Latin for a 6 year old ?

[OneRoomHomeSchool]

I want to begin some type of Latin learning with my barely reading 6 yr old. I want classical pronunication. Something easy for a non Latin learned mom. ;)
Something that we can pick up 3-4 times per week.

What shall we consider? I also don't want to fork over the BIG bucks at this time....

[Susan in SoCal]

Firstly ... most of us who teach Latin here begin (at the earliest) when the child is comfortably reading.

That said...here are some curricula that can be used in early elementary:

Prima Latina
Minimus
Lively Latin (tho I think this program is best used when a child is reading AND writing comfortably)
Elementary Latin (by Sattler, I think???)
and Latin Primer (used at a slower pace)

At Paula's Archives you can find detailed reviews on these programs.
www.redshift.com/~bonajo/latincurricula.htm

[Cadam]

I agree with Susan on her "basic board wisdom" and I only have one thing to add to her list of programs. Classical Academic Press (http://www.classicalacademicpress.com/) (Publishers of Latin for Children) has created a K-2 Latin program that they are putting out this Spring, called Song school Latin. I just got notification of it this morning and there are 3 sample chapters (http://www.classicalacademicpress.com/images/samples/SongSchool_Latin_Sampler.pdf) you can print from pdf. It look like there will be a CD with it including songs and such. Their other materials are published in both pronunciations. I think I will get it for my 6 yo. She thinks it looks fun and is excited about Latin. She has learned some just from her brother doing LfC. It is very light but looks perfect for this age range. YOu can probubly do most things orally until her English reading skills pick up.

[Sarah CB]

I'll go against conventional board wisdom to say that we've really enjoyed learning Latin at a young age. I teach Prima Latina in a co-op class for younger kids (ages K to grade 4) and we're really enjoying ourselves. Last year I had an even younger group - preschool to grade 1 and we spent most of the year going over the grammar and vocab in lessons 1 to 5 in Prima. We played a lot of games and everyone had fun. My own kids are kindergarten and grade 2 and Latin does not detract from learning the basics at this age. We're very low-key about it - they attend my co-op class for 45 minutes per week, spend a couple of minutes daily reviewing their vocab and then my grade 2 student spends a little more time (maybe 20 minutes tops?) completing his workbook assignments for the week.

Right now it's just about having fun with Latin and learning a little along the way. We will be completing Prima this year with our class and then I'll probably start LCI with them next year but maybe take two years to complete it. After that we may do Lively Latin before launching into LCII.

I really don't see any downsides to starting early with an emphasis on enjoyment of the language.

In addition to my younger boys I also have a grade 6 dd who has just started her second semester of High School Latin in an online course using Henle.

Sarah

[OneRoomHomeSchool]

I really like the looks of School Song Latin! Thanks for the link. :-)

I do however, like Minimus better then Latin for Children. Maybe we'll begin this next fall with School Song Latin and then move into Minimus the following year..... Hmmm ;)

[Karenciavo]

I only have one thing to add to her list of programs. Classical Academic Press (http://www.classicalacademicpress.com/) (Publishers of Latin for Children) has created a K-2 Latin program that they are putting out this Spring, called Song school Latin.

I like the way this looks too and plan on using it next year with my then 6 yo. I'm hoping Song School Greek will be out soon too.

[OneRoomHomeSchool]

I'm hoping Song School Greek will be out soon too.

Oh...you just had to throw that in there didn't you, Karen? Now I'll have to look at that too! :D

[King Alfred Academy]

I agree with Susan on her "basic board wisdom" and I only have one thing to add to her list of programs. Classical Academic Press (http://www.classicalacademicpress.com/) (Publishers of Latin for Children) has created a K-2 Latin program that they are putting out this Spring, called Song school Latin.

Oooo, thanks for sharing this information and the link to the samples. This looks fantastic! But now it raises the question....Do I do this or Minimus? Decisions, decisions, decisions. Glad we have so many choices of great products though!:)

[Lizzie in Ma]

and we really enjoyed it. DD is a strong reader now at 6 and we are doing Lively Latin this year.

[Karenciavo]

Well they've been teasing us with their Greek curriculum for years so maybe you'll be spared. :p

[momtolgd]

Ooooh, Song school Latin looks like it might be a great idea for us! Mine will be 8 and 6 next year, but it might just be the great intro to Latin that I could use with them both! :)

[Cadam]

Everyone liked my idea! The real question is how much is Song School Latin going to cost me and why can't I have it now? I want it now! Do you think I can print out the 3 sample chapters and spread them out over February, hoping for an early March release?

[Malenki]

I want classical pronunication.

Prima Latina is not classical pronunciation but that's what we've used this year with our 6.5 year old. We've really enjoyed it. He is *not* reading well; in fact, his reading isn't that great yet. He does have a huge love of words, however, and finds it fun (5-10 minutes a day). We've done it all orally and are easily on target to finish it this year. We use the Teacher's Guide and the CD this year only.

I was looking to just fill in for next year and Song School Latin that Cadam posted looks like a fun filler. I'm also considering Minumus. We're looking to continue vocab next year and then dive into something more seriously in 3rd grade.

[OneRoomHomeSchool]

You gals are the best!

I am going to purchase Song School Latin as soon as it comes out...Cadem, be sure to announce it for us! :D

We'll use it for 2nd grade (this fall) and then move to Minimus after that...

[lovemyboys]

Second this! My 6yo is a very strong reader with strong verbal skills so we started Latin orally. We use Prima Latina, listen to the cds and I write on the white board to show dss the vocab involved for derivatives, endings, spelling. It's worked very well, dss love Latin and so far are learning and retaining well without all the bookwork.

I'll be looking at the recommendations here for the next step. I've been pleasantly surprised at how well this is going.