Latin is somtimes the main reason why many shun Classical Education.  Why learn Latin?  It is a dead language.  Why waste your time on a boring language?   I have thought this over quite a bit in the last 5 years.  Why do people learn Latin?  There are a myriad of reasons.  1) to help with English grammar  2) to help with vocabulary  3) to be able to read  texts in their original language,  4) to enable the child to think critically (this is my reason for teaching Latin.  Have you ever tried to translate Latin to English or vice versa?  There is so much thought involved  that head aches are usually the end result of such an exercise.)   There are many reasons.  I recently read on an online article that  none of these reasons are sufficient for learning Latin.   You learn Latin to immerse yourself in the culture of the Ancients, so that you can fully understand  the mindset of the Great Masters of that time.  I can't say that I am there in my thinking quite yet.  I still like my reason the best.  

Another area of controversy  is when to begin the teaching of Latin.   Many start teaching Latin when the child is in Grade 1.  The  common rule for this is 'don't start teaching Latin until the child is reading well in English.  There are also those who say that  teaching  "Kiddie Latin" (Latin programs for elementary  grades) are a waste of time.  These people belong to the camp that say later is better.  It is best to wait until the child is in Grade 5 or 6.

With my oldest,  I started Latin with her when she was in Grade 1.  She was reading well at this point, so I thought this was my green light to go ahead.   It was a disaster.  She ended up hating Latin.  Every time I brought out the vocab cards,  she started to cry.   We put it away for awhile but then I decided that later might be better for our family.   We will be starting up again in Latin  when my oldest is in Grade 6.   Every child and every family is different, so this kind of decision needs to be made based on what the child can handle.   I don't know if there is a right starting age for Latin.

Now we enter the third controversy about Latin: which program to use.  There is the argument about whether inductive or deductive is more effective.  Another argument is whether learning Latin through songs and games is better than using the workbook approach.  Ahhh!  It never ends.

I am going to leave you with a few links to some Latin programs and let you decide what would work for you and your children.  I have tried  a few of these programs  so I will share my opinions as well.

Latin For Children--is a popular Latin program for elementary  children.  The company that publishes this program also has SongSchool Latin for little people  and Latin Alive for jr. high age.   I have not used LFC  but I have been intrigued  by SongSchool Latin.  I think this would be a fun intro to Latin so that when the formal program began in Grade 6, there wouldn't  be a huge culture shock.

Memoria Press--this company is well known for Prima Latina (for little people) and Latina Christiana ( for elementary age children.)   They also offer supplementary programs for Latin.   We have used  PL and  LC I.  These programs are workbook  oriented.   I make no secret that workbooks do not work in our family.   We used PL before I came to that realization.  I often wonder if this is why  Latin bombed for my dd or if it was just because I started too early.   Who knows?  I am using LCI  with my kids now  as a stepping stone for when we start Latin more formally,  but I do not use it the way it is intended.  We do it very informally.

Lingua Latina--There has been a resurgence of use with this program recently.  Many are turning to the inductive method of learning Latin.   This means  that the child learns Latin through  reading it right away.  There is no English  used in the program.  It is all Latin.  I have been tempted to use this program but I have read in many places that it works better if the teacher knows Latin.   That counts me out.   I have also read that it works better for children in middle school (as early as Gr. 5.)

Minimus -- we have used this program and love this little mouse.  This program is about a  mouse who lives during the time of Ancient Rome.  The child not only learns Latin but learns history and the way of the Romans.   The major criticism of Minimus is that it does not teach Grammar formally.  I think, though, that it is a good intro to Latin.

Great Latin Adventure--I have only heard about this program quite recently  so I think this is a new program.   I do not know anything about  this program, just that it is for Grades 4 and up.

Lively Latin--this program is another popular one  with elementary  grades.  It is relatively new (within the last 3 years) but I have heard great things about it.

There are many more Latin programs out there.  It would take more time than I have to list them all.  But this gives you a good starting point.   Enjoy the adventure!

Julia lives on the Canadian Prairies, homeschooling her 3 children (9,8,6) and attempting to give them a Classical Education.  You can read more on her blog.

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