We had the opportunity to review the physical version of Fourth Form Latin + Henle I: Complete Set from Memoria Press.
I have a “love love” relationship with everything Memoria Press publishes. Although I never made the complete move to everything Memoria Press, its curriculum is one I have included anywhere I can in our school. We use some of the literature guides, some science, some logic and of course, some Latin. That is one of the reasons I was excited about being given the opportunity to review the Fourth Form Latin + Henle I: Complete Set.
My children are required to complete two years of a foreign language. We considered other languages, but Latin just seemed to be the right fit in our school for two reasons:
1) Our learning style leans closer to Classical, so Latin appears often in other subjects we study. I studied French in high school and college. As an adult, I have come across more opportunities for a need to know Latin than I have French or any other language.
2) I believe there is value in learning Latin and know it will help River and Lily who are both STEM directed.
Supposedly, Latin is a dead language, but that “dead language” lives in our school. Just look around you and you will see how frequently Latin also lives in our everyday lives.
WHO IS FOURTH FORM LATIN + HENLE I FOR?
Fourth Form Latin + Henle I is geared towards students in seventh grade through college. If you follow the Memoria Press program, your child would complete the course in the eighth grade. Although students are introduced to the Form series in elementary school, the program is comprehensive and thorough enough for students to use any one level of the books in the Form series towards high school foreign language credit. That is how we are using the Form series. For us, one year of a Form level earns my high school children one year of foreign language credit.
This is everything we received in the Fourth Fourth Form Latin + Henle I: Complete Set. All of the books come with study covers and I love that the Workbook is spiral bound, which makes it easier for the student when writing their responses. It would be great if the Teacher Manual were also spiral bound.
There are five units and tests, 29 lessons and quizzes, and a final exam, which all help you track your student’s progress throughout the course. There is DVD instruction for each lesson.
Latin Grammar, Year Four pronunciation CD
Workbook (consumable)
Instructional DVDs (six DVDs and lessons are about 30 minutes long)
Quizzes & Tests (consumable)
Flashcards
Student Text
Henle Latin First Year
Henle Latin First Year Answer Key
Henle Latin Grammar (a nice and handy reference to have)
Teacher Manual
Teacher Key (for Workbook, Quizzes, & Tests)
Although Unit I (seven lessons) is a review of the other three Forms in the series, the student should have a solid foundation in Latin before beginning Fourth Form Latin. The first three Form levels are a good start. Lesson samples are available to help you determine if Fourth Form is where your child should begin. The teaching structure is pretty much the same through the Form series.
HOW WE USED IT
We pretty much followed the suggested schedule, which worked well for us. Once we get past the review in Unit 1, if needed, I will adjust the schedule for a manageable pace. We did Latin six days a week, which took us about one hour. On the quiz day, she was finished after taking the quiz, which took about 15-20 minutes. Our weeks look something like this:
Monday
Watch DVD lesson, read lesson, study vocabulary and complete worksheet
Tuesday
Read lesson again if needed, study vocabulary (with drill sheets) and complete worksheet
Wednesday and Thursday
Study vocabulary and complete worksheet
Friday
Study vocabulary, complete worksheet and study for quiz
Saturday
Take lesson quiz
She started the week listening to the pronunciation CD and daily completed the recitation before each lesson. The practice helped Lily build her knowledge on the grammar forms she learned. She spent about five minutes before each lesson on recitation. Over the course of the school year, this time will grow as she continues to learn more grammar forms. She did well with the forms she already learned. Part of the recitation experience was for her to stand, because her recitation is a presentation. There is a scripted portion for teacher/parent to assist.
Lily watched the DVD lesson, which is taught by Cheryl Lowe. There is nothing better than being taught by the author herself. Ms. Lowe is also the founder of Memoria Press.
The Fourth Form prepares students for Henle II by introducing them to more than 200 new more vocabulary words in Henle I. The use of the Henle I book is introduced in Unit I, so students get a feel early on of the challenge Fourth Form Latin + Henle I will present.
The flashcards were helpful for Lily to practice the vocabulary words. Sometimes, she carried them with her to study on the road when we went out to run errands. She also looked over them before going to bed. By the time she finishes the Fourth Form Latin + Henle I: Complete Set, she will add to her repertoire (repertorium) of already more than 700 words learned from the First through Third Forms.
Henle Latin First Year
Although learning syntax and how to translate is part of the Form series journey starting in First Form, more focus is now placed on those areas. Using the Henle Latin books, students can practice translating more. It was challenging, but fun, to read through the Henle I book and try to translate what was on the page.
Henle Latin First Year Answer Key
As students continue through this level and into the Henle series, translation and regular reading of Latin texts will become easier. The bodies of text will also become larger. Eventually, reading a book completely written in Latin will be no problem.
WHY FOURTH FORM LATIN (and other Form levels) WORKS FOR US
Fourth Form Latin Sample DVD Lesson.
As I previously mentioned, I never studied Latin in school. Because of that I had absolutely no idea how to teach Latin to my children. The format of Fourth Form allows me to teach my children Latin. If I were brave enough, I could study ahead as I do in some other subjects and teach Latin the best I can, but I don’t have to. Ms. Lowe is a professional and does a better job than I ever could. I know my children are getting an excellent and solid Latin education.
The other pieces of the set – flashcards, Workbook and Student Text – are wonderful tools for helping the student learn the material and master the language. Yes, flashcards are all right in your homeschool. Flashcards are fun to use, even if you are a teenager. College students often use flashcards for learning. The daily worksheets provide good practice and reinforcement of the lessons. The Teacher Manual and Teacher Key are great helps to parents who may not have the time to search for correct answers in the text for assignments, quizzes or tests. Fourth Form Latin + Henle I: Complete Set comes with everything you need to teach your child Latin and everything they need to learn Latin.
PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
You may purchase Fourth Form Latin + Henle I: Complete Set for $150.
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