Pace of Latin Prep Book 1

[mamato9]

I'm going to be teaching this next year to a class of 5th - 7th graders. We are using Cambridge this year but I am just not jiving with this text. So most of the students will have had at least this first year exposure. We will have a 30 week school year. Looking at my copy of Latin Prep it almost seems like I could have my students finish this text in less than a year. I am going to be using the readings in Cambridge too but still if I broke up Latin Prep into our school year we would take 3 weeks per chapter. Is that too slow? I should say we meet once a week for class and then have assignemnt they are to complete at home for the remainder of the week. So would it be realistic to take at the most 2 weeks per chapter? I am also thinking of going through the Cambridge readings faster than one stage in 2 weeks since we will have already read through the book. I just want to be realistic and know what I should be able to expect from the average student.

Thanks so much
Lora

[Laura Corin]

It really depends how much grammar they have absorbed from Cambridge. I did Cambridge 30 years ago (eeek!) and it was very light on grammar, but I think it has changed a bit.

FWIW, our standard is to spend half an hour, twice a week, working on exercises and briefly reviewing memorisation. In addition, Calvin spends two fifteen minute sessions memorising. At that rate, we get through just under a book per year (38 weeks).

Best wishes

Laura

[mamato9]

Thank you Laura. Yes, Cambridge is VERY light on grammar. The kids have hit a wall and so I am resorting to my prevous experience with LC and having them memorize and chant. So looking through the Latin Prep book most of it will be review but after a long summer they will need it.

Do you think it would be too much to plan on going through Latin Prep in in half the year, so like 15 - 20 weeks then the last half of the year start Book 2?

Lora

[Laura Corin]

How much time are you expecting them to work each week? And are you wanting them to use all the exercises, even if they are review? We find that each exercise takes twenty minutes (Latin to English) to half an hour (English to Latin). That might give you an idea of how fast you can move.

Would it be possible to start the year and see how you go?

Laura