Puddle Jumping: Homeschool Review Crew - Memoria Press First Form Latin

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I was thrilled to get a chance to review First Form Latin from Memoria Press.

What is the First Form Latin from Memoria Press?

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First Form Latin Complete Set, review, #hsreviews, #memoriapress, #classicalchristianeducation, #classicalyhomeschooling, #classicalchristianhomeschooling, #memoriapresslatin, classical christian education, classical christian curriculum, classical christian homeschool curriculum, memoria press, product names, classical education, what is classical education

I received a complete set consisting of 8 items - a lesson 3-DVD-set, flash cards, a student book text, student workbook, pronunciation CD, quizzes & test booklet, teacher key and teacher manual. The workbooks are intended to be used by one student in the 4th Grade through 9th Grade but is great for anyone 6th Grade and above who is a beginner at Latin, or if you have just completed Latina Christiana it would be the next step. To get the full benefit of the study, it should be used at least three times a week.

First Form Latin is written by Cheryl Lowe, who is also the author of other Memoria Press Latin programs. What makes First Form Latin unique is that it is set up to be part of the trivium model of teaching that presents Grammar in a systematic way to help the student retain and understand, and it includes workbooks where the student is able to practice the learned skills and easily be able to recognize inflected forms.

When a student completes First Form Latin, they will know:

185 vocabulary words
5 noun declensions
first and second declension adjectives
6 indicative active tenses of the first two verb conjugations

The First Form Latin focuses on vocabulary and grammar forms written for beginner Latin students regardless of their age, even though it is recommended for Grades 4-9. It is also recommended as a great follow-up course to Latina Christiana.

If you are not familiar with the Trivium idea, it is based on three stages of learning:

Grammar
Dialectic
Rhetoric

Cheryl Lowe is the author, whom if you are familiar with Latina Christiana, you will recognize the name. The teaching approach stresses grammar forms and vocabulary which are appropriate for the Grammar Stage of student. The Grammar stage is for anyone who is a beginner regardless of their grade level or age. However, First Form Latin is intended to be used with beginning Latin students Grade 4 or older or can be used directly following Latina Christiana regardless of the age of the student.

The First Form Latin set contains:

Lesson DVDs - Included are 3 discs that contain about 9 hours of teaching by former Highlands Latin School teacher, Glen Moore. Each lesson lasts about 15 to 20 minutes. As Instructor Moore is teaching, notes show up on the screen as well as illustrations, diagrams, and recitations.

A student text which is smaller than the other books at 9X7.5 inches. This makes it easier to hold and less intimidating. It contains 34 two-page lessons that open up on the fold/binding of the book so it's all right there easy to focus on at a glance. The final pages in the text contain oral drills.

Student Workbook allows the student to work through exercises and practice what they have learned until they master it. There are about 4 to 6 pages of workbook sheets for each lesson. Some have a little more material than others and correspond with the lessons. The end of the book contains vocabulary oral drill sheets.

Quizzes & Tests Booklet includes weekly quizzes and unit tests as well as a final exam that you can use as a learning gauge to see what is being learned before moving on.

Teacher Key (for Workbook, Quizzes, & Tests) includes answers to all of the workbook exercises as well as answers to the quizzes and tests.

Teacher Manual that contains the entire student text shrunk down to fit on the pages within the teacher manual. All of the answers are in color and includes a scripted lesson, a schedule for recitation, tons of notes, and an informational section. The Teacher Manual corresponds with the Student Workbook which contains about 4 to 6 pages of exercises for each lesson. It includes color-coded answers, a recitation schedule, and all of the notes needed to lead the student in instruction. It also has an FYI section.

A Pronunciation CD which provides you the ability to hear the proper pronunciations.

Flashcards include vocabulary, grammar forms and Latin sayings. There is a large stack included. The flashcards may seem like an extra component, but it is more like the backbone of the entire course. The vocabulary words and information found on the flashcards build on successful mastery of the program.

How Did We Use It?

My High School daughter has used Latina Christiana from Memoria Press, and all of my children have been exposed to Prima Latina at a young age, so she was familiar with the format and presentation. Even if I had chosen to use it with my younger daughter, at this level, the program actually requires very little teacher interaction, with the exception of using the answer key and manual for grading and to be within ear's reach should they need help, unless you choose to be a bigger part of the studies, and the instructional DVDs make it almost entirely hands-off for the parent unless they want to delve in deeper and take more control.

What Did We Think?

Back several years ago when I cried out to God for help with my son's education, the answer came to me in the form of Classical Education and the Trivium. Because of that, Memoria Press will always have a special place in my heart and always continues to impress me. Free Form Latin is no exception to that rule. The program is solid and the complete set is so impressive and packed with everything you need to be successful at mastering Latin Grammar and vocabulary before moving on to higher level Latin learning if you choose to do so. As always, Memoria Press never fails to impress me. I discovered the company when I was at a fork in the road with my oldest son's education. They were a life saver for me then and still are.

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