STARBASE and a New Instrument

It's been a big week for Cullen!

Tuesday, along with some homeschooling friends, he participated in the first session of the STARBASE program at Dobbins Air Reserve Base. They will meet each Tuesday, from 9:00 AM till 2:30 PM, through the first week in May to learn science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in a highly hands-on environment, with special emphasis on real-world application and careers in these fields.

Thursday was especially exciting for an entirely different reason. Cullen began learning to play the violin! I have video of his instructor helping him through his first notes, but I have been strictly forbidden from posting this online. Here, instead, is a photo of the new virtuoso-in-training as he practices consistently touching only one string at a time with the bow. Not as easy as you might think, folks!

He has not abandoned the piano. Actually, he seems to be more motivated and to enjoy playing more lately. Just yesterday, he informed his piano teacher that he would like to take part in the upcoming recital. Huge surprise! A few weeks ago, just hearing the "r" word spoken aloud would have sent him into a meltdown. The growing confidence and courage make me very proud of this young man.

Visit to Booth Western Art Museum

Since we've wrapped up reading about the western expansion movement, this was the perfect week to drive up to the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville, GA. I fully intended to enjoy the visit, but the museum exceeded all of my expectations! Amazing artwork across many styles, authentic Native American artifacts, thoughtful and dramatic presentation of the art with great respect for conveying the historical significance in a stunning building all made for the perfect field trip destination.

There are several Western Galleries, a sculpture court, temporary exhibit areas, a Civil War gallery, and the Hall of Presidents. Cullen especially enjoyed the chance to see a sample of each President's handwriting. The authentic coaches on display were an extra treat.

In the basement, we found a special hands-on area for kids. While this is really targeted toward the younger set, my oh-so-grown-up ten-year-old couldn't get enough of this life-sized play horse.

We plan to visit again, especially when Cullen gets a little farther along in learning about the Civil War. In the meantime, I think I'll find a nearby horse ranch to go riding!

Weekly Update with an Epic Science Experiment

I am finally resolved that our days will never be as structured and scripted as most people think school should be. As long as the learning is happening and the little neurons are firing, that is enough.

History this week covered topics of slavery, which will be picked up on again later, and western expansion with readings from A History of U.S., The New Nation, a book on The Oregon Trail, and a handful of BrainPop videos.

Reading history lesson aloud in the voice of an old pioneer woman while wearing your pajamas and wallowing around on the floor with your dog is just one of many advantages to learning at home.

Cullen is reading A Wrinkle in Time, which was one of his big sister's favorites at his age. (I still have to read this myself. Maybe I'll borrow his copy after he goes to bed.) The highlight from language arts learning this week has to be a session of taking turns creating sentences with direct objects, indirect objects and subject complements, then identifying those elements in the other's sentences. The subject matter got sillier as we went along.

The biggest news from our week is shown in this video from Cullen's experiment in science class:

 

 

Weekly Wrap-up

Things are clipping along here in most areas. My focus is now on encouraging and enabling Cullen to take more responsibilty for his own learning. Baby steps are still progress and will be celebrated as such! There are, of course, things that we will continue to do together because they work better that way AND because I like spending time with this young man of mine. He seems to really enjoy our discussion-driven MCT language arts, asking for it nearly every day. Truth is, he'd rather talk than read or write any day. Now that I know this, I am not above taking full advantage of it!

Snapped this while he was watching and listening to today's math lesson. Thinking cap??

Kid Coder Windows Programming is new to our curriculum mix this past week. (My cousin, Jamie, reviewed this recently on her blog.) Cullen has been pointing out things he already knows, that he picked up on his own for scripting games on Roblox. Those were his words; I am only loosely understanding what that means. He has the gumption to go find out what he needs to know, which is terrific! Hopefully he can fill in the gaps with this and move on to learning Java soon. He is eager to learn to "make mods" for Minecraft. Again, I think I know what that means.

We really enjoyed seeing Black Violin with Drums in concert last week. I say concert, but it was really more of a giant violin party. Giant, as in 3000+ screaming kids who were seriously loving what they were hearing. These classically trained musicians have developed their own mash-up of classical music with an infusion of hip-hop for a terrific high-energy sound. If you get the chance to see them in your town, don't miss it. Cullen already downloaded their album from iTunes and now wants to learn to play the violin. (grin)



Linking up this week with Kris at Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers!



A Very Quick Update

Finally, we are hitting our stride again with school-type work! This has been a terrific couple of weeks for both of us. Better attitudes all around. (Yes, I mean me, too.)

The highlight of last week was getting to see a performance of Rock the Presidents. It was really more than just "getting to see" it, as the event involved a great deal of audience participation. This is a wonderful show. I'm such a history sap, though, that I cried during the ballad about John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. If you get a chance to take your kids, don't miss it.

Cullen's current obsession area of greatest interest is stop motion video and recording video of himself as he plays a computer game. The finished film shows the game screen as he would see it with a smaller screen-in-screen showing himself making a running commentary as he plays. Does that make any sense? Somewhere, he discovered software which would allow him to do this, downloaded it and learned how to use it. I am still wondering who would want to actually watch this sort of thing! He assures me that there is a market. ;o)

Here he is with one of two really cool books we just bought - the old and new testaments of the Bible illustrated with LEGOS. Seriously! He finds them "quite humorous" and tremendously interesting. Great for visually-oriented thinkers. Look for The Brick Bible, The New Testament, and The Brick Bible, A New Spin on the Old Testament.



Enrichment Classes

Cullen has been enjoying a couple of fun enrichment classes through a local homeschool group, GA-EPH. Every Wednesday morning, he meets with other homeschoolers for an art class and a hands-on science class.

 

The art teacher presents information on a particular artist or art movement, the class discusses, then the kids work on a related project. Here are a couple of Cullen's creations.



 

Watercolor Weaving

Pop Art Sculpture

In his second class, he is exploring electricity and magnetism with a TOPS unit and a great teacher who encourages the kids to dig in on their own. Cullen zapped his fingers a few times during the first few classes, frustrating himself, but now seems to have a handle on how to prevent accidental shocks. I like the TOPS simplicity and inquiry-based format so well, I will likely order more of these to use at home.

 

Another benefit of this type of class is the opportunity for cooperative learning and collaboration. Being a one-child homeschool, we have to be intentional in finding ways to practice these. Working on a project with Mom just isn't the same!

A Peek at Our Week

This has been a week of crazy ups and downs with Cullen's nasty cold, fever and unexplained sleep challenges. Even in the most difficult times, there are moments that shine. And I am especially thankful for the flexibilty of learning at home when he isn't feeling well.

His favorite activity of the week, by far, was his science experiment. There is something about mixing up random household substances into sometimes slimy, smelly or bubbly combinations. Yes, he was making observations looking for indications that a chemical change had occurred, but he is enough of a boy that his lab sheet has one entry that reads, "React, bubbles, poopy colored fizz."

 

Book in progress this week is Lassie, Come Home, which is filled with new vocabulary, but he is completely immersed in the story. Dividing with decimals is our current focus in math. In history, we've just come through the War of 1812, and Cullen has done notebook pages for Presidents Madison and Monroe. We are both enjoying Grammar Town as we finish it up.

 

Though too sick to make his piano lesson this week, he is just beginning a new level of instructional books and working on some Christmas songs. There are little duet parts for the instructor to play, which I am trying to polish up so I can play with him.

  

Since he was awake till some point after midnight last night, then up this morning at 4:00, unable to go back to sleep, I foresee a day of more lying around on the couch than heavy academics.

Maybe we'll just do a little decorating for Christmas and drink hot chocolate.

Sounds like a plan!


   

Field Trip: Stone Mountain

After a great week of school, we took a trip Friday to the Homeschool Day at Stone Mountain Park on the other side of Atlanta. Walker and Cullen had both looked forward to this. Note the happy faces and coordinating sunglasses. They're just cool like that!

The Sky Hike attraction had to be first on the list of things to do. This ridiculously high ropes course took a bit of time and a lot of nerve to navigate, but these two managed to conquer all fear. Here are a few of my favorite shots, taken safely from my spot on the ground.

 

The museum was a wealth of information on the history of the area, from the time of prehistoric Native Americans, through early settlers, Civil War, reconstruction period, all the way to modern time. A special exhibit detailed the monumental sculpture carved into the side of the mountain and how it was created. A life-sized replica of one of the horses was an irresistible photo op. 

A trip to the top was, of course, an absolute must. Much like I would imagine the surface of the moon, except with more gravity, tourists, an occasional scrubby tree and a snack shop, the top was pitted and pocked from erosion. These two loved it.

 



 We had fun searching out odd carvings left in the granite over the years. Most were just initials or names, but this one had a readable date of July 4, 1912.

 

Cullen took great pride in locating the official marker at the summit.

 

 

 It gave us an arrow north for bearing, which helped us locate Kennesaw Mountain on the horizon near our home. Amazing, how many miles we could see even on an overcast day.

 

A little earth science, a little history, a little P.E. and a lot of fun equals a terrific outing!

 

 

 



What a summer!



 

 

First away-from-home camp with church friends got mixed reviews. Looks like he had fun, but he wants either his dad or me to chaperone next year if he goes again.

This was Cullen's fourth year at Kid Chess Day Camp. His friend, Jackson, came, too, this time making it even more fun.

Of course, there were plenty of lazy moments like this.

Take advantage of all the cuddle time you can, Dad. He is growing too fast!

Hamming for the camera on his tenth birthday.

We took a stop in Chattanooga with friends. He is practicing being taller than me here.

The long walk underground through caverns to see Ruby Falls was full of wonders, but it was a little chilly that deep inside of a mountain.

Cullen was fascinated with the shark exhibits and especially the live sharks at the Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg.

Which one of you is Nemo?











 




Ziplining in Gatlinburg was a blast! He showed no fear whatsoever. We could have done this for hours more. Next time...

 

Rafting on the Pigeon River required a little more nerve. The rapids were kid-friendly but did knock him off his seat a few times. Our boat mates are Estelle, a friend from high school, and her son, Kaden. And of course, our guide who did all of the actual work.



 

 

 

 

 

 

The usual silliness with Walker during a visit to Six Flags. The water park area made a hot, muggy day turn out to be big fun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                    Ready for the new school year!