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NAB's avatar

You know what they say, Samantha. The Devil hates Latin! In nomine Patrii, et Filii, et Spiritu Sancti! (and I'm sure my Latin-speaking son would have something to say about my translation :))

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Samantha Gluck's avatar

Yes! I have a book called, The Devil Knows Latin, which speaks to why Latin is the official language of the universal Church. It also talks about him hating Latin as well. Great book.

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NAB's avatar

Thanks for the book recommendation!

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Samantha Gluck's avatar

You're welcome!

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Copernicus's avatar

I don’t know Latin. Our son was in a classical school and would have been learning it (therefore so would we), but that school is a very bad fit for a creative kid who doesn’t fit the traditional school mold, so no more Latin {yet} for us. But I must admit feeling a bit of jealousy about you all’s use of it! Maybe in another couple of years we can work it into our school curriculum. We’ve spent the last two primarily recovering the joy of learning and remediating what the school didn’t teach well for him.

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NAB's avatar

My youngest son just "got" Latin. He has actually thought about studying linguistics in college and has often talked about making up his own language, a la JRR Tolkien :) He's kind of a Latin geek, to be honest.

Recovering the joy of learning is super important so I think having your focus there is good, Copernicus. Public school - where my son started - just beats the joy out of kids. In 4th grade, the year of ELA testing, they told me my son wasn't doing well on the practice exams. Bear in mind that my son had already read The Hobbit, the LOTR trilogy, all of the Narnia books and had stacks of papers under his bed with his own made up stories. They explained that their goal was to make the kids "technical readers" because their future would involve reading manuals - like putting together a gas grill. I went home from that conference, called my husband, and found a small, classical Catholic school in which to enroll my son. Best thing we ever did.

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Samantha Gluck's avatar

NAB, God BLESS you for doing that for your son. I know it sounds strange, but I venture to say you and your husband SAVED your son in a real way. Gives me tears of joy.

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NAB's avatar

My only regret is that my four older kids all went through public school (but the situation was much different then). If I had to do it all again? Probably would homeschool them all. The small, classical school is amazing, but not without its issues too.

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Samantha Gluck's avatar

Public schools have changed dramatically just in the past 15 or so years. It's crazy. Well, even homeschooling isn't without its challenges. Granted, it's definitely worth it, but some days...<wink>

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Copernicus's avatar

Oh good grief! What a load of manure! Glad you have found a better option for your kiddo!

Because perish the idea that we ought to expose our kids to great literature so they can read THAT! Anyone who can read Tolkien can read a manual for setting up a gas grill. As long as the English translation isn’t too messed up. 🙄.

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NAB's avatar

I remember my husband saying, "Uh, have they seen those Lego manuals? I'm sure he can handle a gas grill assembly." :)

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Samantha Gluck's avatar

Have y’all thought of homeschooling? We have great curriculums to suggest for Latin and ancient Greek

And, homeschooling is perfect for creative kids. It’s scary to think about, but you CAN do it.

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Copernicus's avatar

Oh, we’ve been homeschooling for the last few years! This our ability to focus the first two years simply on recovering the joy of learning!!

It is hard and amazing and infinitely better than traditional school, yes, even on the days when there is a lot of yelling. Haha.

There was zero possibility of doing Latin our first year because our kiddo had an allergic reaction to nearly anything that was something the old school had done. Now that we are a couple of years out of that, we’ve been able to resume some of the things, like nature notebooks, that were very sweet parts of that school experience. So perhaps in another year or two, Latin will once again be on our curriculum list. We shall see.

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Copernicus's avatar

Happy to hear curriculum suggestions and what you like/don't like about each one. Especially if one or more are more, or less, suited for kids with learning differences or kids who need to see the big picture before being taught all the minutiae. I will make notes for the future. Thanks!

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Samantha Gluck's avatar

My favorite Latin curriculum for littles up to high school is Latina Christiana, then Henle in high school. My absolute favorite for ancient Greek is "Andrew Teach Me Some Greek!" It's such a great curriculum that I learned it while teaching it. Also, by just listening to me teach the others, one of my boys, when he was barely 4, started reciting the Greek lessons I was teaching the others on his own!

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