Prima latina is also grammar?

[jenaelisabeth]

I just talked to someone at Memoria Press and was told I would not need a separate grammar if I did the Latin? My ds will be 10 in July but has not really had formal Language Arts. He is doing ACE at his private school but not learning a lot. I had thought of doing CLE language arts and Latin but maybe it's not necessary? He has a writing disablility and has some special needs so less work is definitely better for him not to get too overwhelmed. At the same time I want to make sure he is learning what he needs to learn.

 

Also, is their Roman study a complete history for that age or should I do SOTW too? I was just going to get the Famous Men of Rome and the teacher guide and skip the student workbook. Is that enough?

 

Thanks!

Jennifer

[Testimony]

This is my opinion and experience.

 

I have only used the Latin programs from Memoria Press. I like them. In fact, I am trying to find a Spanish program that is set up the same way as Prima Latina.

 

I am currently in Latina Christiana II with my older son and Prima Latina with my younger one. I would skip Prima Latina for your child because he is 10 years old and could probably do Latina Christiana I. It repeats the vocabulary from Prima Latina and the grammar. If your child were younger, I would say start in Prima Latina.

 

If you want to gently start your child with grammar, I have a book that I can email to you called Grammar-Land. It is absolutely wonderful and free. My younger son actually learned grammar which helped him with Prima Latina.

 

I also like Famous Men from Rome. My older son is reading it right now. He is enjoying learning about the different leaders of Rome and how Rome became such an empire. It is very interesting. My son read Story of the World volume 1 and then read Famous Men from Rome. It does go into more details about the Roman history than Story of the World, which is more of an overview.

 

Blessings in your homeschooling journey!

 

Sincerely,

Karen

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/testimony

Edited April 13, 2009 by Testimony
grammar!!

[Caroline4kids]

I second the move to LC 1 instead of Prima for a 10 year old. My boys, 9 and 11, are doing fine with it. If it becomes too much you can always slow it down to a lesson over two weeks. We have done that sometimes and it keeps the lessons well below their stress level.:001_smile: I like to make sure they know the vocab so we spend a couple of days reviewing ALL the cards they have learned.

 

Also, I too use latin for grammar. The idea for the Grammar-land book is a good idea if you would like more. I believe that is a gentle introduction and free is always good.

 

I have heard Charlotte Mason, C. S. Lewis and others learned their grammar from latin. If it works for them, I'm sure we can't go wrong.

[Samiam]

I would say that if your child has not had alot of background in grammar, at age 10, then Prima Latina is not going to give him enough grammar to start a firm foundation.

 

The grammar is very basic in PL. One lesson gives a very brief defination of the topic, say verbs. A wee bit of practice in figuring out verbs. And then that is it. Add into the factor that you are also learning Latin at the same time, and the focus is very light on grammar. I don't see a child coming out of PL with a very good grammar foundation UNLESS you were doing PL at the youngest recommendation age, ie 2nd-3rd grade, and this was the first step in grammar, with several years to build upon it.

 

My son has a firm foundation in grammar, so the grammar in PL was a nice review, not presenting any new info so he could therefore focus on the Latin things. We did PL this year, for DS10/5th grade, because I wanted Latin to be a easy experience for him, not something he cringed at. So although some of the work may have been less than his abilities, it was also a stress-free experience where he really was able to focus on the Latin core.

 

With the issues you have brought up with your son, I would not recommend starting higher than PL. I would include a grammar program, if it were me. A grammar program that focus on learning grammar, not so much writing since he said he has delays in that area. You do not want the focus of grammar to turn into the fact that he isn't writing well...you want grammar to focus on grammar, and then take the writing issue to another "place", you know what I mean?

[sandalwood]

We used their latin in 3rd grade and used Prima Latina (spelling?). I have no idea about the next higher latin level, but at that level it would not be enough grammar for us.

[Colleen in NS]

I just talked to someone at Memoria Press and was told I would not need a separate grammar if I did the Latin? My ds will be 10 in July but has not really had formal Language Arts. He is doing ACE at his private school but not learning a lot. I had thought of doing CLE language arts and Latin but maybe it's not necessary? He has a writing disablility and has some special needs so less work is definitely better for him not to get too overwhelmed. At the same time I want to make sure he is learning what he needs to learn.

 

Also, is their Roman study a complete history for that age or should I do SOTW too? I was just going to get the Famous Men of Rome and the teacher guide and skip the student workbook. Is that enough?

 

Thanks!

Jennifer

 

My ds is finishing the PL/LC1/LC2 series this year. I would not have been comfortable with foregoing a separate grammar program. A separate program has given my son MUCH more practice in English grammar than the Latin programs have given so far, and I have found this practice to be necessary in his writing so far. I also read once here on the boards that if the teacher is proficient in Latin grammar, it would be easier to teach English grammar without a program. That is not my situation, so I needed an English grammar program along with Latin.

[jenaelisabeth]

Thank you for the responses. :) After looking at the PL samples on the MP website I definitely think PL is the way to go for him for just Latin. He is technically 4th grade next year but but because of his special needs is definitely not working on a 4th grade level. I will do a separate grammar for him which is what I was planning anyway. I was a bit surprised when MP said I wouldn't need it.

 

So my next question is which grammar? My 2 thoughts have been Shurley or CLE. probably not CLE because it has the writing built in and he's just not ready for that. I thought Shurley would be good because of the jingles (he is an auditory learner).

 

I would LOVE a copy of the grammar book. I am pretty sure I would do better with a book all laid out for me though. Not sure. :confused: