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JennGM
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| Posted: June 08 2010 at 2:22pm | IP Logged
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As I'm planning for 2nd grade, I'm just wondering a few things.
1) Do you do foreign langauge with your 2nd grader?
2) If yes, what language do you teach (and why)?
3) If yes, is it formal or informal?
4) What age do you start with Latin? and what Latin program teaches ecclesiastical pronunciation?
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Jennifer G. Miller
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guitarnan
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| Posted: June 08 2010 at 2:27pm | IP Logged
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We tried Latin at a pretty early age (K) and it was not popular. Sigh. (The fact that I don't know it didn't help.)
We did some basic foreign language study in grades 1-5 - mainly Spanish, although my dd picked up some German as her brother studied it, so we have some German books lying around here. She switched to French this January (grade 7).
It was very informal until last year, when we started Learning Spanish With Grace (a great program that is gentle and fun!).
We started early because 1) dd wanted to and 2) she has a good ear for languages, so it seemed a good idea to gently allow that skill to develop.
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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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Mackfam
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| Posted: June 08 2010 at 3:12pm | IP Logged
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I start Latin in 3rd or 4th grade, mainly because in the early years I'm really concentrating on reading and writing skills.
We use the Memoria Press Latin programs and start with Prima Latina. It is easy enough that it could be gently introduced in 2nd grade and you could use it for a 2nd/3rd grade program. If I did that I would probably require little, or none, of the workbook writing, just do a lot of oral quizzing ala CM...spend 5 - 10 minutes working on the Latin vocabulary or prayers each day and just be very laid back about it. Prima Latina teaches several Church prayers in Latin and imo is a great intro to Latin! We also use Memoria Press' Lingua Angelica and choose 1 - 2 new Latin hymns to work on from that.
Memoria Press uses ecclesiastical pronunciations.
Classical Academic Press has some great programs, but they use classical pronunciation.
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Jen Mackintosh
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JuliaT
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| Posted: June 08 2010 at 3:34pm | IP Logged
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I started latin with my youngest when she was in Grade 2 and that did not work well here. I have decided to start formal latin programs when they are in Gr. 5. Until then we do latin informally. I use index cards and let the kids put the case, case endings and meanings together like a puzzle. This has worked out very well and has prepared them for a formal program.
We started using Memoria Press (ecclesiastical.) I loved Prima Latina but did not like the formation of lessons in Latina Christiana. It was very confusing both for my dd and for me. We have recently switched to Latin for Children (classical) and am very happy with it. My two younger ones are using Song School Latin. This is very good as well, it is only for vocab not grammar. We use SSL along with our informal lessons. This seems to be working well.
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Julia
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HeatherS
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| Posted: June 08 2010 at 4:11pm | IP Logged
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We use Song School Latin put out by Classical Academic Press, and our 1st grade dd LOVES it. The CD that is included with the student book lets you choose b/t using classical pronunciation (1st half of the songs on the CD) or ecclesiastical pronunciation (2nd half of the songs on the CD) for each lesson. There are also free games that they can use to practice their vocabulary.
So, I guess to answer your questions, yes we started formal foreign language teaching in 1st grade b/c this program was such a great fit for our family. There are fun songs to aid in learning (and retaining) the vocab. words and phrases, and entertaining chapter lessons that use short stories (Goldilocks, the Parable of the Vineyard from the Gospel of Matthew, etc.) which incorporate new Latin vocab. words or phrases. Each chapter is pretty short, so interest has been kept high. What I also find interesting are the short "Grow your English" sections sprinkled throughout the student text that show how a currently studied Latin word is the root of several well-known English words, thus enabling interesting connections for the little ones.
Song School Latin (and Song School Greek - teaching Koine Greek, which we plan to use next year for our 1st and 2nd grade-ish dds) are recommended for grades K-2. I have also heard good reviews from friends who have used Latin for Children beginning in approx. 3rd grade. I have only purchased the student text (not the teacher's edition, which may be geared more for classroom use, or the flash cards), which includes the CD, and, for this level, has worked great.
We decided upon teaching Latin 1st anticipating that it will provide a good foundation for grammar, and following with Greek for the same reason. I hope to move on to Spanish for the primary reasons that: a) the early years are when languages are learned most effortlessly, and b) Spanish is such a frequently-used language in a great deal of the U.S. it seems to be a practical addition to our learning at home.
HTH! 
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Heather
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pmeilaen
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| Posted: June 08 2010 at 9:43pm | IP Logged
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JennGM wrote:
As I'm planning for 2nd grade, I'm just wondering a few things.
1) Do you do foreign language with your 2nd grader?
We do French (listening to CDs) and German (reading, writing, speaking).
2) If yes, what language do you teach (and why)?
I teach French because I like it and we do German because we're a bilingual family of German and English.
3) If yes, is it formal or informal?
Both.
4) What age do you start with Latin? and what Latin program teaches ecclesiastical pronunciation?
We start in grade 3 with listening to the Latin CDs I Am Reading Latin Series, which uses the classical pronunciation, but is lots of fun for young children. We then move on to Getting Started with Latin, a program that lets you choose the pronunciation, in fourth grade. |
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knowloveserve
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| Posted: June 09 2010 at 10:28am | IP Logged
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I am aspiring high to have quadrilingual kids! 
I'm, proficient in Spanish so we speak this and do casual games with it. Even though I've heard great things about Spanish With Grace, we are not "studying" spanish at this point. I'm just trying to get it into their systems. We use picture books in spanish or books that are in both spanish and english too. We're doing this language because of it makes the most sense considering our nation... plus I already know it and I feel like it would be a waste to not pass it on.
I'm going to isolate it from the other language we'll be studying LATIN (e.g. maybe speaking only Spanish during the lunch hour or in the car, etc.), using Prima Latina. We're doing this because it's the language of the church and it's highly useful in learning so many other languages, plus understanding the origin of 50% of our own English language. We'll do some prayers and songs in Latin
And then there's ASL. My sister-in-law is deaf and two cousins sign, as well as my brother and some other family members... so we're trying to do this also. Thankfully, it can't be confused with the other languages. But I love the Signing Time videos and we were given these cool little flashcards that have the graphic movement when you angle the card... it shows a child making the sign. And on the reverse is the word in Spanish. We do the signs here and there. Unfortunately we don't live near our deaf family so we don't get to practice in "real life" as much as we'd like but we're doing the best we can!
And yes, we're starting early. My son will be 8 this fall... he's in a 2nd/3rd combo. But this is when the brain hemispheres are open for this kind of thing!
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Ellie
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JennGM
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| Posted: June 10 2010 at 12:22pm | IP Logged
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Thank you for all your responses!
That Song School Latin looks really fun! I remember borrowing Rachel May's Latin for Children cd and really enjoying it. That would be the next step after Song School?
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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HeatherS
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| Posted: June 10 2010 at 4:17pm | IP Logged
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Jenn,
Yes, it's my understanding that the link that you provided to Latin for Children, Primer A, is the next step after Song School Latin. In their FAQ section, I believe?, they address not starting the Latin for Children b/f 3rd grade b/c of the more difficult grammar concepts. their catalog has a neat *timeline* of when to use their language resources.
In studying Song School Latin this year w/my dd, I do love that she is so excited about Latin. I took Latin as a homeschooled high schooler and in college and don't remember ever acquiring the same affinity for it that she has for it at this early age, lol. We're really blessed to have these great resources available to us now.
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Heather
wife to Matt since '02, mom to Margaret '03, Jessica '04, Catherine '06, Elizabeth '07 and Susanna '09
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CatholicMommy
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| Posted: June 10 2010 at 4:40pm | IP Logged
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We've started with Latin in preschool (very very informally) and are no using Prima Latina, but none of the written work - just learning the words, their translations, looking at patterns in each language - that sort of thing.
My son just turned 6 and is all over the map academically.
I figure by this time next year, he'll be doing a small portion of the writing with Prima Latina and we'll have added in the flashcards. Then we'll cycle through it again, doing the full student book and extra readers and the like.
From there, he can choose another language to study or we'll continue with Latina Christiana (if he chooses another language, we'll come back to Latin a couple of years later).
My goal is foundational skills. Nothing spectacular, but enough to build on.
Oh yes - and we've been doing sign language since infancy. But as was mentioned above - this doesn't conflict; but it does keep the brain more open for learning other languages.
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MarilynW
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With the older kids we have started with Prima Latina in Grade 1 or 2. It worked well - but for my next little guy I am actually thinking of delaying it to Grade 3 as there seems to be enough to do without foreign language.
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Marilyn
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4Real Forums : Across Time and Place
Topic: Foreign Language what Age and What Kind?
