Secular Latin--Wheelock?

[Pencil Pusher]

Ds7 will be in 3rd g next yr, & I'd like to start Latin either then or next yr. (Only considering waiting because of new baby.)

Prima Latina seems to be the general concensus here, but I *think* I'd prefer something secular. I LOVED Wheelock in college, & I'm dreaming of something like that, but for a younger audience.

I was also hoping to cut grammar & address it through Latin. I know in a previous thread, Plaid Dad, you suggested Lively Latin would address both of these. I've followed a few threads re: LL, & I'm too scared of the kinks that are still being worked out. I guess I want something w the commitment of having been printed on actual paper, lol.

So...I think I'm willing to go Prima if that's all there is, or if that's the best fit. I'd just prefer to do reading in Ovid or Virgil than the church fathers. Too controversial, kwim? Seems like it would open a whole 'nother can o'worms. Plus, it seems less authentic... less Roman?

Iow, my reasons for wanting a secular prog are vague, at best. So I could be talked into a Catholic prog.

Thoughts? TIA!

[Beth in Central TX]

I'm a Wheelock's fan too. However, I had no Latin background when I started to teach my boys, so I started with the Memoria Press series, and next year we will move into Wheelock's.

2nd & 3rd grader: Prima Latina
3rd & 4th grader: LCI
4th & 5th grader: Basic Language Principles with Latin Background
5th & 6th grader: LCII
6th & 7th grader: Wheelock's IA--Chapters 1-10
7th & 8th grader: Wheelock's IB--Chapters 11-20
8th & 9th grader: Wheelock's II--Chapters 21-40
9th & 10th grader: Wheelock's III--Translation

We'll round out our high school years studying AP Latin Vergil and poetry.

The only reason I threw in Basic Language Principles is because my 4th grader was not ready for the grammar portion of LCII. I'll start my youngest in 3rd grade with PL and skip the Basic Language Principles.

I'm not saying this is the perfect route to teaching Latin, but it can be done.

[nmoira]

Why not wait until August and see if Lively Latin is in print form by then? The author has already has a few users almost finished (if not finished) the program, and I think all the major typos have been pinpointed. Errors are for the most part minor (typos, as opposed to substantial errors), and the program itself is well thought out and balanced. We're on Chapter 15, and, with only one left to go, I can say I highly recommend the program.

[Karen in CO]

Galore Park? Latin Prep 1 I think is the right place but Laura in China would know better - she uses it. I loved Wheelock's too. My plan is LL, GP, Wheelock all the way to the AP Latin exams.

[Audrey]

I love Wheelock's because that's how I learned Latin, but oh. my. gods! I cannot imagine using Wheelock's with a 3rd grader!:scared: I still have my old Wheelock's and as I'm sitting here thumbing through, I honestly can't imagine how to use it with a young student. A junior high student? Maybe. But, not elementary.

Right now, I have a 3rd grader using Minimus and next year we'll move into Latin Prep. Both are secular programs. Latin Prep is a much more intensive pace than Minimus, which is really just a gentle introduction to Latin. Kind of like getting used to Latin, so to speak.

Those are just my suggestions though. There are other programs out there. YMMV.

[Beth in Central TX]

I just wanted to add that I'll be using Lingua Latina next year too. I haven't figured out how I'm going to approach it yet, but I've gotten some great advice from this board already. It's not an option for you right now, but as we are becoming more confident with Latin in the logic stage, LL has been a great addition to see the extent of what we have learned. It's fun to see my boys' eyes light up because they understand what they've just read in a foreign language without translating every single word on the page.

[Laura Corin]

Galore Park? Latin Prep 1 I think is the right place but Laura in China would know better - she uses it. I loved Wheelock's too. My plan is LL, GP, Wheelock all the way to the AP Latin exams.

Age nine is the absolutely youngest that I would suggest using LP for - age ten is better.

Best wishes

Laura

[Pencil Pusher]

I love Wheelock's because that's how I learned Latin, but oh. my. gods! I cannot imagine using Wheelock's with a 3rd grader!:scared: I still have my old Wheelock's and as I'm sitting here thumbing through, I honestly can't imagine how to use it with a young student. A junior high student? Maybe. But, not elementary.

Right now, I have a 3rd grader using Minimus and next year we'll move into Latin Prep. Both are secular programs. Latin Prep is a much more intensive pace than Minimus, which is really just a gentle introduction to Latin. Kind of like getting used to Latin, so to speak.

Those are just my suggestions though. There are other programs out there. YMMV.

I didn't mean that I wanted to use Wheelock w my 3rd g'er, lol. (Although, there was a time...:blush:) What I meant was, I like that style. I was hoping for recommendations that might be similar in the layout, plan, something??

Thanks for your suggestions. I'm really glad to see what people who liked Wheelock's (for themselves!) are using.

[Pencil Pusher]

Why not wait until August and see if Lively Latin is in print form by then? The author has already has a few users almost finished (if not finished) the program, and I think all the major typos have been pinpointed. Errors are for the most part minor (typos, as opposed to substantial errors), and the program itself is well thought out and balanced. We're on Chapter 15, and, with only one left to go, I can say I highly recommend the program.

Oh, I didn't realize this was a possibility! I might wait, then.

You know, just needed something *else* to muddle through!;):D

[materursa]

I believe that Latin for Children has grammar included as well. (Though I haven't used this program yet.)

[LisaNY]

Aubrey, I might be mistaken, but I thought the creators of LfC list Wheelock's as the program to use once you finish with theirs. However, now that they have their own program, "Latin Alive!", that suggestion may change.

[st_claire]

How about Minimus?

[Catherine]

I started by 9 yo with Latin's Not So Tough, level 2, which is basically fifty vocabulary words, and took us 4 months, then Minimus, which is very fun and quick. This year, he is 10-11 and we are doing Getting Started in Latin, by William Linney-I love this cheap, straightforward program. It introduces declensions 1 and 2, some vocabulary, and is quick to boot. We will probably use Cambridge Latin next year, because I already own it, and know better this time around how to best use it. I did not back it up with sufficient grammar study (which is there, in the appendices) the first time around. It is definitely a program meant for a classroom teacher who will be come very familiar with it and use it year after year. NOT especially teacher-friendly.

I would try Minimus and Latin's not so Tough with a child as young as yours. You'll find it easier than I did to because I'd had no Latin exposure.