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1. Get ready for free, free, free August Adventures
The Highland Street Foundation’s signature “August Adventures” program is returning this year, with one free event, site, or museum on each of the month’s 31 days. Make your summer plans now and save big on entrance fees.
CLICK HERE
to view the wide range of offerings, which span all of Massachusetts, from north to south and east to west.
Also, check out Highland Street’s annual Boston Red Sox
OUT OF THE PARK
event on Wednesday, July 16. Free food and free activities!
2. Gearing up to teach chemistry?
Hillsdale College is offering "The Great Principles of Chemistry," a free online course.
Why chemistry?
Hillsdale students study chemistry as part of their liberal arts education because the sciences help us understand important aspects of reality. It helps us think about our role as humans in the world around us and reveals the framework, implications, and potential for human life. For homeschool teachers or students, this is particularly valuable.
CLICK HERE
for a detailed course description, and to sign up.
Like all Hillsdale online courses, "The Great Principles of Chemistry" contains stunning visuals, study guides, quizzes, and in this case, hands-on experiments. This content is especially well-suited for science teachers, homeschool parents, or lifelong learners.
Hillsdale online courses are free
. That's why they depend on the generosity of people to help them share the course with as many people as possible. Donations are tax-deductible and will help promote this course. For any donation of $100 or more, you will receive a beautiful DVD box set for "The Great Principles of Chemistry," by clicking
THIS LINK
.
3. Field trip fun - with tanks - in Hudson
With its re-enactments, demonstrations, and exhibits, the
AMERICAN HERITAGE MUSEUM
in Hudson offers a hands-on education in the history of American warfare from the American Revolution through the present day. Truly a one-of-a-kind wonder, its massive collection includes armored vehicles, aircraft, and other relics. Adult admission is $23, but extra bucks can buy you some unusual experiences: for as little as a $195 tax-deductible donation, you can have a 10-minute ride in an actual World War II tank; for just under $1000 you can
LEARN TO DRIVE IT!
4. 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.
5.
For your encouragement: Think about dinner early in the day
Feeling overwhelmed? “Think about dinner early in the day” is one of the 13 tips this author offers up
HERE
.
Excellent
advice. I certainly wish I had done more of that.
6.
In the news: military support for homeschool families
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is
CALLING FOR A REVIEW
of how the military can strengthen support for its homeschooling families.
7. Field trip fun with the Shakers
(see note in text)
Extend your family’s history studies into the summer with hands-on learning about the Shakers. Of New England’s many sites, four are the most extensive and informative. Two are in Massachusetts:
HANCOCK SHAKER VILLAGE
in Hancock and Pittsfield, Massachusetts features a museum, working farm, and assorted events and workshops;
HARVARD SHAKER VILLAGE
has twelve original Shaker buildings and is part of the
FRUITLANDS MUSEUM
in Harvard. The
SABBATHDAY LAKE SHAKER VILLAGE
in New Gloucester, Maine is the “only remaining active Shaker community” in the world. It is made up of 18 buildings, including a library, store, and schoolhouse, with programs and tours also available. The largest site in the group,
CANTERBURY SHAKER VILLAGE
in Canterbury, New Hampshire, sits on almost 300 acres and contains 30 historic buildings.
[Also, Shaker Village in Hancock is
free
on August 23. See the Highland Street Foundation link in item 1.]
[NOTE: As the Shakers considered themselves Christians but had very un-orthodox doctrine, you may first want to study up on their theology in order to be able to answer your children’s inevitable questions.]
8. Speaker vault for June
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 June, we invite you to listen to an inspiring message by
Mike Donnelly - For You, Dad: Leading Your Homeschool Family.
Are you sitting on the sideline in your homeschool, Dad? Your wife needs you to get involved. But with so many demands in today’s world, how can a busy dad do it? How can you be involved in homeschooling? Would it be: teaching a class, casting a vision, leading devotions? These are all important, and in order to do these things, you must manage your schedule and carefully prioritize your time. In this talk, Mike shares how you can do all of this.
9. For your encouragement: a perspective on differences
NEVER FORGET
that the time and the place can make such a difference.
10. In the news: continued growth
The expected post-pandemic decline
NEVER MATERIALIZED
.
11. 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
.
12. 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.”
13. 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.
14. 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!
15. 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!
16. 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 #18) 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.
17. 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.
18. 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/
19.
The MassHOPE Educator ID Card
Educator IDs are available for benefits such as potential discounts at retailers. Order them from our website
HERE
.
20. 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.
21. 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.
22. 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
.
23. 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
.
24. 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.
25. 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
.
26. Get started homeschooling in Massachusetts
Check out this MassHOPE site for
getting started
.
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