Blog

Preparing for Latin in Challenge A

Challenge A is such a WONDERFUL year in the life of a Classical Conversations student. 

We have walked the Challenge A road once before with my oldest child. It was a GOOD year, but it was also year of great growth, struggle, change, and revelation. 

After a couple of years in the Challenge program it became very clear that when my youngest was approaching Challenge A I would definitely prepare more for Latin in the year preceding Challenge A.

Yes, the memory work in Foundations is helpful.  Yes, having a firm grasp of English Grammar (through the Essentials Program) is extremely beneficial. And yes, our students will repeat the Latin they learn in Challenge A again in Challenge B.

I firmly believe, however, we can set our rising Challenge A students up for success so the Latin doesn't flatten and discourage them. 

Preparing for Latin in Challenge A - how to get a jump start on the Latin BEFORE you begin Challenge!

About the Latin in Challenge A

The Latin text used in Challenge A is Henle Latin. 

In my opinion, Henle isn't exciting. There are no bells and whistles - nothing that overly excites the student. It is simply HARD WORK and DILIGENCE.  

This is a GOOD thing. 

“Students start at the beginning of Henle First Year Latin. Class usually begins with a review of an English grammar concept, and then students discover how that concept is treated in Latin. Together, students and the tutor practice translating sentences that contain the day’s concept. There is an emphasis on memorization of vocabulary and word endings. Students gain skills for learning any language through this systematic approach.”
— Classical Conversations

Many people feel Henle is superior because it has less vocabulary  (a little more than 500 words) than the competing Latin texts, which allows students to learn the concepts of Latin without being bogged down with excessive memorization of vocabulary.

As students get older and begin to translate, this makes things easier for them. 

(For a nice review of Henle, read this review at Homeschool Christian.)

Preparing for Latin in Challenge A

In this last year before Challenge A, we are doing a few things to prepare for the difficult Latin that is to come next year. 

Know Your Memory Work

Having a firm grasp on the Latin memory work in Foundations is extremely helpful. 

We plan to review all three cycles of memory work this summer in preparation for Challenge A.

Specifically, knowing the NOUN DECLENSIONS before beginning Challenge A is a good idea. 

I love the Latin Noun Declension worksheets from Family Style Schooling. The lightbulb REALLY went off when my son started working on these sheets!  (good stuff)

Everything to do with Latin at Family Style Schooling is extremely helpful - take some time to explore the resources there.  One of my favorite articles is all about Latin nouns and what exactly a declension is. 

Getting Started With Latin

During our Morning Time, we are using a FABULOUS book, Getting Started With Latin. 

This book, which is a beginning Latin book for students of all ages, incorporates much of the Latin memory work from Foundations. It also begins to teach students the basics of learning Latin, and will prepare them for Henle Latin in Challenge A.

Having gone through Henle Latin with my oldest, I can see directly how using Getting Started With Latin benefits my son moving into Challenge A. 

I love it when we sit around the table during morning time and Anna says, "Ooooh Grant, this is going to help you SO MUCH in Latin next year!"

Flash Cards

We are beginning to learn the Latin vocabulary in Henle Latin using flashcards from Antiquated Notions. 

While I am 100% in favor of students making their own Latin flashcards for Challenge A, having them available to print and review easily has been extremely helpful.

Once in Challenge A I imagine we will be using Quizlet to make and review Latin flashcards. This proved to be very helpful for my oldest. 

I hear so many people question the validity of learning Latin, the fast pace of the Latin in Challenge A, and the dryness of the Henle Latin text. 

Yes, those are all valid concerns - and concerns I have had at one time.  Now, however, they are no longer concerns.  

Being in Challenge for nearly four years has taught our whole family that sometimes the best things are worth WORKING and WAITING FOR.  It has taught us that patience, perseverance, and doing hard things is WORTH IT.

 

Here is what I DO KNOW about the study of Latin in Challenge:

  • It leads to a tremendous understanding of English Grammar.
  • Students gain a greater understanding of word origins.
  • Studying Latin promotes great discipline and perseverance.
  • Parsing a Latin sentence and taking the time to STRUGGLE through translations builds confidence - a confidence that transfers to many other academic areas.
  • Sticking with something for many years (like the study of Latin) teaches our students that anything worth doing is worth doing well and over an extended period of time.  

I wish you all the best in your study of Latin!

Are you preparing for Latin in Challenge A?  Tell me about it in the comments below! 

Preparing for Latin in Challenge A - how to get a jump start BEFORE you get to Challenge! 

Fun Math Games For Kids

Have you ever been guilty of math torture?

I confess - I have been.

When we first started homeschooling it never really occurred to me that we could play fun math games to cement learning. 

Now, eight years into homeschooling, we are still very strict about math in our homeschool. It gets done each and every day (usually first thing), and we NEVER miss a day of math drills, either. 

(Thank you, Saxon Math.)

Giving my children the gift of being 100% solid in their math facts is just something I'm going to do. Period.

I do know, however, that math is a lot more engaging for kids when you provide fun games for them to play.  Math games help with mental math, speed, confidence, and just a LOVE of math in general. 

Fun Math Games

I have been compensated by Logic Roots to write this post. I never review items we have not first used and loved. All opinions expressed are my own. 

Our Traditional Favorite Math Games for Kids

We've enjoyed many games over the years, and before I tell you about the newest game that has caught our eye, let me highlight just a few that stick out as our favorites over the years:

  •  Mega Fun Card Game Math - all you need is a deck of cards and this book - tons of fun!
  • Math Dice - a set of these dice can bring hours of math practice and fun - we use them a lot as a family
  • 24 - this game requires some serious thinking and can be used with ALL AGES (I first learned about it in my daughter Challenge I class)
  • Yahtzee - this classic game is ALWAYS fun, and helps practice addition and multiplication
  • SKIP-BO - a seriously FUN math game

A Fun Addition Game for Kids

Now that I am tutoring the littlest ones in our Classical Conversations group, I'm thinking about playing math games much more.

And I'm also learning something about math games: you are never too old to play them! 

A new game I've been playing with some of my younger friends has been Ocean Raiders.

(And just a secret for you -- a certain 11 year old in my house asks me to play a lot, too... because we've come up with ways to make the game harder for him!)

Fun Addition Game for Kids

Ocean Raiders is very simple to play. 

Players roll the die to start. On their first roll they put their game piece on the number they roll. On subsequent rolls they add the number they rolled to the number they are on. The object is to get to the treasure (at #49). Players sometimes advance quickly forward or backward (a la Chutes & Ladders) to add a twist to the game. 

I found that Ocean Raiders helped children in 1st grade and above with their mental math skills. The guys I played with were adding in their heads, but Logic Roots also provides slates to write on so children can figure the answers that way, too.

The rules were VERY simple and game play was successful from the minute I opened the box. That's important for the younger ages, because too many rules bog them down. 

The game is visually appealing and engagement comes from its simple premise and design - all achieving the goal of making math fun for kids. 

Two of my little friends told me they had a great time playing the game -- and they gave it 8.7 and 9 stars (out of 10).  These are bright little boys, so I considered that high praise! 

The really fun thing was that after THEY played, then the big boys came in and wanted to play. They played a quick round of addition, then they went BACKWARDS from 49 to 0 using subtraction, which made things a little harder for them. 

About Ocean Raiders and Logic Roots

Ocean Raiders is recommended for grades 1 and up.  It is provides ABUNDANT practice with the following skills:

  • Addition
  • Number Recognition
  • Number Sequencing
  • Subtraction

There are detailed instructions in the box, but they also can be found by scanning the QR code in the instruction book or by visiting the Logic Roots website. 

There are MANY other math games (which I will be telling you about in the coming months) from Logic Roots, too.  I encourage you to check them out via their website - and their games are also available through

Connect with Logic Roots on Twitter and Facebook to learn more about making math fun for kids! 

AND --- they have a MATH BLOG.  Good stuff!  (Check out some of their amazing LEGO math ideas.)

Do your kids like math?  Do you play games to make it more fun?  Leave me a comment and let me know how math goes in your house!