1. Used curriculum trunk sale
We are happy to announce MassHOPE's 2022 used curriculum trunk sale - -
Location: Chapel of the Cross, 160 Flanders Road, Westborough
Date: Saturday, June 25, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (Rain date: July 9)
Sellers will set up their homeschool goods in the trunks of their cars, spread out on a blanket, or on a table they bring.
Buyers will shop flea market style, searching for their hidden treasures!
There is NO FEE to sell, but sellers must register. To do so, please send a request to info@masshope.org, including your full name and cell phone number. Registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
There are more than thirty-five sellers, with more still registering. Tell all your friends to come. This is the place to be for used curriculum bargains!
Hope to see you all there!
2. FAITH Homeschool cooperative and tutorials
The FAITH homeschool cooperative currently has openings available for next year. They meet in Weston on Fridays and serve families from a range of surrounding towns. As a co-op, they offer parent-led enrichment and academic classes for children in kindergarten through grade 8. They also offer high school tutorial classes for students in grade 9 and above including Physics, Literature and Writing, Engaging Culture - A Christian Perspective, and Drama Production.
In addition, FAITH offers proctored standardized testing using the IOWA tests, various field trips, a Christmas recital, a field day, and one large group event per year which rotates between a science fair, a geography fair, and dramatic productions. The mothers meet separately at least three times during the academic year in the evening for a time of fellowship and encouraging one another in their homeschooling journey.
3. Does homeschooling provide creative and social boosts?
The National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI), headed by Brian Ray, has posted a review of an intriguing Israeli study (including a link to only its abstract, as the full article is behind a paywall). The conclusion of the study was that the homeschooled Israeli students had a statistically significant “higher level of creative thinking” than their contemporaries who attended public schools. Interestingly, although NHERI reported only on the creative thinking findings, this study also looked at “social competencies” – which were also found to be “higher” among homeschoolers than their traditionally-schooled peers. “But what about socialization?” anyone?
4. New Hope Courses for Homeschoolers open for registration
New Hope Courses for Homeschoolers-- serving the North Shore of Boston and beyond -- is accepting registrations for 2022-2023. Since 1999, New Hope has partnered with homeschooling parents by offering high-quality, small-group courses for middle school and high school students as well as workshops for ages 8 to 10. Our students enjoy being part of a community of homeschoolers where courses are taught from a decidedly Biblical perspective. Our skilled educators are all committed Christians who are encouraged to share their faith in the Risen Lord, making Christ Himself the "Cornerstone" of our community of learning.
Families choose from a menu of high-quality courses which meet 1-2 times/week on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Register for just one course or several depending on your need. Choose from courses in the humanities, STEM, world languages, or electives such as art, karate, or public speaking. Students and families also have access to social events and student groups which foster relationships and community.
6–8-week workshops for children ages 8 to 10 are offered on an ongoing basis.
For complete course information and to learn more about New Hope, please browse our website at www.newhopecourses.org. If you like what you see, we hope you will reach out to our registrar, Martha Geraghty, at martha.geraghty@newhopecoures.org or (978) 965-8601 to take next steps. New Hope is currently located at First Church Congregational in Boxford, conveniently located right off of I-95.
5. “Folk and fiddle” camp at Thayer Conservatory
"Folk and Fiddle Camp at the Barn" presented by Thayer Conservatory. Learn fun fiddle and dance tunes, and make new friends! All levels welcome from beginner to advanced. Violin, cello, bass, ukulele, guitar, recorder, tin whistle, and percussion players are welcome.
Contact Kathryn Kalmansson at (text) 978-413-9117 or (email)
6. Pioneer Village now open in Salem
Salem's Pioneer Village, which recreates the small settlement of Salem in 1630, has finally opened for the season. Very small in scale compared to the Sturbridge and Plimoth living history museums, and open only on weekend afternoons. But you can’t beat the $5 entrance fee!
7. For your encouragement: a look at homeschooling and its future by outsider academics
Published in Education Next, the authors – both university professors - do a deep dive into the homeschool movement. They don’t seem particularly keen on the practice, but their purposeful lack of bias leads them to admit, at the end, “If Wearne’s assessment is correct, homeschoolers, once thought of as traditionalists holding onto the past, may be an advance guard moving toward a new educational future.”
8. Convention recordings available
Recordings are available from our recent convention. If there was a particular session you'd like to hear again or share with others, or if there is a subject you wish you had been there to hear, go to https://www.alliancerecordings.com/index.cfm? to find the recordings. Under "Featured Conferences" to the right on the homepage, click on MA-2022 to get a listing of speakers and sessions. Next to each session title, "Show More" will give a session description
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 #11, 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.
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. Your news items wanted
14. Remember to "Like" MassHOPE on Facebook
15. Are you on our mailing lists?
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
19. Videos and webinars from HSLDA
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).
20. MassHOPE: homeschooling in Massachusetts
21. A bevy of materials, offers, and helps
My Father’s World materials. Includes offer of two free activity packs.
Notgrass History web-based curriculum. Free trial.
Free language arts lessons from IEW.
The importance of Christian homeschool organizations for homeschool freedom.
YouTube with Dr. Kathy Koch: Having Conversations about Today's Tough Stuff
Remember Adventures in Odyssey? Free 28-day trial.
Family activities from the Billy Graham Library.
22. Variety of interesting sites suggested by the Heritage Foundation
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
