1. MassHOPE graduation ceremony – June 11, 2022
Do you have a graduating senior this year? Have you given any thought yet on how you will commemorate this milestone? This year MassHOPE will hold its formal graduation ceremony at 2 p.m. on June 11, at Heritage Bible Chapel in Princeton. This is an opportunity to invite your family and friends to join in a celebration of both the accomplishments and the plans of your student. Information will be ready for distribution very soon. If you would like to receive this information, please send an email, including the name of your graduate, to graduation@masshope.org. 

2. Old Sturbridge Village home school offerings 
From Liz O’Grady at Old Sturbridge Village: 
Hope your New Year is off to a great start! Our first Home School Day of 2022 is scheduled for Friday, February 4. During this Home School Day, we will be exploring a New England winter and early 19th-century African American figures. Pre-registration is required for all workshops and spaces fill up fast. Click HERE to learn more or to register.
We’re also excited to announce several special winter sessions just for homeschoolers! First, we have live 3D tours of the Pottery Shop and Print Shop where participants join knowledgeable museum educators for a virtual tour from the comfort of home. Second, we have two multi-day, in-person, hands-on sessions designed specifically for home school teens. Pre-registration is also required for these winter sessions and we expect spaces to fill up fast. Click HERE to learn more about winter sessions, or to register for them.

3. Free course on the American story
From Kyle Murnen, Director of Online Learning, Hillsdale CollegeAs we look toward the beginning of a new year, we at Hillsdale College aim to find ways to continue doing what we love—teaching the things that will perpetuate civil and religious liberty in America. Because one of the best things to know is the story of our nation, we have organized a special eight-week study group of one of our most popular online courses, “The Great American Story: A Land of Hope.” In this course, historian Wilfred M. McClay examines the story of America as a land of hope, founded on high principles. And like all of Hillsdale’s online courses, it is offered free of charge.
Those who enroll in this special study group will receive a syllabus that organizes the course into 24 lessons over eight weeks. They will also have the chance to engage with fellow students on a private discussion board to foster the true spirit of a “college” as a means to build friendships by learning together. Students in this study group will also receive exclusive access to a livestream Q & A with Dr. McClay. This free special study group begins on Tuesday, January 10. To secure your spot today, click on this link: https://online.hillsdale.edu/study-group/the-great-american-story.

4. Some New Year cheer from a secular Harvard study
You may remember reading about Elizabeth Bartholet, the Harvard Law School professor whose attacks on homeschooling were clearly aimed at having it banned. One of her claims was that we have “zero evidence that, on average, homeschoolers are doing well.” However, a new study also out of Harvard is showing quite the opposite, and the authors specifically challenge Bartholet. Read articles HERE and HERE to be encouraged!

5. 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 below:
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.”

6. Learn through primary sources with free resource
From Therese Perlowski: tperlowski@internet2.eduThe 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

7. 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 ROCKEDlaunched on November 12, but there are plenty of viewing dates left. You can see a trailer or order your tickets HERE. Schoolhouse 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!

8. 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.

9. 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 #9, 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.

10. 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.

11. 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/

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

13. Are you on our mailing lists?
To those who have been recently added to our email list through our website: if youwould 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.

14. 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. 

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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!

18. 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.

19. Videos and webinars from HSLDA
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&A, with Ainsley Arment, Wild + Free founder, and Natalie Mack, HSLDA High School Consultant.Homeschooling Through Major Life Changes—Q&A, with 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&A, Nov. 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.

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

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. 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