Logic + Vocabulary Programs??

Bookworm,

What Latin curriculum do you recommend? I currently have a 7th and 5th grader and I do have Rummy Roots and an older version of Latina Christiana I. I never used any of it since I started using a totally new curriculum last year and I wanted to focus on using it proficiently before tackling too much at one time. A friend also blessed me with “English from The Roots Up.” I also haven’t used it either.

I would like to start Latin with my girls, especially my 7th grader who hasn’t had any Latin.  Any help you provide would be appreciated.

God bless!

Hi, Sharon!

1.  A good basic understanding of the parts of speech and direct vs. indirect object would be good.  The book does include some instruction in this also, introduced as needed.  So you don’t need to be a whiz, just know the difference between, say, a subject noun and an object noun, that sort of thing.

2.  It is excellent in high school, but I begin it in fifth or sixth grade myself.  My middle son began this program in 5th grade.  We didn’t move QUITE as quickly at first as it recommends, to give him some time to adapt, but that’s OK.

3.  I’m not sure what you mean about college credit?  You could certainly apply it to her high school transcript as credit, but there would be no way to get college credit for a course like this done at home, that I know of, except the possibility of testing out of levels when you get to college. 

4.  One of the reaons I chose this program is I didn’t want to have to do one program and then change to another.  I had  thought of doing Latina Christiana and then moving into Henle, but I just wanted to do everything ONCE.  So, no, I don’t think that is necessary.  I think the only adaptation you need to make to this kid-friendly book is to move a little slower in the 5th or 6th grade than you might for high school.  It is not at all dull and dry like Henle, for example. 

Hope this helps!  Ask me more questions if you like and also the authors will answer questions through the contact form on the Latin Trivium website.

I love a bargain too!  Billiejo, there is some basic instruction in the first book.  Parts of speech, parts of sentences.  It would be enough to get you started but it would be good, if they don’t know it yet, to do some review of those things.  Pick a sentence out of one of their books a few times a week and write it up on the board and identify the subject, the predicate, the parts of speech of the various words, and identify subject nouns, direct object nouns, objects of prepositions.  That should help you out.

I personally don’t teach “vocabulary” as a subject.  Your kids will be getting all the Latin derivatives you need–you know, those $10 words on the SAT–as they learn the Latin.  We also keep a lookout  here for words from Greek to pick up as well–we just pick them up as we read, look them up, and sometimes learn a Greek root or something like that.  I’d still consider having them bring you interesting words from their reading.  I’ve been known to “bribe” gently to get this done–little things like picking what subject they want next, or getting to pick their characters at Shakespeare reading first if they came up with the most interesting word, or having  them “help” Daddy by bringing him a “cool word from our readings for the day” at the dinner table . . . there are ways to make it fun!  And retention will be better IMO. 

Please do make use of the online help if you need it at http://www.latintrivium.com  Did you get a pronunciation CD?  My kids think the guy’s voice is funny–kind of a monotone–but it’s helpful.  We make flashcard boxes for our words and review them every day.  Have fun!

Bookworm, I was intrigued by your Latin recommendation and was checking out the site.  I can see where the CD and activity sheets would be useful.  Is the Teacher’s Edition necessary/helpful?  Does it depend on how comfortable you are with teaching in general or is there information relevant to the Latin that is not in the student book?  Not so sure about the tests either.  Could you shed some light?

Thank you,

Jone

Bookworm,

Thank you so much for your timely and helpful response.