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photo by kladcat
Et tu, Brute?
Yeah, that’s about all the Latin I knew prior to homeschooling.
But then I got mixed up with the Classical crowd and since the study of Latin goes hand in hand with Classical curriculum, I found myself in the thick of it all wearing nothing but a toga.
OK, not really, but I got your attention, didn’t I!
Latin in those early years was a nightmare. The curriculum I had chosen was too teacher intensive and too much for a teacher who didn’t know a thing about Latin. I quickly dropped it from the schedule and ignored the niggling in the back of my mind that I had done something wrong.
And then my son asked to learn Latin.
I wanted to cry.
I had long since sold the old Latin curriculum, and I imagined all other Latin courses would be the same. But this is my son we are talking about here. The son who wants to go into some field of science. The son who knows what he wants and knows how to get there. Latin was in his plan whether I liked it or not.
So, I hit the homeschool convention scene with Latin on the brain. My first stop was the Classical homeschooling booth where they pointed me in the direction of another booth. A booth that I would spend the next hour standing near, listening, watching, believing.
Believing learning Latin had merit. Believing I could teach Latin. Believing my son’s plan just might work!
This booth was the Latin for Children booth. I met the author himself. I watched several of his videos. I explained our specific circumstances. I walked away with everything I needed, satisfied that I had just purchased a Latin program that would work and would not require me to know a lick of Latin.
You see, Latin for Children is a self-taught curriculum. With video, audio, and workbooks, your child learns Latin in your home from an expert! No fumbling over pronunciations, no wondering if your child is getting it, no time taken out of your day to teach something you don’t feel qualified to teach. And it is actually fun!
And guess what? Latin has a purpose!
Did you know much of the English language is comprised of Latin derivatives? Did you know many other languages also have Latin roots? Did you know learning Latin will help your child in science, English-Literature, and foreign language?
I am so glad I gave Latin another chance! Even if you don’t do a full-blown Latin curriculum, you too should consider giving Latin a chance! Incorporating Latin into your homeschool in some form will enhance your child’s learning experience and open up a world of vocabulary and knowledge you never knew existed.
Here are a few resources to get you started:
Rummy Roots– Great for those who just want to “play” with learning Latin. This is a fun set of games aimed at introducing Latin and the etymology of English words into your child’s vocabulary.
Latin for Children – This is the program we use. Video, audio, and workbook are included in this curriculum, making it very easy to use.
Visual Latin – This downloadable curriculum is comparable to Latin for Children.
Learn Latin Online – I’ve never used this curriculum, but it is FREE…can’t be all bad!
Online Latin Games – Site that has games aimed at learning basic Latin
Amy can be found writing at Raising Arrows.
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I’m so excited because this is the curriculum I’ve chosen to teach Latin this year and next. So happy to hear a good review about it. 🙂
I also recently discovered Lively Latin http://www.livelylatin.com/site/index.php which works well for me because we will be moving overseas and it’s available in PDF format. Looks good, too.
I saw your title and the first thing that came to mind was I am going to leave a comment and tell her about Latin For Children. I just looked at it and am getting ready to purchase it! I took Latin in school and although it did not go well do to lack of finding purpose in it ahhh I digress My Point is. ;-D that Latin for Children is the really laid out the best for learning. I am not being paid to say this. hmm maybe I should be… anyway Great post. 😀
Kelly K
We used Latin for Children this year and I love that its self guided. I wanted to share a very helpful link I found during the year that we used with our Latin for Children curriculum. A place online, Headventure Land has ‘Flash Dash’, a flashcard review specifically for Latin for Children. It’s on page three (I think I’m linking directly to it here: http://headventureland.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=itemlist&layout=category&Itemid=112&limitstart=30) There are also other latin games and such if you look in the left hand column. Every couple of days after doing her latin, I would have my daughter go online and use this flashcard review. Made a huge difference.
Wonderful! Thank you so much!
I wonder if you wouldn’t mind naming the program you found too teacher intensive. There are so many out there that it so hard to pick. I’d like to avoid making the same mistakes.
Karen,
It was Prima Latina. Perhaps their program has changed in the years since I used it, but I could not make it work.
Blessings,
Amy
Thank you. This was the program I was looking at. Thank you for your input. Now I will look more closely at both programs before deciding.
Is this a secular program?