hope you can enjoy a special day with your family! Calendar of future MassHOPE events:
May 6-8, 2021 – Annual homeschool and family discipleship convention, Sturbridge Host Hotel & Conference Center, Sturbridge, Massachusetts
1. Opportunity for students to publish research papers
Since 1987 The Concord Review (TCR) has published 1,394 research papers from authors in 46 U.S. States and 42 other countries. TCR remains the only quarterly journal in the world to publish the academic history papers of secondary students and believes that the pursuit of academic excellence in secondary schools should be given the same attention as the pursuit of excellence in STEM and other extracurricular activities. 
Our Winter Issue (Volume 31, Number Two) contains 11 essays on various historical topics, and there is an essay on “The Freedmen’s Bureau” by a home scholar from Brentwood, Tennessee. We invite you to find out more information and to subscribe to the journal on our website! For more information please contact Robert Nasson at nasson@tcr.org.

2. MassHOPE Speaker Vault: Voddie Baucham
To commemorate MassHOPE’s 30 years of service to the Christian homeschool community, we thought it would be timely and encouraging to highlight some of the amazing homeschool speakers from our annual conventions. Through the end of the year, we are releasing, at no cost, convention keynote sessions and particularly helpful workshop sessions. Click this link to access “MassHOPE Speaker Vault” where we will feature these sessions for a limited time. Each will be available for approximately two weeks. The next one in this series is Voddie Baucham’s “Education and Worldview” from our 2014 convention. We trust that this will bless and encourage your family as we navigate these unusual times.

3. Box Tops convention credit program to be discontinued
MassHOPE will be discontinuing its Box Tops program after December 31 of this year. (Recent changes to the program have had the unfortunate effect of discouraging participation. You may have noticed that almost no products still have clip-able Box Tops, and soon there will be none at all. The only way to redeem Box Tops will be to scan the purchase from your store receipt, which has proved to be a burdensome method for many.)
If you still have any non-expired Box Tops around the house and want credit for the 2021 convention, or just want to donate them to MassHOPE, now is the time to send them in. Just make sure to mail them before January 1. 
Many of you mailed in Box Tops during 2019 for the 2020 convention. Because that event was cancelled due to COVID restrictions, you will receive credit toward the 2021 convention.
Thanks to everyone who participated over the years! Your support of MassHOPE is truly appreciated.
  
4. 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. 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/

5. 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.

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

7. 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.

8. 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. 

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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!

12. Homeschooling in Massachusetts
Check out this MassHOPE site for getting started.

13. Video help for getting started, from HSLDA
This free 7-part video series is 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!

14. 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-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.

15. 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.

16. 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 Root
Home-school family feels the impact of social distancing, offers advice to other families by Tiffany Kafer
5 Tips From Homeschool Veterans For Parents New To Learning At Home by Laura Isensee