WWYD: Latin problems in 6th grade

[Jean in Newcastle]

We started Prima Latina in grade 3. In grade 4 and 5 we did Latina Christiana I - we took 2 years because the first year I didn't get the teacher's manual and then found out that it was impossible to do without it (at least for us) because the student book had some things in it that were only taught in the teacher's manual. This year - 6th - we've been doing Latina Christiana II. It has been miserable. Even with the teacher's manual both of us are having some problems. Someone told me that the Latin we are doing at this level is primarily for vocabulary and that you really learn Latin grammar etc. at the high school level. So what should I do now?

 

1. Try to muddle through even though ds is having frustrated tantrums.

 

2. Have ds take it online or get a tutor of some kind.

 

3. Forget about it entirely for now and start over with Henle or something comparable.

 

4. Switch to Latin for Children or another comparable program at this level.

 

5. Some "other" I haven't thought of?

[debbielong]

Where in LC II are you? My son hit a major road block, after two years with few problems, starting in chapter 8. So, I ordered a new student workbook and we reviewed extensively. He seems to be fine, now.

 

We have about as much support as you can get - he is doing the class online with Memoria Press and we have the DVD's. I wouldn't have been able to pull it off without both of these supports.

 

If the material is too difficult and he legitimately cannot do the work, muddling through has proven to be a futile waste of energy for me:).

 

Good Luck!

[at the beach]

We started Prima Latina in grade 3. In grade 4 and 5 we did Latina Christiana I - we took 2 years because the first year I didn't get the teacher's manual and then found out that it was impossible to do without it (at least for us) because the student book had some things in it that were only taught in the teacher's manual. This year - 6th - we've been doing Latina Christiana II. It has been miserable. Even with the teacher's manual both of us are having some problems. Someone told me that the Latin we are doing at this level is primarily for vocabulary and that you really learn Latin grammar etc. at the high school level. So what should I do now?

 

1. Try to muddle through even though ds is having frustrated tantrums.

 

2. Have ds take it online or get a tutor of some kind.

 

3. Forget about it entirely for now and start over with Henle or something comparable.

 

4. Switch to Latin for Children or another comparable program at this level.

 

5. Some "other" I haven't thought of?

 

I would start over with either Getting Started with Latin by Linney (I think that's the title) or something like Galore Park Latin Prep 1. We did LC 1 and I have to say it was hard to get through it. Latin Prep is much more challenging but it explains the grammar. We are having success with Latin Prep this year, and my 6th grader is enjoying it while she did not at all enjoy LC 1. I have also heard that at this age, you may be better off just moving to Henle. There's also the Lingua Latina route, but that's another story that I have no experience with, other than owning the texts. ;)

 

Best of luck.

 

Anita

[Plaid Dad]

If you want a grammar-based program, I would go with Henle or possibly Latin Prep. Henle moves more slowly at the beginning, so it might be a better choice for a 6th grader.

 

HTH!

[abbeyej]

I think it's time to switch to something else. If for no other reason than at this point, just sitting down with the book probably makes him feel angry and frustrated. A new book can be a fresh start, a chance to begin again...

 

I really like Latin Prep. It's colorful and witty, includes very clear (simple yet thorough enough to make sense) grammatical explanations, lots and lots of translation work... And for the first level, you can get the supplementary workbooks for lots (and lots and lots and lots) of extra practice. (The only thing I'd point out is that they use the British order for the cases. Just have him copy out every table in the American order that he has learned in LC.)

 

Henle is very solid, but it's rather dry for young students. Latin Prep was written for 11-13 year olds. It doesn't speak down to them at all, but it does recognize the place of humor in instruction... :)

[Beth in SW WA]

 

2. Have ds take it online or get a tutor of some kind.

 

 

My kids enjoy their online class with Mr. Spotts via The Potters School. Lingua Latina is a hit here following LC 2.

[inashoe]

I would suggest you take two steps backwards before continuing.

LC is a really good program and I suggest that you don't drop it just yet.

First check that the basics are in place.

 

How well does he know his latin vocab from LC 1 ?

If he doesn't know them well, then translating in LC 2 can be extremely difficult.

Do you have the Flashcards for LC1 ?

If he doesn't know his vocab then, stop the workbook for a while, and have him read through the flashcards everyday.

 

Does he know and understand the difference of when to conjugate a verb and when to decline a noun ?

Revise these if he is not sure - it is all covered in the first five lessons of LC 2.

Is he clear on the difference between the different noun declensions, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, masc, neuter, etc.

 

Chant the verb conjugations - first have the list of verb case endings in front of him, have him conjugate voco - aloud, with the list in front of him, then take it away and have him chant again. Don't move on until he can comfortably say these without the cue card.

Now put the list of verb case endings in front of him again, and have him conjugate a different verb, pick any simple, easy to pronounce.

Have the cue card in front of him for as long as he needs it, only move on when he is able to conjugate a verb without the cue card.

 

Now do the same for the 2nd conjugation verbs.

First have the list of case endings in front of him, then chant the conjugations for one 2nd conjugation verb, then when he is ready take the list away and have him chant them - if he can't remember the endings, then show him the list.

When he is ready have him conjugate a different 2nd conjugation verb, at first with the list of case endings in front of him, and then with it removed.

 

Each day have him conjugate at least one verb from both groups.

 

Now move onto declining the nouns, following the same pattern.

 

Now you are ready to work on the translating.

Copy the translation exercises from lesson 1 onto a clean piece of paper - and have him translate those.

If he gets stuck, takes too long etc, then make up some more of your own.

 

Now move onto lesson 2 - and so on, making up more translation exercises if needed.

If he knows his vocab when going through the flashcards, but can't recall them when translating, then either give him the pile of flashcards to use freely or show him the list of vocab words in the back of his student book.

 

Henle will be very difficult for him if he isn't comfortable with LC 2 - but if he has slowly and methodically worked through LC 2 then he will be ready for the next step.

BTW Memoria Press have just released their beta version of First Form Latin - this is more in the same format and style of LC 1 and 2, whereas Henle is very different, and very difficult. You can request a beta version of FFL from MP.

Once your son has done LC 2 he will be ready for First Form Latin.