KrissiK Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 I know that TWTM suggests starting Latin in 3rd or 4th grade. However, I was looking through Veritas Press catalog and they start Latin in 2nd. Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erica in OR Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 My oldest started Prima Latina in 3rd grade, following TWTM recommendations. However, we folded our 1st grader into the lessons, and worked to complete it on a gentle schedule, in 1 1/2 yrs. The younger did quite well and has retained much of the information. We cut back on the writing/spelling required for the younger. They're both moving into Latina Christiana this semester (4th and 2nd). So I'd say younger students can definitely handle it, but it could go either way if you wish to really emphasize the writing and spelling. Erica in OR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plain jane Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 We started with Prima Latina in grade 2.:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hillary in KS Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 We start with Latina Christiana 1 in 3rd grade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindyg Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 DS was in the 2nd grade, but he was 8. We didn't learn a lot that year, but it was a good start to make Latin a regular (and pleasant) part of our school day. The big thing in my family has been for ME to get comfortable enough with it that I could carry on -- and that required starting early (with simple programs) and sticking with it. Personally, I can't imagine beginning with a 7th grade text in grade 7 (for example). The little kids' programs are much easier on mom. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali in OR Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 We started light Latin courses in the second half of first grade (Prima Latina, then Minimus). We waited until 3rd grade for a real Latin grammar course (LFC A). That has worked well here. My youngest has always tagged along, but I think she will be repeating LFC A and doing the written work this time when she hits 3rd grade. I expect it will be pretty easy for her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sara Mac Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 Although we dabbled with Latin in 2nd and 3rd we weren't consistent at all. We really started Latin instruction properly at the end of 4th grade with LfC. I'm planning to do the same with the other kids as well.:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElizabethB Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 We started Spanish in 1st, added in Latin this year for 2nd grade. My daughter complained about learning too many languages at first, but the first lesson, one of the Latin words was the same as a Spanish word she knew, so she was happy about that. (Luna.) She's now resigned to her fate and also wants to learn some German since she was born in Germany! We do Latin 2 or 3 times a week and don't spend a ton of time on it, it's just a gentle intro. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 I like to start a modern language first, when little ones are sponges for accent and natural acquisition of grammar. I start serious Latin at about age 9. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshine State Sue Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 We started Latin in 4th grade. *I* couldn't start it earlier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrie12345 Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 Ds was in regular ps through 4th grade and had a heavy cyber charter schedule in 5th grade, so we didn't start until 6th! He's doing great with First Form. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 We started in 5th with LFC. It was first year using a classical model, otherwise we probably would have started in 4th. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paula in PA Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 We started with Minimus in 2nd grade. My dd was 7. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacey in MA Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 I think younger kids can do PL and LCI, BUT with the understanding that at the younger age, mostly memorization will be happening and not necessarily UNDERSTANDING. Their understanding of Latin construction will depend on their understanding of English grammar first. Especially by LCII, the DC needs to have a deeper understanding of English grammar to make it "work". I am doing FLL4 with my 5th grader presently, along side LCII, and they seem to REALLY compliament each other. So I think PL and LC can be done (memorized) by 2nd graders, but by LCII, they need to clearly understand the English grammar of: subject action verb direct object indirect object possession tenses (past, present, future) maybe more (we're only half way through...!) HTH and GL - Stacey in MA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ester Maria Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 Kindergarten. :p Now, seriously, if we're talking about actual analytical study, that waited for somewhere in 3rd grade (officially 4th) though at the time we started it, they knew already a lot (playfully from kindergarten till 3rd, in smaller chunks, I had covered indicatives of present and imperfect, both futures, and pretty much all declensions, as well as tons of vocabulary since I used small excerpts from texts and adapted texts to teach them), so it wasn't really a "start". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siloam Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 I have way too much going on here to hold my kids hands doing Latin, so I wait till they can work independently and start them in 5th grade. :D Heather Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robsiew Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 I started my ds9 in Prima Latina this year (3rd grade). It's pretty easy for him and he's retaining well. I'll do the same with the rest of the kids as I really like to concentrate on beginning reading and writing in K-2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbeyej Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 One started with Prima Latina just before he turned five (finished in a month and moved on to LC1). He was already a strong reader, comfortable writing, and a very competent English speller. The other dabbled with Song School at 6 or so, and started with Minimus around age 6. Looking ahead, I doubt there will be obvious differences in their competence levels by seventh or eighth grade. Still, I don't regret starting as early as I did with ds. Latin has *always* been a part of his schooling, and that can be a really nice thing. Generally, I'd say wait and start Latin when the child can read and write comfortably, no hesitations. When that happens can vary so widely! It's also helpful if the child has had some English grammar instruction prior to beginning Latin, or at least shows a readiness to differentiate between parts of speech. I do think it's nice to start by 3rd or 4th grade. But better to start in high school or college than to get no Latin at all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lauracolumbus Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 My 3 have been all over the place, DS started in 4th b/c that's when we started hs'ing, DD started in 2d, but moved slowly thru PL, and DD6 started Song School in kindy and we'll to Minimus this summer and possibly PL. But her reading, spelling, and grammar are fairly advanced. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elise1mds Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 We're doing Song School this year (first grade) and he wants to continue it next year. Since he has a good sense of grammar and sentence structure, we'll probably do that and get a bit more in-depth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cami in UT Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 Not yet. I started my oldest with PL in 3rd grade. We didn't make it very far. He didn't like it. So then the next year I tried buying the DVD's, with great hope. He still didn't like it. So I sold that. I want to start him on Latin Prep here in the next month or so. So hopefully 6th. :001_smile: My second ds I'm sure is going to be older - knowing his personality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SonshineLearner Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 My daughter did LCI in 3rd... LCII in 4th... Henle Units 1-almost Unit 4 in 5th and now she's kinda starting back at Unit 3 with an online Tutor. With my son, I'm going to have him start the memory work of LFC and then go from there... so by 2nd... we'll "hopefully" really be starting. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 I didn't start with my older son until he was in fifth grade, and he still finished through high school level year two by the time he was a ninth grader. I started playing around with it (Minimus) with my younger son when he was in first grade, but didn't really get serious about it until last year - fifth grade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SophiaH Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 DD started with PL in first grade, but she is very good with language. She started out this year (2nd) with LCI, which worked well...LCI is set up with five lessons and then a review lesson, but we added in an extra review week after the second or third week of each unit to make sure that she had the vocab down. After Christmas, (for my sake) we switched to Lively Latin 4 days a week, with Minimus on Fridays. We're loving the switch! I will not start my son until at least 2nd grade and maybe even 3rd because he's more of a math guy than a language guy, and will also start reading later than dd, although he is picking up on the chants and other tidbits from big sis' lessons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garga Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 We tried at the beginning of 2nd grade. Ds turned 7 that same week. He was not reading well at all. Actually, he was barely reading. (Thankfully, the lightbulb finally went all, albeit it's still warming up. He must be a florescent lighbulb. But I digress.) We had to stop Latin because he couldn't read well enough in English and adding the Latin to it wasn't working. It was confusing him. We're going to try again in 3rd grade, when he turns 8 and can read English with more fluency. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.