plain jane Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 I'll be honest, I've got a LOT going on in my life right now. Things are crazy and I'm finding it very difficult to make a decision on Latin for next year. I know this sounds insane- it's just Latin after all, right? :) I *know* it's not supposed to be stressful, but I have so much going on right now that this is sort of putting me over that edge. Right now it's just one. more. thing. to have to think about. I know we'll be okay if we focus on the basics. It's not about that. My dd and I both *want* to do Latin. :) School isn't a huge stress for me, but making this decision is. A lot of it is that none of the Latin programs I'm looking at are especially economically friendly. :glare: I can't buy more than one to look at both yet I can't decide which to get. :willy_nilly: Latin's not all that popular among hs'ers IRL so there's nobody I can talk to for advice. I've asked questions here but I'm still completely stumped. Should I just flip a coin? :confused::D I hope I'm not the only one who's ever been in a situation where they simply have no clue what to choose and I'm hoping to hear from those who have BTDT. How did you finally make a decision? I'm so frustrated right now. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElizabethB Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 Free ideas: http://www.donpotter.net/latin.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plain jane Posted September 6, 2010 Author Share Posted September 6, 2010 Free ideas: http://www.donpotter.net/latin.html :lol::lol: I'm laughing. Thanks, that site looks really great. It really does. :) But I don't think I can handle more options right now. :willy_nilly: :lol::lol: It's not so much the price of *one* program, just that I can't buy two just to choose between them. I do appreciate the resources, thanks :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElizabethB Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 :lol::lol: I'm laughing. Thanks, that site looks really great. It really does. :) But I don't think I can handle more options right now. :willy_nilly: :lol::lol: It's not so much the price of *one* program, just that I can't buy two just to choose between them. I do appreciate the resources, thanks :) LOL!!!:lol: OK, do "one two sky blue...." Or do a poll with your two options and let the hive pick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 (edited) What are you trying to decide between? I'll pick for you :001_tt2: :w00t:. Have you had your dd look at the samples? What about your dh? Sometimes getting their perspective helps. Edited September 6, 2010 by JudoMom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjpeter Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 How old is your DD? Forgive me if it's been mentioned...I'm newer here. "Larvae" to be specific.:tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjpeter Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 What are you trying to decide between? I'll pick for you :001_tt2: :w00t:. Just saw you have five boys! I'll think of you when I'm chasing my three around the table. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 Just saw you have five boys! I'll think of you when I'm chasing my three around the table. :lol: Yep--5 Packer fans (dh is from WI). Well, 4, because one keeps trying to revolt, but we've forbidden it ;). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plain jane Posted September 6, 2010 Author Share Posted September 6, 2010 What are you trying to decide between? I'll pick for you :001_tt2: :w00t:. Have you had your dd look at the samples? What about your dh? Sometimes getting their perspective helps. I don't even have a choice "between". It's a bit more open ended at this point. :lol: Dd doesn't really care. She wants something with lot of translation work as she really enjoys doing translations. *I* like FF but there's not much in the way of translations. She doesn't mind it but doesn't love it. It's cementing things that the tutor moved quickly through BUT it's all review for her. I add in translation work but everything starts to feel a bit disjointed. But, I *think* it's a fairly solid program. It's not mine at the moment so I would have to buy it if we keep going with it. Then again, I'm wondering if I should buy Second Form instead since she knows the grammar in First Form. BUT she doesn't know the vocab. :tongue_smilie: (tutor was heavy on grammar work, not vocab building) I've recently been looking at LfC. But my last thread about it gave me the impression that she may be too far ahead for LfC and it seems that way by looking at the samples. Then again, there's translations, which she likes, and from my POV, a little review never killed anyone. Latin Alive looks a tad too difficult for us at this point. I *could* take her through Henle. I've seen it briefly and it didn't make me :svengo: like Wheelock's does, but what's the point of doing Henle in grade 4? Actually, dd and her tutor covered a lot of what is in the first portion of Henle.- the topics, not actually using Henle. Plus, it's a bit dry. Okay, very dry... but so's what she did with the tutor and she liked it. I think I messed up by hiring that tutor last year. :001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plain jane Posted September 6, 2010 Author Share Posted September 6, 2010 Oh, and asking dh? :lol: He's VERY involved in my hs'ing, will give his opinion on any curriculum I've placed before him, but the verdict is out on Latin. He's got no opinion and I can see his eyes glaze over when he looks at the stuff. I think I'll leave him out of this decision. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElizabethB Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 I would go with LfC, easy, good review, build up vocab. I own 6 Latin programs, and plan on starting LfC later this year or next year, we are doing Spanish for Children in the meantime and a bit of Latin vocab and grammar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 I don't even have a choice "between". It's a bit more open ended at this point. :lol: Dd doesn't really care. She wants something with lot of translation work as she really enjoys doing translations. *I* like FF but there's not much in the way of translations. She doesn't mind it but doesn't love it. It's cementing things that the tutor moved quickly through BUT it's all review for her. I add in translation work but everything starts to feel a bit disjointed. But, I *think* it's a fairly solid program. It's not mine at the moment so I would have to buy it if we keep going with it. Then again, I'm wondering if I should buy Second Form instead since she knows the grammar in First Form. BUT she doesn't know the vocab. :tongue_smilie: (tutor was heavy on grammar work, not vocab building) I've recently been looking at LfC. But my last thread about it gave me the impression that she may be too far ahead for LfC and it seems that way by looking at the samples. Then again, there's translations, which she likes, and from my POV, a little review never killed anyone. Latin Alive looks a tad too difficult for us at this point. I *could* take her through Henle. I've seen it briefly and it didn't make me :svengo: like Wheelock's does, but what's the point of doing Henle in grade 4? Actually, dd and her tutor covered a lot of what is in the first portion of Henle.- the topics, not actually using Henle. Plus, it's a bit dry. Okay, very dry... but so's what she did with the tutor and she liked it. I think I messed up by hiring that tutor last year. :001_huh: What about using First Form and adding in something like these Latin Fairy Tales for translation work? And not to throw something else at you, but have you looked at Latin Prep? It's definitely not dry, and it has a lot of translation work. I decided to have my older two run back through LfC A as review and add in Elementary Greek this year, and they both are excited about the idea, as long as they get to go back to Latin Prep by next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 I found that looking at samples was the best way for me to decide. As we were usually not able to buy and return (because we lived in Asia) I would really study the samples to work out if they matched our style. Best wishes Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 Have you looked at this handy-dandy comparison chart? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nono Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 I can't believe no one has suggested- a dartboard!!! :) Oh, and seriously, :grouphug:! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tress Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 I *could* take her through Henle. I've seen it briefly and it didn't make me :svengo: like Wheelock's does, but what's the point of doing Henle in grade 4? Actually, dd and her tutor covered a lot of what is in the first portion of Henle.- the topics, not actually using Henle. Plus, it's a bit dry. Okay, very dry... but so's what she did with the tutor and she liked it. What's the point of doing Henle in grade 4??? :lol: I think it is amazing if your dd can do Henle in grade 4. It will leave plenty of time in the higher grades to work on real texts. And from what you have written, it sounds like she will really like Henle (or Wheelock's). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ester Maria Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 You all know what I'm going to suggest, so... :D But seriously, it depends on your long term goals. If you have an able and hardworking child, as well as aim high with Latin (not roots or anything, but actually wish to learn Latin), there's no point in amusing her with programs that essentially teach very little, if she thrives on the actual content. She doesn't have to work with a high school pace just because she's using a high school text! You can loosen it up a bit for her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forty-two Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 But seriously, it depends on your long term goals. If you have an able and hardworking child, as well as aim high with Latin (not roots or anything, but actually wish to learn Latin), there's no point in amusing her with programs that essentially teach very little, if she thrives on the actual content. She doesn't have to work with a high school pace just because she's using a high school text! You can loosen it up a bit for her. :iagree: Honestly, if FF is largely *review*, I cannot imagine going (what seems to me) backwards to LfC. Given what you've posted, my vote would be Henle. You can always add in stuff for translation later on (Cambridge Latin is good for this - you can usually get good deals on used 3rd editions on Amazon). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPan Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 (edited) Jane, I'm not sure why you're feeling you messed up hiring the tutor if she nailed the grammar and didn't learn all the vocab in FF. Have her study the vocab cards from FF as she moves on into SF. That she is asking for translation is evidence that she may have a linguistics bent. I'd continue with FF/SF (which is quite good) and add in Cambridge, which you can get inexpensively on amazon used. (around $20?) There are also extensive web resources to go with the Cambridge latin. They'll make a nice pair. Do it and enjoy. Stop freaking out. If she has nailed the grammar, she's fine. Keep doing what you're doing. Don't try 20 curriculum and jump around. Keep going forward in one and get somewhere. ;) PS. Latin Prep (GP) would also work for that. Either, used/cheap, would be good. Cambridge would just be a fuzz easier/more straightforward to implement. Latin Prep would sort of consume you. It's way cool, but it would more logically replace the instruction in FF/SF, which doesn't seem necessary to me since what you have is working. Edited September 6, 2010 by OhElizabeth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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