We have links for last minute gifts and the opportunity to receive a free teaching resource in this month's newsletter. We also have updates on our regular features like AI and ACT tips. And, we have new podcast episodes. It's a busy time of year, but you need a break, so grab a cup of coffee and browse this month's newsletter!
Disclosure: This newsletter may feature affiliate links, which means we will earn a small commission if you purchase through the links provided.
JUST FOR YOU:
December Special
Receive a teaching resource of your choice for FREE with any purchase!
Just make a purchase of any amount this month (Including the Scratch contest!), add one teaching resource (priced up to $3.99) to your cart, use the code FREETR, and you'll receive that resource at no cost. Think of it as a little Christmas gift from us.
You can check out our teaching resources here. My recommendation it grab a digital breakout and do it as a family over the holidays.
This offer is good through December 31, 2025.
| February Poll: How many books do your children typically read in a year? |
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Contest of the Month
Illustrators of the Future Contest
Quarterly Contest Deadlines for 2025-2026:
- First Quarter--December 31, 2025
- Second Quarter--March 31, 2026
- Third Quarter-- June 30, 2026
- Fourth Quarter--September 30, 2026
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Science fiction and fantasy artists have an opportunity to win cash prizes in this contest.
The contest runs all year, and you can enter once per quarter. AI art is not accepted. You must submit three science fiction or fantasy pieces of artwork in color or black and white.
Entries in the contest are judged by professional artists. Three prizes of $500 are awarded each quarter. A grand prize winner is selected from the twelve quarterly winners each year to receive the L. Ron Hubbard Golden Brush Award and an additional $5,000 cash prize.
See the rules for more details.
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The Homeschool Quest Holiday Giveaway 2025 is here! $2000 in homeschool resources is up for grabs, handpicked for every age and stage.
🎁 Grand Prize For Mom ($41 value): Beautiful complete set of Jane Austen books and a self-care gift set for much-deserved pampering this holiday season.
🎁 PreK-1st Bundle ($518 value): Dyslexia screening, phonics worksheets, Spanish bundles, and emotional learning tools.
🎁 2nd-5th Bundle ($781 value): Newbery Book Club, escape room logic puzzles, and a 6-month Blue Manor Academy membership.
🎁 6th-12th Bundle ($651 value): STEM bundles, speech courses, AI unit study from us at FundaFunda, and a $50 Amazon card + $100 in free resources from Tide Wind Academy.
PLUS: Every winner gets a 1-year HQ Club membership, because homeschooling should be as joyful as the holidays!
🔗 Enter now (ends 12/24): https://smll.ink/2025christmasgiveaway
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Use Brisk to create self-grading quizzes, presentations, and even lesson plans using your Google Slides.
You can also convert any online text into a Google Doc and adjust it for different reading levels. You can even translate the document into another language.
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FundaFunda Contest News
There is still time for students in 4th -12th grade to compete in our Scratch Coding Contest! Students new to coding will be able to watch video tutorials to help them get started learning to code in Scratch. It really is VERY easy.
The task will be to create an interactive Christmas scene using Scratch. Scratch is a free online drag-and-drop programming language that makes it very easy to code. All the instructions will be provided in the online classroom students will access after registering.
Students will be divided into 2 groups – those new to programming in Scratch and those with some experience. They will not be competing against each other. The age of the student will also be taken into account when we judge entries.
First place in each division (new programmer/those with some experience) is a $20 Amazon gift card. A runner up in each division will receive a $10 Amazon gift card.
All students will receive a $10 coupon to use on any of our programming classes.
The final project submission due date for the 2025 contest is December 23rd, 2025.
We have a Vocabulary Contest coming in January! Because of the holiday busyness, the contest will run for the second half of the month to give more students an opportunity to participate. Watch for more details in the January newsletter!
Congratulations Cort W.!
You are our November Photography Contest Winner!
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Spring Semester classes BEGIN January 5, 2026.
Register here for spring semester classes.
Economics, World Geography, and all electives (Art History, Artificial Intelligence for Teens, Graphic Design, Health, Personal Finance, Theatre, Visual Literacy, and Photography) are offered.
This month, we have educational gift ideas and resources for you. If you need a last-minute gift, or you just want to plan ahead for next year (or a birthday), check out the links below.
Stocking Stuffers:https://www.sensiblehomeschool.com/your-a-to-z-guide-the-best-kids-stocking-stuffer-ideas/
Stocking Stuffers for Homeschool Families: https://www.fundafundaacademy.com/stocking-stuffers-for-homeschool-families/
Gifts to Spark Creativity in Teens: https://www.fundafundaacademy.com/gifts-to-spark-creativity-in-teens/
Stem Gifts Under $50: https://www.fundafundaacademy.com/stem-gifts-under-50-dollars/
Educational Gifts Under $25: https://www.fundafundaacademy.com/25-fun-educational-gifts-under-25-for-teens-and-tweens/
Science Gifts: https://kristinmoonscience.com/supplies-for-exploring-science-at-home/
FundaFunda's Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/fundafunda We have lots of board game ideas as well as other ideas for educational toys.
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Math Calculator Tips
ACT has put together some videos to help students learn ways to use their TI graphing calculator (or the online Desmos calculator) on the ACT math test.
Each video is under 5 minutes, easy to follow, and packed with testing strategies and time-saving tips.
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Latest Podcast Episodes
In our Homeschooling with Technology podcast, we explore new and different ways of using technology in homeschooling. There is an episode released every week!
You can start listening at any time. Just click on a link to listen in a browser, or find the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Email me if you need help! We have a tab on our website to browse through all our past podcast episodes easily. Check it out!
Learn how to make this an AI-Powered Holiday Season! If the holidays feel overwhelming, especially for moms carrying the mental load, AI can help you offload decisions, plan your days, generate gift ideas, create activities, and more.
Code.org has transformed its annual Hour of Code into the Hour of AI, offering a wide variety of free, interactive activities that help students understand artificial intelligence—not just coding. There are many resources to try such as AI Quest, Multiplayer Puzzle Game Creator, Vibe Coding, and MORE!
Meryl discusses why STEM gifts matter for kids and teens—and how choosing the right ones can build creativity, problem-solving, and curiosity. Whether you’re catching Black Friday sales or shopping any time of year, today’s episode is packed with practical ideas for skill-building gifts.
In this episode, Meryl talks with Matt Dalio, founder of Endless Studios, about why game creation—not just game playing—can equip teens with powerful, real-world skills for future careers.
In this episode, we explore the alarming rise of AI companion usage among teenagers and the serious risks these tools pose. While AI can be incredibly useful for education and productivity, AI companions designed to fulfill emotional and social roles present unique dangers that most parents are unaware of.
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Free Resource Library for Subscribers
Access the Free Resources Library HERE. Password: edufun
