LfC with LP?

[hopeallgoeswell]

First, this is what I feel like :banghead: :cursing: :crying: :confused1:.

 

My dd has done SSL (which she enjoyed tremendously) and is finishing up LfC A (not so much). We started LfC A LAST SEPTEMBER and are only on lesson 27. This is due to the fact that she "doesn't like Latin [now]" even though she does well and she does all of the activity book worksheets because she "only likes Latin puzzles."

 

I let her look at the Minimus Secundus I bought for this up coming year while I tried to figure out what direction we need to go. She started zooming through the book...for over an hour. I was thinking of switching to Latin Prep because it looks fun (she LOVES humorous things) and it seems to be a vehicle for thorough knowledge of Latin translating and grammar at this level. I am hesitant because the LfC chants and charts are worth their weight in gold here. I have no Latin experience and the grammar in LfC often leaves us scratching our heads. LfC also doesn't explain the "why" of things at the time I think they need to be presented (ex. cases N, G, D, A, A are for what? Never mind that, just memorize it). The DVDs were a big flop here mainly due to the grammar lessons.

 

Anywho, if you are still with me, thank you. And here it is: I just compared the chapter contents of LfC A, B, and C with LP 1, 2, and 3. It seems that they more or less line up with one another. Could I just do a chapter of LfC B then a the corresponding section(s) of LP 2 and the same with C and 3? I also have concerns about the vocative case in LP which does not seem to be in LfC any where.

[Amy Jo]

The vocative case is the same as the nominative (except in the 2nd declension I believe) and is often glossed over or not covered. Do you want to do 2 full programs, or add LFC's chants/charts to LP?

[hopeallgoeswell]

I am thinking about doing the LfC as the main program and utilizing LP for grammar clarification and translation work. I can't get a good feel for the layout of LP 2 based on the online sample, so I am not sure that my tentative plans would work.

[Laura Corin]

So your daughter is nine? I wouldn't be in a hurry to start on Latin Prep. The difficulty ramps up pretty fast and I would really not recommend getting to LP3 before about age 13. You could take the books slowly, but I think it's better to start a bit later (age ten at the earliest).

 

Real life experiences: Calvin started LP at about 10 and did it until he was 13. We got almost to the end of book 3, but we repeated the first half of book 3 because neither of us was secure with it. It gets hard. He's bright (considering applying to Cambridge). Hobbes did LP1 at school. They did the first half of the book from age 10-11 and the second half from age 11-12.

 

As far as chants: I just had the boys chant the grammar as laid out in the books.

 

Laura

Edited July 21, 2012 by Laura Corin

[Amy Jo]

I let her look at the Minimus Secundus I bought for this up coming year while I tried to figure out what direction we need to go. She started zooming through the book...for over an hour.

 

If she likes to read Latin, you might want to look at Teach Yourself Beginner's Latin. It introduces Latin grammar but has comic style strips for concepts. (The first illustrates accusative vs. nominative: "The mules watches the woods." vs. "The woods watch the mule."). It also has little stories you can read or translate. (Set in medieval times - villages, monks, etc.). It's cheap on Amazon, and your DD might enjoy it.

 

I also have Learning Latin through Mythology on my wishlist for Minimus-like books. I haven't seen it, but it might be something to help you bridge the gap until you are ready for Latin Prep.