Elementary Latin
and
Beginning Latin Grammar
by Nancy Sattler
Reviewed by Martha Robinson
Purchase details: Elementary Latin and Beginning Latin Grammar by Nancy Sattler. Spiral bound paperbacks. Available from Sattler Latin.
An experienced teacher at a Christian school, Nancy Sattler has written a curriculum targeted for third and fourth graders in a classroom setting.
Elementary Latin (consumable workbook -- $15) includes twenty lessons, noun and verb chants, and Latin songs. In some lessons such as "family" and "colors," vocabulary is introduced in a list, and then simple questions are presented for fill-in-the-blank answers. In other lessons such as "What do I do in school?" a dialog is shown with questions and answers that the child is to memorize. The "verbs," "animals," and "numbers" lessons, for example, have English sentences with one Latin word in them for the child to translate. Numerous coloring pages are included, especially in the large section on Roman gods, and crossword puzzles, picture drawing, and matching exercises add variety. Many of the lessons have derivative sections. The songs include "Are You Sleeping?", "Old McDonald," "Happy Birthday," and "Non Nobis." Line drawings and Victorian-type clip art illustrate the book.
The teacher's book ($28) for Elementary Latin reproduces the student book in its entirety in addition to all answers, phonetic pronunciations, some notes, and suggestions for classroom activities and games. Specific myths to read are suggested on each of the coloring pages of Roman gods. Thirty-two quizzes and their answer keys are in the back of the teacher's manual.
The audio CD ($12) includes the chants, the songs, and the vocabulary or dialog from each lesson. Using classical pronunciation, Mrs. Sattler speaks in a rhythmic cadence, heavily rolling the letter "r" and changing tones frequently.
Beginning Latin Grammar (consumable workbook $15) offers a simply laid-out overview of the basics of grammar. Topics include nouns of the first, second, and third declensions, verbs of all four conjugations and "to be" in the present, future, and imperfect tenses, all cases, cardinal numbers up to 20, ordinal numbers up to tenth, and adjectives. A knowledge of grammar concepts is assumed.
Each of the fifteen chapters begins with the lesson, divided into several sections. The concept is explained with examples, and then usually ten fill-in-the-blank questions or exercises are provided for each section. In most chapters a vocabulary section comes next with ten to fifteen words, followed by either a "Latin Sayings" section in which a famous Roman is briefly discussed and quoted, or "Latin from the Vulgate," in which several verses from the Biblia Sacra, or Latin Bible, are shown. Conversational Latin is included in two lessons. Total vocabulary introduced in this volume is approximately 175 words.
The teacher's edition ($20) reproduces the student text completely with answers. It contains just a few notes suggesting classroom discussion. There are no tests, and a pronunciation CD is not available for Beginning Latin Grammar.
Classical pronunciation is taught in the first chapter of the book; however, ecclesiastical pronunciation is shown in the reference section at the back of the manual. Charts of parts of speech and their endings, numbers, and all vocabulary are also in the reference section.
Recommendation: Elementary Latin and Beginning Latin Grammar could make an interesting supplement or basic starting point for your young children's Latin studies. Because the audio tape is so memorable (and may or may not agree with your family,) I would only recommend using it if you are committed to classical pronunciation.
HomeschoolChristian.com resources related to this review:
Latin Curricula Comparison Chart to help select an introductory or intensive program.
HomeschoolChristian.com's Classic Languages Resource Section
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