Picta Dicta Review

My kids are intrigued by foreign languages. We've dabbled in Latin learning a few times in the past, but never found a curriculum that my kids truly understood and loved. Honestly, I was not interested in revisiting our study of the language just yet. I was sure any curriculum would be met with frustrations and complaints after a couple weeks. So when I heard that we had the opportunity to review Picta Dicta Natural World from Roman Roads Media, I had no intentions of actually wanting to try it.

So why am I writing a review of it? Because I watched this video on their YouTube channel and immediately knew this curriculum was different.     

Roman Roads Media publishes classical Christian curriculum. By relying on master-teachers of classical education and incorporating video technology, they are able to produce high-quality products that are "accessible, affordable, and flexible for the Christian homeschooler." Their curriculum is characterized by excellent instruction and enhanced with visual aids and examples. Along with multiple Latin choices, they offer many other courses as well, such as logic, rhetoric, poetry, old western culture, and more.

Picta Dicta Natural World is a self-paced Latin program for elementary-age students. It focuses on teaching vocabulary in order to give learners a good foundation of the Latin language. By drilling 400 nouns from the natural world, the program ensures that the learning is both practical and applicable. The words cover the following topics:

• Basic Animals
• Fruits, Berries, and Nuts
• Anatomy I
• Land Forms and Terrain
• Small Animals
• Parts of Trees and Plants
• Human Anatomy II
• Water
• Birds I
• Growing Things
• Sky and Weather
• Animal Anatomy
• Sea Life
• Trees
• Hand and Foot
• Constellations
• Exotic Animals
• Flowers and Herbs
• Vegetables and Legumes
• Human Anatomy III
• Birds II
• Insects, Arachnids, and Worms
• Sign and Habitat
• Light and Fire
• Metals and Stones
• Ground Cover and Vegetation  

The course is offered at various levels of difficulty and the lessons themselves are self-paced, which means that the curriculum remains both achievable and challenging. In addition to Latin, the curriculum weaves bits of literature, history, and science into the lessons.

The program utilizes a multi-sensory approach with the philosophy of See It, Hear It, Understand It. It combines colorful, hand-drawn images along with audible pronunciations and English definitions and translations to help the student fully grasp the vocabulary.

I have one child working through the course at the Reader I level and two children following the Reader II level. The teaching style is the same for both levels, but the difficulty varies slightly. The Reader I has 8 lessons for each topic followed by 5 lessons of accumulative review, whereas the Reader II generally has 5 lessons followed by another 5 lessons of combined review. I also have plans to work through the Express level myself, which is an accelerated version of the curriculum. There are additional choices for children who cannot yet read and the parent who does not want to complete the drills but wants access to the materials.

The program teaches the words through various means. An example of the Reader II lesson games is as follows:

• Learn Latin -- learn the vocabulary words and read short stories that describe them in their ancient role
• Latin Picture -- use Latin words with English descriptions
• English -- label the picture in English
• Spell Latin -- translate the Latin word and type it in English
• Review Latin -- translate the English word and type it in Latin

There are also two versions of a crossword puzzle for each topic that you can download and print. The easier version lists the Latin word as the clue and the English word as the answer; the more difficult version is the opposite.

My kids have been doing so well with this program! They are loving learning new words and the ease at which they are doing so. Even the 3-year-old is heard walking through the house saying words like "asinus" and "gallina" (and it's super cute, if I do say so myself). I appreciate that they're learning to decode words by recognizing the morphemes in Latin and finding them in English words. In fact, they were impressed when I was able to guess animals by their Latin equivalent in this way. For instance, I guessed horse for equus because of equestrian, dog for canis because of canine, and others. I also knew gallina for chicken because of studying Spanish in high school. Being able to understand English better is one of my favorite reasons for my children learning Latin. 

 

Picta Dicta Natural World is a fantastic program to teach hundreds of words in Latin, no matter your previous experience with the language. With a strong vocabulary foundation, learning grammar and grasping the language as a whole becomes much easier. I am excited to continue with this curriculum and watch my children grow as they learn Latin. 

You can connect with Roman Roads Media on the following social media sites:

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If you'd like to learn more about the products offered by Roman Roads Media, please read the reviews on the Homeschool Review Crew blog.

   

Latina Christiana

We have enjoyed being able to review for Memoria Press each time in the past, so when the opportunity became available again, I was excited. Memoria Press is known for its easy-to-use classical Christian materials. They believe in the "cultivation of wisdom and virtue through meditation on the Good, the True, and the Beautiful" by training in the liberal arts and studying great books and great thinkers of the Western Tradition. Their products are characterized by 3 things: simplicity, quality, and affordability. They are designed to be used by anyone from an inexperienced homeschool parent to a seasoned classroom teacher. We've used their curricula for various subjects, like phonics, literature, and history; but this is our first experience using one of their Latin products, Latina Christiana Complete Set

I know that some people may think that it is pointless to study Latin as it is no longer a native language and is no longer evolving, but there are still many benefits of learning it: helpful in  learning the Romance languages and also the English language, because it teaches the morphemes (smallest part of a word, i.e. prefixes, roots, suffixes); helpful in teaching proper grammar; and helpful in developing the mind through attention to detail, precision, and work.

My 11-year-old has always been interested in foreign languages. He had tried a Latin curriculum a year ago, but it focused on teaching morphemes and vocabulary, and not the language as a whole. On top of that, we really were lost when it came to pronunciation, even trying to follow the guide. My son quickly lost interest. Honestly, when I saw that we could choose another Latin program, I nearly dismissed it. Then I took the time to really look at all that it had to offer and realized that it was completely different.

The Latina Christiana set, written by Cheryl Lowe, was designed as a beginning Latin course for students of all ages. Its step-by-step approach and clear instructions make it a perfect option for a teacher with no background in Latin. The set contains everything you need for a year's worth of study: Student Book, Teacher Manual, Pronunciation CD, Flashcards, and Instructional DVDs.

The Student Book is the individual workbook for the student. It contains the Latin sayings, vocabulary, grammar forms, and exercises for each of the 25 lessons along with additional pages for 5 review lessons. The exercises include grammar, derivatives, phrases and sayings, translations, and more. The book also contains the pronunciation rules, The Lord's Prayer and a table blessing both shown word-for-word in English and Latin, songs, conversational Latin phrases, grammar forms, and a vocabulary index. There is even a history section that has a map and comprehensive questions that correspond to the Famous Men of Rome set, also offered by Memoria Press.

The detailed weekly lesson plans are found in the Teacher Manual. This book is important to the teacher as it not only includes a complete copy of the Student Book with overlaid answers, but also lists comprehensive teaching instructions for each lessons. Tests, quizzes, answer keys, games, recitations, grammar rules, and historical information are also included.

The Pronunciation CD has 32 tracks of various things in Latin. There is a pronunciation guide, The Lord's Prayer, a table blessing, recitation, drills for each of the lessons, and multiple songs. There are accompanying drill sheets in the Teacher Manual that the student uses to review vocabulary, sayings, and grammar forms.

The Flashcards are used to master vocabulary. There are cards for vocabulary and derivatives, Latin sayings, conjugations, and declensions. The front side of each card shows the Latin version, while the back gives the English equivalent. There is also a tiny number in the top corner of each card that signifies which lesson it is first taught.

The three Instructional DVDs have 5 1/2 hours of teaching. The instructor, Jessica Watson, is a seasoned teacher with over 17 years of experience. She conducts the lessons in a comfortable, easy-to-follow manner. She teaches grammar, explains derivatives, recites prayers, and gives many examples of vocabulary and declensions. There are multiple on-screen notes, illustrations, and diagrams.

Watching the lesson sample video (middle of the page), is what intrigued me about this curriculum. Being able to hear the proper pronunciations and being taught by a real Latin teacher is exactly what we needed. My son has been doing 1-2 lessons a week and has been learning a good amount of Latin in just over a month of instruction. I love the DVD lessons and that everything is written out so clearly in the Teacher Manual. In the past, I had been intimidated in using a Latin curriculum because I have no experience with the language whatsoever. The Latina Christiana Complete Set has removed those hesitations and has given us the confidence to study the language. My son can do the majority of the lessons on his own because the step-by-step approach is designed so well. I'm excited to see how much he'll learn and what benefits he'll gain from using this program.

Latina Christiana is a wonderful Latin curriculum for both a beginning learner and a teacher with no background in it. I highly recommend it.

You can connect with Memoria Press on the following social media sites:
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If you'd like to read more reviews of this product or of some of the other resources offered by Memoria Press, please visit the Homeschool Review Crew blog.

Once Upon a Time in Latin

My kids are fascinated with foreign languages. It had been a while since we formally studied one, so I was pleased when a review for Laurelwood Books became an option. The idea of speaking and understanding a language not common in our area is especially appealing to my oldest (10 yr). While he has dreams of learning the Elvish language (yes, seriously), he was equally excited about studying Latin. He's pleased because it's a dead language; I'm pleased because of the benefits that stem from it.

Latin may not be one's native language any longer or be continually evolving, but its influence can be found all over. Not only will understanding Latin be beneficial for learning the Romance languages (Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, and Romanian), but it will give a better understanding of English, as well. I have fond memories of learning morphemes (the smallest part with meaning of a word). We'd sit around the table making up our own words by combining prefixes, suffixes, and roots.  Throughout the years, he taught me that I could have a basic understanding of almost any word (and could even understand many foreign words), as long as I had a grasp of the individual parts. Many of our morphemes stem from Latin and can be found in various areas of study, like medicine, astronomy biology, history, dentistry, law, and mathematics, to name just a few. It's because of this connection to our own language that I was excited to use Olim, Once Upon a Time in Latin: Derivatives I.

Derivatives I focuses on studying Latin words and the English words we derive from them. It can be used as a stand-alone vocabulary builder or as a complimentary resource to any Latin program. In fact, the words used in this curriculum are pulled directly from the first three volumes of Olim, Once Upon a Time in Latin reader series by the same author.

A two-week schedule is recommended for each lesson of 10 vocabulary words.

Week 1
Day 1: Trace Latin and English Words
Day 2: Exercise I: Fill in the Blank
Day 3: Exercise II: Matching
Day 4: Exercise III: Story with Blanks

Week 2
Day 5: Exercise IV: Multiple Choice
Day 6: Exercise V: Write Your Own Story
Day 7: Crossword or Word Search Puzzle
Extras: Write Derivatives (every 5 lessons)

There is a detailed pronunciation guide in the beginning of the book. It breaks down each letter and its sound, explains double letters, and lists rules for accents and syllables. It also describes macrons, the diacritical mark indicating a long vowel.

The Latin vocabulary words in the book fall into 3 categories: verbs, nouns, and adjectives. For each word, the book lists the Latin word(s), the meaning, and the English derivatives.

1. dicere, dīcit, dīxit (v)                  to say, (he) says, (he) said           diction, dictionary
2. prīmus, prīma, prīmum (adj)       first                                             primary, premier

3. exīre (v)                                    to go out, exit                              exit

The exercises are fairly simple. My son completes them in 5-10 minutes each day. He's a little disappointed as he thought he'd be learning to speak Latin, rather than just learning random words. We did look up some videos so we could hear how it's spoken. The pronunciation guide is helpful, but he needed to hear it to fully understand. He doesn't appreciate the benefits of what he is learning just yet. I've tried explaining that this book is truly helpful in understanding English and decoding words he doesn't know. He just gives me one of those looks in return. I know, I know, one day he'll appreciate it, ha. Until then, I will have him continue to complete the exercises, if for nothing other than the English vocabulary he's studying. He is still interested in speaking Latin. I think this book would be a wonderful resource to use alongside an actual Latin curriculum.  

If you're looking for a good way to learn some Latin words and see how they've influenced the English language, Olim, Once Upon a Time in Latin: Derivatives I is a good option.

 

You can connect with Laurelwood Books on their website and Facebook.  

You can read more reviews of this book or of one of the many other resources reviewed by other homeschoolers on the Schoolhouse Review Crew blog.

   

Dynamic Literacy Review

I have fond memories of learning morphemes with my dad. We'd sit around the table making up our own words by combining prefixes, suffixes, and roots. One of us would say a "word" and the other would figure out the definition by breaking down the morphemes (the smallest part with meaning of a word). It was practical teaching. Throughout the years, he taught me that I could have a basic understanding of almost any word (and could even understand many foreign words), as long as I had a grasp of the individual parts. So, imagine my excitement when I had the opportunity to review a curriculum that focuses on teaching affixes.

WordBuild: Foundations, Level 1 is the first of a series of vocabulary products offered by Dynamic Literacy.  It's perfect for 3th-5th graders (or 5th-9th graders needing remedial work) as it moves past the learning of phonics and on to comprehension of words. The curriculum builds on students' prior knowledge by adding prefixes and suffixes to words they know. Once they are familiar with the process, they will be able to break down more difficult words and infer the definition. I love the way Dynamic Literacy describes the importance and potential of learning this way:
 

Learn 3 roots . . . and you know 3 words.

                                              Learn 3 suffixes . . . and you know 12 words.

                                              Learn 3 prefixes . . . and you know 48 words.       

Foundations has 3 parts: Basics Student Activity Book, Student Activity Book, and Teacher Edition.

The Basics Student Activity Book is a 20-page booklet that is used as a gentle introduction to prefixes and suffixes. The cute, colorful graphics throughout the book are used to help students form compound words and understand how the same portions of words are used and combined to make new words.

The Student Activity Book is the meat of the curriculum. This workbook (184 pages) teaches 30 prefixes, suffixes, and combinations. There are 5 types of exercises for each affix: affix square (combining an affix with a root and determining the definition), affix adder (combing an affix with more roots and writing both the definition and  sentence), magic square (matching words and definitions), word search, and fill in the blanks. 

The Teacher Edition contains all the solutions for the activity book, but it is so much more than an answer key. It includes more information about the topic, ideas for further study, discussion questions, review pages, and an in-depth teaching guide.

I focused on Jake (4th grade) for this set, since he fits the prime age and skill range. While he was the one to complete the assignments, I found my younger children joining in on the verbal lessons. What can we add to house to make new words? Doghouse. Birdhouse. Treehouse. Clubhouse. Dollhouse. Schoolhouse. Even the little ones enjoyed thinking of words. The Basics Student Activity Book was fun to complete. The lessons seemed more like games than work to my son, since they were like word puzzles that he had to decipher. Though the Student Activity Book was more challenging, he is liking it, as well. Since it is written for a 5-day schedule and we school 4 days a week, we combine 2 exercises one day so we can study 1 affix every week.

I like that the book is making him process the information to break down and combine the different parts of words. The only downfall I have with the program is the lack of review in the Student Activity Book itself. There are review pages in the Teacher Edition after every 5th affix, but I would like to see more review in the student's book. People retain information better with repetition. I am trying to point out the prefixes we've learned thus far as we use them and try to incorporate them more in our daily conversations.

Overall, I think this is a wonderful program that I expect will help my children understand how to decipher the meaning of unknown words and give them a good foundation for language.



You can connect with Dynamic Literacy on the following social media sites: Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.


If you'd like to read more reviews of this product or one of the other products offered by Dynamic Literacy, please head to the Schoolhouse Review Crew blog.