Prima Latina Questions

[Unicorn]

Like a lot of other people, we seem to start this and then stop, then start again months later. My question for those that have finished it or are using it without interruption, is HOW are you using it? Are your dc doing all of the workbook, or do you have your own system?

Any helpful advice to make it seem not so tedious? Thanks!

[MNClaire]

We are pretty much using it as outlined. We do about a lesson in two weeks. My son is young, and I want to see that he retains everything he learns. We do do the workbook, and I also use the flashcards Memoria Press as well. My son doesn't like to write, so I don't make him right the words more than once, but I make sure he knows it.

I also try and use the words we've learned throughout the day. I also point out words in his everyday (English reading) that may be a derivative that he's learned.

Hope this helps.

[Chris in VA]

I agree with Claire that the derivatives add interest and practical application. We are almost at the point in the SOTW AG where we blend colors of playdough to show how the English language is a blend of many different languages. Knowing some words came from Latin is a great tie-in! Love those connections.
We start and stop PL, too. I do find that dd7 has retained quite a bit. Of course, we are only on Lesson 8 or 9 (didn't do it with dd last week, so I can't remember!) We have the dvd's but find them boring. Dd does like reciting the prayers, tho'.
We just go thru the lesson, reading the first page (and sometimes I get the pronounciation off the dvd) and paying close attention to the derivatives. Then we make flash cards out of 3x5 notecards I cut in half. The next time we visit the lesson, we go thru all our flashcards, and do the second page. Lastly, we do the third page and whatever else is left over. I suppose we could make it fun by writing out some Bingo or Lotto grids, or making a second set of flashcards and playing a matching game (concentration, or concentration with one set of Latin cards and one set of English cards), but I just don't seem to get around to it.

[Brenda in FL]

I find that being consistent with when we do it goes further in getting the lessons done for our family.

We begin our day with Latin, right after we have Bible devotions. It doesn't take alot of time and getting it out of the way first, ensures it gets done. Once everyone is off on thier own subjects - its hard for me to reign them back in.

We spent a week on each lesson. I think the workbook page(s) were spread on two days. We had one day of copywork (we didn't write them 5 times as the TM suggests. We used flash cards often. For the children under third grade I wrote out the answers in the workbook for them.

Memorizing the prayers was done at meal times. I posted a copy of the prayer near the table. You can become creative with your copy and make it a part of your home decor.

But to summarize, I think our success with getting thru it was due to doing it first.

[Snickerdoodle]

We spread it out over 5 or 6 days.

We start by listening to the cd of that lesson. Then we talk about the material in the lesson. Then every day my son will do one section of the writing. He is 6yo and I don't make him write too much at one sitting. Every two weeks we orally review all of the material and at least once a week we review all of the vocabulary and all of the prayers.

[Strawberry Queen]

We end up stopping and starting too. Life's a bit busy at our house right now. However, I did find a handy review tool online. studystack.com is an online flashcard type program. You can input information and it organizes it into virtual flashcards, word searches, memory type games etc. The *best* part is that all of the vocab for PL is already there. So all I have to do is sit beside dd as she practices. This really helps with reviewing stuff and keeping it fresh.

[Unicorn]

Thank you everyone. I think maybe we need to do it in smaller "bites", instead of 1 or 2 days a week, change it to 4. I will also try some of your other suggestions. THanks!