Grammar Stage (Grades 1-6)
Dialectic & Rhetoric Stages (Grades 7-12)
Go to Latin & Greek Links
Return to Learning Latin Contents
The curricula we have reviewed are the ones we ourselves have used and/or have researched in consideration of using. We have tried to make them as objective as possible, but ask everyone to remember that these are, after all, our opinions only. We have posted our reviews as a service to others; they are not meant to be the sole criteria that one should use to base a purchase on. We encourage everyone, if possible, to actually look at a copy of the curriculum under consideration before making a final choice. The curricula are listed in alphabetical order, and not in order of preference. If a curriculum is not listed, then it is because we have not reviewed it.
Biblia Sacra
Published by Kalepaedeia House, (607)564-3614. (Be sure to use this phone number. The
number at the webpage is incorrect.) This curriculum is intended to be used for ages 8
through adult. The pronunciation is classical. Biblia Sacra is a self-study course based
on the 4th century Bible of St. Jerome, the Latin Vulgate. The curriculum is
homeschool-friendly and can be worked through at a self-set pace with varying age levels.
It comes in two volumes, the first with very little Latin grammar for grammar stage
students, and the second with extensive Latin grammar for dialectic stage students through
adults.
The text for each lesson is taken from the Vulgate. Each lesson includes a summarization of the passage, new vocabulary, paradigms, conjugations, additional translations from Scripture, English derivatives based on the new vocabulary, Latin reading exercises with audio tapes (the audio tapes are extensive and are a big plus to this program,) and grammar practice. This course contains many enrichment activities such as artwork, drill games, flash cards, and Latin music tapes, most notably of Christmas carols and Bach’s Latin music. The author is a homeschooling father and experienced Latin instructor.
The Latin Vulgate is the only text used, so there is no exposure to the classical Roman authors that the other programs have. This is deliberate on the part of the author, and many classical educators consider it an additional advantage to the program.
English From the Roots Up
The first thing that we want to say about this program is that it is NOT for learning the
Latin language. Several of us use this program as a supplement to our regular Latin
language program, or as exposure to Latin roots until the time comes to begin a regular
Latin language program. English from the Roots Up teaches English vocabulary and the Latin
and Greek roots that form that vocabulary. It therefore focuses on English etymology, or
word origins. Even though the cards can be purchased separately from the instruction book,
we have found the book to be helpful. We have also found it helpful to make our own cards
using index cards.
Latina Christiana
Published by Memoria Press, PO BOX 5066,
Louisville, KY 40255. This curriculum is geared for the grammar stage. The program
includes non-consumable student books, teacher’s editions and pronunciation tapes.
The Latin pronunciation is ecclesiastical. The emphasis in the curriculum is vocabulary
and paradigm memorization, along with Latin phrases and songs. English derivatives of
Latin vocabulary is covered as well as translation exercises. The material is roughly
equivalent to the Mars Hill Primers, with less vocabulary, and more background information
on the Latin phrases. There is also a Roman history section that ties in the Latin lessons
with Greenleaf Press’ Famous Men of Rome Roman History course. The student book is well organized, with all the material
needed for one lesson grouped together. The sequence of the program is:
K-2: Prima Latina
3rd grade: Latina Christiana Volume I with Lingua Angelica I
4th and 5th grade: Latina Christiana Volume II
6th grade through 8th grade: the author recommends a higher level grammar text such as
Henle’s Latin.
9th grade and up: students that have completed the above program are ready to read the
classics in Latin.
The teacher’s edition assumes absolutely no prior knowledge of Latin or any other foreign language. The explanations are complete for everything that appears in the student books. We have felt that with Latina Christiana, the teacher's editions are equivalent to the tutelage inherent in the Artes Latinae program. The author is a homeschooling mom and the material is geared for a one room, multi-level approach.
The revision of the second volume of the program is now complete. The goal of the second volume revision, which the author felt was necessary, was to make it as homeschool-friendly as the first volume. The revised program will enable any homeschooling parent with no prior Latin instruction to learn right along with the kids. We feel that the Latina Christiana program is of great benefit to those desiring to teach Latin to their children in the grammar stage, without the necessity of learning Latin first, and for a fraction of the cost of some of the more expensive self-tutorial programs.
Latin’s Not So Tough!
Published by Karen Mohs. This curriculum is designed for the early grammar stage. Karen
Mohs, the author of Hey Andrew, Teach Me Some Greek! is writing a sequential Latin program based on the same
design as “Hey Andrew.” The student workbooks are consumable, a non-consumable
answer key and test packet are also available. Book 1, Book 2, Book 3, Book 4, and Book 5 are now finished.
These books correspond roughly to 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades. The emphasis is on alphabet and pronunciation (Book 1), vocabulary (Book 2), beginning grammar (Book 3), and increasingly advanced grammar (Books 4 and 5). This is a very easy introduction to Latin and will, we feel,
more than adequately prepare a student to go on in 6th grade or junior high to a dialectic stage Latin programs.
Mars Hill Latin Primers & Grammar
Published by Canon Press. This curriculum is geared for the grammar stage. The Mars Hill program provides a non-consumable
teacher’s edition and consumable student workbooks. The Latin pronunciation is
classical; the quality of the pronunciation tape is one of the highest out there. The
Primers contain almost no explanation of Latin grammar, as the emphasis in these workbooks
is vocabulary and paradigm memorization. Attention is given in every lesson to English
derivatives of Latin vocabulary. Also included is famous Latin phrases to learn, but with
little background information on their use. The organization of the student books and the
teacher’s edition has been confusing at times, as students and teachers are flipping
back and forth from various sections in order to pull together the required material for
each lesson. The sequence of the program is:
3rd grade: Latin Primer Book I
4th grade: Latin Primer Book II
5th grade: Latin Primer Book III
6th grade: Latin Grammar I
7th grade: Latin Grammar II
The teacher’s edition is necessary and assumes the teacher knows at least some basic Latin. Since this is the case, the teaching help provided is slimmer than in some of the other programs. We have successfully used the Primers and the Grammar in teaching our grammar stage children Latin, as long as we have been content to stay within the parameters of the program, and teach just the material in the book, resisting the desire to teach the understanding of the grammar as well, but leaving that for its proper place in the curriculum.
We believe the best way to become prepared as a teacher for using this program, outside of taking a full-fledged Latin course yourself designed for older students, is to purchase the workbooks and the teacher’s editions of all the Primers and the Latin Grammar, and go through the material yourself. The Grammar pulls the previously learned material from the Primers together, and helps it all make sense. A teacher who has not had Latin instruction before, and does not go through the Mars Hill program on their own, is likely to find the material vague and confusing.
Return to Page Contents
Artes Latinae
Published by Bolchazy-Carducci. This curriculum is
geared for the dialectic/rhetoric stage. It is a CD ROM computer program; the
pronunciation can be chosen, whether scholastic, classical, or ecclesiastical; and
multiple students at multiple levels can use the same program. Artes Latinae is the
closest thing to a Latin teacher on a disc as you can get. All the bases are covered,
through high school to infinity and beyond. The program is complete and you do get what
you pay for. The parent does not need to know Latin in order for the student to learn, as
the program is the teacher. The student reader that accompanies the program is wonderful,
with varied, excellent material offered for translation practice. The work is repetitive
in a good sense that allows the material to be thoroughly learned.
Some disadvantages with Artes Latinae that we have experienced are: grammar stage children may struggle with it, as the program is not geared for grammar stage learning. The on-screen directions assume an older student. It approaches Latin through learning grammar. The multiple choice method of answering the questions can allow students to have a correct answer without understanding why the answer is correct, and the student must have typing skills. But for older children, if the parent has the resources to invest in this program, we feel Artes Latinae to be the cream of the crop in the independent learning, self-tutorial category.
Henle’s Latin
Published by Memoria Press. This textbook is
geared for the dialectic/rhetoric stage. Henle’s is a non-consumable student text.
The pronunciation is ecclesiastical. We have found the explanations in Henle’s to be
thorough, easy to understand, and appealing. A parent who has gone through one of the
grammar stage curriculums should be able to teach from Henle’s without a problem. The
amount of vocabulary learned in Henle’s is limited to 500 words. This may be an
advantage for some, or a disadvantage for others. Henle’s is the preferred text to
follow Latina Christiana.
Jenney’s Latin
This textbook is geared for the dialectic/rhetoric stage. Jenney's is a non-consumable
student text. We feel that while Jenney's is a good text with a good vocabulary base for
the high school level (1500 words), it is best used by a teacher who already is quite
familiar with Latin. The main reason for this is that the explanations in Jenney are not
nearly as thorough as the other higher-level texts, nor as compelling. Also, the pace of
the text is quite fast, and may be too much for a student to absorb in one year. Jenney's
was the preferred text used in the higher level Latin classes at Logos School, and in many
other Classical schools.
Latin for Americans
A non-consumable Latin text that approaches learning Latin through grammar, therefore we
believe the text to be geared for the dialectic/rhetoric stage. A unique feature found in
Latin for Americans that is lacking in most of the other curriculums is that every lesson
incorporates Roman history and culture into the Latin lesson. This inclusion, many of us
feel, makes the lessons more enjoyable and interesting to the students. With Latin for
Americans, the teacher needs to know Latin. The pronunciation is classical. A retired
Latin teacher of our acquaintance loves this program over all others commonly available in
public schools.
Latin Road
to English Grammar
This curriculum is designed for the late
grammar/dialectic stage, as it teaches Latin through grammar. The pronunciation is
ecclesiastical. The curriculum consists of student texts and a separate teacher's manual,
which is necessary, in two volumes. The first volume covers the approximate grammar of the
first 15 chapters in Jenney's Latin. It is modeled roughly after the Writing Road to
Reading program, so the students are required to keep a notebook. It comes with review
worksheets and tests. Besides the grammar in each lesson, there are passages in Latin to
memorize, a big plus of this program.
The program is not designed to be a complete English grammar curriculum as well as a Latin language curriculum, as the name implies. It does have brief hints on what English grammar to reinforce as it applies to that Latin lesson. We have found it helpful in filling in any holes in our children's grammar instruction, when they have had English grammar first. We have also found the extensive teacher's manual helpful in "teaching" the teacher how to teach Latin. Those of us who have used it have been thoroughly pleased with its format and content.
Schola Classical Tutorials Latin I & II
These online internet tutorial classes are unique in that homeschool or private school
students can take the classes via computer with a qualified, knowledgeable instructor from
their home or classroom. The problem of needing a parent or teacher that knows Latin is
thus solved. The classes are for the late dialectic/rhetoric stage. The text used is
Wheelock's Latin, the Wheelock's Latin student workbook, and the Wheelock's Latin Study Guide.
All of the advantages of Wheelock's Latin are inherent in these classes, as well as the
extra advantage of the additional knowledge, experience, and help brought by the
instructor, Wes Callihan. Latin I covers most of the Wheelock's text, and Latin II
finishes it up while reading classical works in Latin.
The cost is comparable to Artes Latinae. The disadvantages are the technology, which is new but improving, and the pace of the class. Therefore we recommend these classes for dialectic/rhetoric stage students who have or are willing to develop good study skills. It is also excellent for adults wanting to learn Latin in order to teach it either in homeschools or private schools. Those of us who have used Schola Classical Tutorials have been very pleased with the quality of instruction.
Wheelock’s Latin
Published by HarperCollins Publishers. This textbook is designed for the late
dialectic/rhetoric stage. Wheelock’s is a complete Latin course in one text, and is
widely considered the best Latin text available. Those of us who have used it have found
it to be so as well. The pronunciation is classical. Every lesson contains grammar,
learned in sequence; ample vocabulary, lots of translation practice from Latin to English
(quotes from Cicero and many other great Roman writers) and English to Latin as well;
reading from the classical works in Latin; etymology lessons; and other interesting
background information on Latin phrases, culture, and so on. There is an additional
student workbook that is not required to understand the course, but is helpful for
additional practice.
Wheelock’s has been designed to be a self-tutorial course. The explanations in the text are thorough, and the Wheelock’s Latin Study Guide is a further help to self-study. The text contains additional tutorial exercises for each lesson for those going through the course on their own. Several of us have been able to, without prior knowledge of Latin, work our way through this course. We highly recommend it for any parent that desires to learn Latin on their own in order to teach it to their children; or for further Latin study after one of the grammar stage curriculums have been completed. If used with children younger than high school age, we recommend taking several years to complete the course.
Go to Latin & Greek Links
Return to Learning Latin Contents
Return to Page Contents
Home | Setup | Reading & Literature | Plundering
| 1000 Good Books | 100 Great Books
Latin | 100 Pivotal Events | Helps | Members’ Pages | Classical Christian Homeschooling
Classical Christian Education Support Loop: Latin Curriculum Reviews
www.classicalhomeschooling.org/celoop/reviews.html
Webmaster: Christine Miller
This page last revised February 2003
Copyright © 1998-2003