Anyone doing Latin with a young elem?

[Mama2Three]

Hi there! We're set with our home curriculum for now, but I'm thinking about adding Latin either after Christmas or next summer, depending on how DS's reading is coming along. If you do Latin with a young elementary student, which program have you found to work the best for "parttime" work? We probably would do it 2 or maybe 3 days a week, in addition to our other work. I studied Spanish in school, so this would be something that DC and I would be learning together.

TIA for your thoughts and suggestions!

[WendyK]

I'm using Latin's Not So Tough. It is very slowww and gentle for early elementary. It doesn't take up much time at all. It is also good for the parent who has NO Latin background at all (me). I would recommend starting with Level 2 with a reader.

[Breann in WA]

We're starting with Song School Latin for my 1st and 2nd graders. It's also very slow and gentle, and we only use it one day a week for about 15 minutes. It's really a very light introduction, and very affordable. It's a precursor to the Latin For Children series.

The kids love it.

[Mama2Three]

Thanks for your responses. I'll check out those recommendations. I've heard a lot of raves about Prima Latina on these boards. Does that fit the bill as an easy to use program, 2x/week, that's fun for the DC and me?

[WendyK]

Thanks for your responses. I'll check out those recommendations. I've heard a lot of raves about Prima Latina on these boards. Does that fit the bill as an easy to use program, 2x/week, that's fun for the DC and me?

Frankly, I don't think 2x per week is enough. It would be better to spend 5-10 minutes per day (say 5 days a week) than an hour 2x per week. I find when we don't do it that way, within a week, DS has forgotten stuff.

I have not used Prima Latina so I can't comment on that.

[Sahamamama]

Thanks for your responses. I'll check out those recommendations. I've heard a lot of raves about Prima Latina on these boards. Does that fit the bill as an easy to use program, 2x/week, that's fun for the DC and me?

We have Prima Latina, but haven't started using it yet (my children are too young, I think). I bought the whole program, DVDs and all, because I am learning Latin myself ahead of time (via Henle) and I wanted to check out the PL materials. We are definitely going to use this program in about a year, at first just orally, then later with the student workbook.

We have watched several of the DVD lessons, I've read through the teacher manual/student workbook, we've looked at the flash cards.
The video instruction is clear, the exercises are clear, the notes to the teacher are clear. I like this program, believe in its teaching potential, and plan to use it.

As my oldest daughter (3.5 yo) has been listening to the CD tracks (prayers, vocabulary) and watching the DVD lessons with me, she has already started to "absorb" and say some Latin, with no comments from me. ;) A few weeks ago, we were reading a book about luna moths, and she connected "luna" to the Latin word for moon. She has also done this with "stella," the Latin word for star -- our pastor's wife is "Stella!"

I'm impressed with a program that can teach a 3.5 year old any amount of Latin-in-passing. She was just sitting on the floor, playing with toys, not intentionally focused on learning, and the Latin still "went in." For that reason, I think Prima Latina (with the DVDs) would be an excellent program to use with elementary children for before-schooling, at any pace that would work for you. One morning you could watch the lesson while you eat breakfast. The next morning you could drill vocabulary. The next morning work on the exercises, and so on. Even if you take 2-3 weeks per lesson, that's OK. Your children will still be learning it, and maybe even more solidly than if you try to rush through. HTH!

[Tracey in TX]

We began Prima Latina with one DC in kindergarten. She was ready for it, but the others were not quite as receptive at the same age. They all began by 8y/o doing PL, and two have moved onto Latina Christina.

[Tracey in TX]

We began Prima Latina with one DC in kindergarten. She was ready for it, but the others were not quite as receptive at the same age. They all began by 8y/o doing PL, and two have moved onto Latina Christina.

[Mama2Three]

Thanks for your responses! :)

[Cadam]

I like that the SSL words are directly applicable to the child's life. You learn the words for pets, parts of the house, family members, school items like book and pencil, that kind of thing.

My then 6 yo would do a whole "chapter" in a sitting and I think it would be perfect for doing a few times a week or a few min a day. You could do the written work a couple of days a week and just review the songs on the CD while you are in the car each day.

[Lizzie in Ma]

We did Prima Latina last year and are in Latina Christiana this year.
I would suggest short lessons 5X a week, a language isn't something you can really study two days a week. Our dd loves the songs and prayers.
I also have Latin Grammar songs and have done LFC so we kind of sing some of the declensions and things and she thinks thats fun too.

[JudoMom]

Thanks for your responses. I'll check out those recommendations. I've heard a lot of raves about Prima Latina on these boards. Does that fit the bill as an easy to use program, 2x/week, that's fun for the DC and me?

Prima Latina is a good program, but I wouldn't call it fun. I think it's very dry and my boys didn't like it either.

I switched my older 2 to Latin for Children last year (Song School Latin wasn't out yet), and this year I've got my younger 2 doing Song School Latin. Both of the programs are wonderful and seem to be thorough, they are easy to teach (I'm learning Latin with my older 2), and they are catchy and on the fun side.

If I were you, I'd do Song School Latin first and then go into Latin for Children.

[mcconnellboys]

We played around with Minimus and Minimus Secundus for grades one through four.