Song School Latin Reviews

[hands-on-mama]

Hi all! Anyone here use Song School Latin? It looks like a fun way to learn. I will have a 3rd and 1st grader next year. Would it be appropriate for both of them?

[Dmmetler]

My DD loved Song School Latin as a 1st grader, and actually, I realized when she started doing Latin exams, just how much foundational vocabulary is in SSL. SSL2 adds some basic grammar. We did it before the DVDs, so I can't review those.

 

I found SSL very, very easy to use. I'd probably have a 3rd grader just write the words on a different piece of paper since the workbook is designed more for the younger end of the age group, and make a copy of the occasional page the 3rd grader needs. I had the teacher's guide, but except for the occasional extra activity, didn't need it.

 

 

[hands-on-mama]

Right now, I have the teacher's guide, 1 workbook and the CD. I got all that from a mom here for $20. I was originally going to do SSS but thought we would give this a try for the price. I'm super excited about it!

 

[Incognito]

It is fun and would be appropriate for both.

 

[ScoutTN]

Yes. Fun and easy. The song CD was key to my kids really learning the words.

[Rachel]

My kids really enjoyed SSL 1, I found the DVD helpful, I don't feel like the Monkey Match cards are worth it for the price. We haven't done 2 yet.

[dragonflyer]

I have never learned/taught Latin before, just have the workbook and song CD and we have really enjoyed it for 1st grade.  Both my son and I are retaining the vocabulary and my 3 year old will sing the songs too.

Since I have enjoyed learning with SSL, your 3rd grader should be fine.

 

Good luck!

[desertflower]

I use it for all 3 of my kids and they love it. We just do it orally for now.

 

I think it's appropriate for your kids.

 

I even like the songs so far. :)

[cintinative]

We liked it a lot--did it last year with my then 3rd and 2nd grader. I did get them both a workbook but you could do some stuff orally for the younger one. As someone mentioned, the monkey match cards are worth having. They did enjoy the videos, etc.

 

This year we did SSL2 and did not enjoy the video as much. It still seems to be a good program. 

[3 ladybugs]

This is our second latin program that we have tried and we like this much better then MP Prima Latina. My 2 year old even likes watching the videos with his brother. I feel he is learning more too. When I am "testing" (there are no tests in the first book, don't know about the second) him I notice he is retaining quite a bit. I like that. My son is 7.5 years old right now. 

[Roseto27]

I would start the first grader in SSL and the third grader in Latina Christiana I.

[hands-on-mama]

I would start the first grader in SSL and the third grader in Latina Christiana I.

 

Can you say why you think SSL wouldn't be enough for a 3rd grader?

[Roseto27]

Can you say why you think SSL wouldn't be enough for a 3rd grader?

SSL is a fun introduction to Latin vocabulary through song. However, it doesn't really get into the grammar in a way that a third grader is ready for. Latina Christiana I (very gently) introduces both conjugations and declensions. I would let the third grader do SSL alongside the 1st grader because it's fun, but it likely won't go deep enough.

[knitgrl]

We are just finishing up year one with our 1st grader. The DVDs are very helpful and engaging, since I never took Latin. I think they would work fine with a third grader, too. If you're trying to save money, you can skip getting a second workbook. I've made up my own review sheets for her morning notebook, and it would be easy to do for your 3rd grader. Somebody else said you don't really need the teacher manual, and I completely agree. Overall, it's a fun introduction.

[kristin0713]

My initial reaction was that it was not what I expected. The kids and I were all anticipating a fun, animated DVD. The production quality is poor, and the animated part, although cute and engaging, is very short. However, once we got over that (and also ordered DinoLingo for the fun aspect), it was fine. It really was just enough to give them the intro to Latin that I wanted this year. For my 4th grader, I had her do the workbook, and for my 2nd grader, I made him a "workbook" of vocab coloring pages that you can print off the website (free) for each lesson. We will continue with SS 2 next year.

 

Edited--I wrote intro to grammar when I meant intro to Latin

Edited April 20, 2016 by kristin0713

[Roseto27]

https://classicalacademicpress.com/product/song-school-latin-book-1-program/

 

You can click on the picture to "Look Inside" the workbook to see if you think it would be a good fit for your third grader.

[domestic_engineer]

My initial reaction was that it was not what I expected. The kids and I were all anticipating a fun, animated DVD. The production quality is poor, and the animated part, although cute and engaging, is very short. However, once we got over that (and also ordered DinoLingo for the fun aspect), it was fine. It really was just enough to give them the intro to grammar that I wanted this year. For my 4th grader, I had her do the workbook, and for my 2nd grader, I made him a "workbook" of vocab coloring pages that you can print off the website (free) for each lesson. We will continue with SS 2 next year.

Are you talking about SS *Latin*?!?

 

 If you think SSL's DVD production quality is poor, then you will be disappointed with nearly every Latin DVD.  We really enjoyed SSL, but we were disappointed by the production quality of the LfC Samples (they were just older videos than what we were used to with SSL).  I thought SSL's DVDs are the most modern and highest quality out there, especially for young ones.  True, it's not all animated, but I don't think it's advertised as being all-animated?

 

And there is Duolingo for Latin?!?!?     Oops, you said DinoLingo.  my bad.

Edited April 20, 2016 by domestic_engineer

[kristin0713]

Are you talking about SS *Latin*?!?

 

If you think SSL's DVD production quality is poor, then you will be disappointed with nearly every Latin DVD. We really enjoyed SSL, but we were disappointed by the production quality of the LfC Samples (they were just older videos than what we were used to with SSL). I thought SSL's DVDs are the most modern and highest quality out there, especially for young ones. True, it's not all animated, but I don't think it's advertised as being all-animated?

 

And there is Duolingo for Latin?!?!? Oops, you said DinoLingo. my bad.

Yes, SS Latin. It was my fault for assuming it would be animated based on the picture of a monkey. I was just expecting something more professional, not filmed in someone's living room. That was the first Latin DVD we tried. In fact, it was the first homeschool curriculum on DVD that we ever tried at all!

[domestic_engineer]

 not filmed in someone's living room. 

 

Obviously to each their own, but I thought the living room aspect made it less daunting for young kids.  But it's good that you brought that fact to the forefront.  The more information one has before purchasing, the better!!

[Roseto27]

SSL is a fun introduction to Latin vocabulary through song. However, it doesn't really get into the grammar in a way that a third grader is ready for. Latina Christiana I (very gently) introduces both conjugations and declensions. I would let the third grader do SSL alongside the 1st grader because it's fun, but it likely won't go deep enough.

I should add that, while I would let her do SSL alongside the first grader, I personally wouldn't get the 3rd grader the SSL workbook. (But my guy would complain that it was too baby-ish. Maybe yours wouldn't do that and it would be a good idea... ??)

[kristin0713]

My fourth grader did not think the SSL workbook was too babyish.

[cintinative]

My fourth grader did not think the SSL workbook was too babyish.

 

 

We did SSL2 this past year with 4th and 3rd and it is not too babyish. There is a lot of workbook stuff--I really would hesitate to use it with a child younger than 3rd grade.

[cmarango]

Both of my children did SSL as a fun intro to Latin. They didn't retain too much from it, but I was just trying to introduce the language a little. We have since completed Prima Latina, Minimus, and Latina Christiana (finished just this week).

 

I would think that my 3rd grader would find it babyish, but you know your child best. Check out the samples together and see what you think.

[musicianmom]

I love the book and the songs. 

Edited May 21, 2022 by musicianmom

[angelmama1209]

I tried first tried it with my oldest around 1st or 2nd grade. We ditched it about halfway through. Tried again this year with my current 1st/2nd graders. It just wasn't really getting done and they were slightly bored. Decided to ditch it again. Flipped through the rest of the book and realized we ditched it at the exact same place I did with my oldest! lol We don't have the dvd's but it just wasn't for us, I guess. Started my oldest in Lively Latin in 4th grade and she is loving it and really learning it.

[Carolinagirl1]

We love SSL! I use the DVD, workbook, and the audio CD with my kids. My girls play with the game cards by themselves as a matching game. We started SSL 1 when they were in 2nd and 4th, and we are now doing SSL 2 in 3rd and 5th. There are several parts to each lesson. First, the lady comes on and introduces the new vocabulary and/or grammar and she does it in such a soothing peaceful way but it captures the kids attention, then there is a cartoon about the monkey, which is not a high quality animated cartoon, but it is just simple and fun. Finally, the man comes on and explains how English, Spanish, and French words are derived from the Latin vocabulary for that lesson. The lessons are short and there is just enough variation within the lesson to keep the kids interested. My kids always want to watch the next lesson to find out what happens with Simeon (the monkey). This is our 3rd Latin curriculum. We tried MP's Prima Latina which was ok at first but then it just got monotonous. Then we tried Getting Started with Latin, but we didn't get past the first few lessons. SSL is by far our favorite, but we do use the DVDs because they make it interesting. Just get this curriculum and don't even worry about little things like the cartoon not being a high quality animation. The cartoon makes it fun!

[SoCal_Bear]

My son really loves SSL as well. He is really self-motivated about it. I just wrapped up teaching SSL1 at our co-op. He jumped right into SSL2 and is already through the first 5 lessons in the last 10 days. I don't force him to slow down when he has clearly mastered the vocab. Based on the pace, I expect we will need to move on to LFC A sometime this fall. I am planning to go half speed but he might decide to go full speed ahead.