Here's what some have said about the BigBook:
I just wanted to tell you just how much we are enjoying the Big Book. L. (age 8) is really starting to grasp the concept of a derivative, and he's starting to see them everywhere! This is exciting because it was the part he had the most trouble with for a long time. He calls himself the "Latin Master" and says "I love Latin" whenever it's time for Latin. I have recommended your book to several friends and at least 2 switched from a previous curriculum, or began with BB - they tell me they love it too.
--Teresa S.
We just love it and thank you very much for creating it. It is a fun and easy way for a child to
learn Latin. My eldest always likes to read ahead to the history portions. Now I just need to wait until my younger 3 (6,5 and almost 4) are ready to learn Latin and I will get to do the whole thing again! (this time I will know a bit more though, which is the best part of Lively Latin. It
is not necessary to know Latin first.). And I am learning English grammar (which I obviously missed in my PS education) too).
--Stacey
I LOVE Lively Latin!!! We used some other curriculum about 1 1/2 years ago, and I appreciate how gently your program introduces Latin terminology. I'm learning Latin right along with my children and in the past was often confused with words like inflected, form, declensions, etc.
Also, thank you for making ecclesiastical audio recordings. I prefer them simply for their beauty.
One more...I prefer e-books.
--Polly O.
--Sandra L.
LivelyLatin is a Latin program developed by Latin teacher and homeschool parent. I heard so many personal recommendations from homeschoolers taking her classes that we decided to try her distance learning plans. This is essentially a Latin unit study, incorporating English and Latin grammar, English and Latin vocabulary /derivatives, cultural history and lots of activities. My kids find it a lot of fun, and I find it very substantial. I initially had concerns my youngest could keep up, as it is a worksheet based program. However, if I did much of the writing and she narrated, she was able to do this at age 7. It is the only worksheet-type curriculum I have ever successfully used, it is well designed.
--Julie B.
My kiddos continue to love Latin, thanks to you, and this has extended to an interest in all things Roman.
--Rose D.
Another course that we are enjoying this year is Lively Latin's Big Book of Latin. Although this course is new and not yet in hard copy print, I think it is a great parts to whole Latin course.
I am using it with my eleven year old son, but have decided that my fourteen year old daughter would benefit from it as well. She is doing Cambridge Latin (a whole to parts course), but I feel the simple and concise explanations found in Lively Latin are very helpful to an overall understanding of the Latin language. So, I added it to her schedule.
We decided to teach Latin in our homeschool because it is difficult to teach a living language without a native speaker exposing the children to conversational language on a daily basis. If my children want to learn a living language, I think Latin will give them a foundation that will make it easier to aquire other languages. Also, there are so many great Latin courses for homeschoolers and so few courses for living languages that are effective and appropriately priced. Also, Charlotte Mason believed every child should know Latin. Last but not least, my son wants to learn Latin because he wants to be a scientist and believes Latin would be the most helpful. Thus, we are pursuing Latin as our foreign language. However, I'm not beginning my children until sixth grade as there are so many other things to learn before sixth grade that are more important, and a sixth grader is more independent with every other subject, so that makes it easier on mom.
I like Lively Latin's approach because it really explains some of the most basic things, such as gender, declensions, inflection and endings in a way that is easy to understand. The program is not teacher intensive, although I stay involved because I'm learning along with him.
Each lesson has a set of vocabulary words that are to be put on index cards and memorized, along with its gender, a set of chants that include declension endings which can be heard on the website so you know that are pronouncing them accurately, as well as a whole series of exercises, history lessons and picture studies. The website also has online games for each lesson to help the kids learn their vocabulary or whatever new material is being presented.
There are 15 lessons, each one quite lengthy, colorful and well organized. Lesson 1 begins with an explanation of nouns, an explanation of gender, a set of vocabulary words, the first declension chants and lots of exercises to get the kids familiar with the vocabulary and the first declension, as well as a history lesson on the origin of Rome . Lesson 2 goes into the cases (Genitive, etc.), by lesson 4, they are learning verbs and reading short Latin phrases, by lesson 8, they are writing their own Latin sentences and by Lesson 13, they are translating very short stories. I think it's a great progression for a beginner Latin course using the parts to whole method.
www.JeannieFulbright.com. Jeannie Fulbright is the author of Apologia’s elementary science curriculum.