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Eleanor
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| Posted: Feb 22 2010 at 7:46pm | IP Logged
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There seem to be quite a few of us here who are interested in a "Latin-centered" or "logic-centered" approach to education, but for whatever reason would prefer to have hands-on involvement in designing and implementing the curriculum, rather than hand the whole package of planning, teaching, and grading over to an online school.
So this is something I'd like to talk about... i.e., the how-to's.  Anyone who wants to discuss the nuts and bolts of carrying out this style of education... whether you've been doing this for years, or your eldest is 18 months old (hey, I remember how excited I was at that stage!  ), feel free to join in.
Some of my big questions include:
- What, if anything, to add or change at the preschool level (we've just been doing Montessori activities & some music lessons up to now)
- Practical suggestions for learning Latin as a family, and as a "living language of the Church" -- which, for Catholics of the Latin Rite, is "the most abundant source of Christian civilization and the richest treasury of piety" (Pope Paul VI)
- Learning logic and rhetoric ourselves, as far as we're able, so we can get a head start on teaching these to our children. As with the study of Latin, I believe that this would be a great opportunity to develop ourselves... i.e., "mother culture!"
- How to arrange tutoring, outside lessons, or co-ops for advanced level classes, if necessary
- How/when to incorporate science into the curriculum
- What sort of books or multimedia resources you're using now, and what you'd like like to see available in the future
Drew Campbell has a Yahoo group, LatinClassicalEd, where many of these topics are discussed -- and I'm signed up there too -- but his group isn't specifically Catholic, and doesn't have the breadth of insight from other methods that can be found here. Besides, I like you guys too much to leave. 
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guitarnan
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| Posted: Feb 22 2010 at 9:54pm | IP Logged
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This sounds so wonderful...I hope many members will chime in. My dh counts his Latin background (from public high school/Junior Classical League) as one of the most influential elements of his education.
And...having met a few priests studing Canon Law who've needed Latin tutors, I can only think that solid grounding in Latin will help our next generation of priests and deacons!
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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Eleanor
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| Posted: Feb 23 2010 at 2:05am | IP Logged
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I also took some Latin in public high school, but didn't stick with it long enough to start translating any real literature. I'm looking forward to learning more. While we're deciding on a curriculum, I've started reading the Latin Vulgate Bible, side-by-side with the Douay-Rheims translation. It's an inexpensive "immersion method" (actually free, if you use an online version), and it's guaranteed to be spiritually beneficial.
Some kind person has even posted the beginnings of a free online Latin course that's based on reading the Vulgate. And here's a store that sells printed copies of the Vulgate, as well as De imitatione Christi, aka The Imitation of Christ (which is also available from that site as a free PDF download). This is something I love about the Latin folks; they're so glad that people want to learn the language, they make the electronic resources available for free whenever possible.
BTW, here are a few links to past threads that might be useful to someone:
Classical Writing
Can LCC be fun?
Latin Centered Curriculum
Lone Pine Classical School's Latin -- has some interesting advice on different approaches to teaching Latin
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spidermom
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| Posted: Feb 24 2010 at 8:23am | IP Logged
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Eleanor~
This is something I would love to discuss as well. I have been at this (homeschooling) for years and have been looking into the Latin-Centered philosophy over the last few years or so. I haven't been able to pull it off as I have been running into some dead-ends. I am interested to hear of other's successes and failures and will be reading over the links you have posted.
To address a couple of your questions:
Preschool: I have found that the little people around here have been soaking up lots just by being with us--alphabet, numbers, colors, shapes, poems, stories and some impressive vocabulary. I often ask them--who ever taught you that? When did you learn that? Some things are intentionally taught to them by the older children as they do spend time reading and playing with them, but much is just absorbed. As your family grows I think you may also find the preschool activities become less formal.
Practical suggestions for learning Latin as a family: I love the idea of family learning. Our difficulties with learning Latin here have been due to having everyone studying at different levels and not having Latin take a prime spot in the curriculum. It has always been the last subject of the days and either we are too tired or short on time so we rush through carelessly or skip it all together. Some of my kids want to learn the Rosary and the Angelus in Latin. So we are going to memorize these prayers together and then move on to prayers from Mass and Latin hymns. For a more formal introductory Latin course I am considering using Getting Started with Latin, family style with the older children and doing it first thing in the morning
A question of my own:
Does anyone use IEW materials with their Latin Centered Curriculum? I am a bit intimidated by Classical Writing.
I like Andrew Pudewa and it seems the ideas presented in this article,
Now is the Time of focusing on character, knowledge and skills mesh well with LCC.
Thanks for starting this discussion.
Liz
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SusanMc
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| Posted: Feb 24 2010 at 11:28am | IP Logged
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Ooh, I'm totally interested in the topic of this thread. I'm afraid I have nothing much to add yet as my eldest is 2. 
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Willa
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| Posted: Feb 24 2010 at 2:09pm | IP Logged
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Eleanor wrote:
| I also took some Latin in public high school, but didn't stick with it long enough to start translating any real literature. I'm looking forward to learning more. While we're deciding on a curriculum, I've started reading the Latin Vulgate Bible, side-by-side with the Douay-Rheims translation. It's an inexpensive "immersion method" (actually free, if you use an online version), and it's guaranteed to be spiritually beneficial. |
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I'm doing that too! Cool 
About Latin learning, I put some links to other resources on my blog during the summer:
Latin Coursework pre-20th century
Links to Classical Studies
Great thread! I hope to come back to it later.
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AMDG
Willa
hsing boys ages 11, 14, almost 18 (+ 4 homeschool grads ages 20 to 27)
Take Up and Read
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Planning a Latin/logic-centered education
