Visual Latin.

(Make sure you read all the way to the end...special deal!)

So. Some of you may remember my plan to incorporate Latin into our homeschooling. And how I realized that I'd been stalling because I didn't feel comfortable with the subject, myself. And how I then realized that I was perfectly capable of learning on my own first. Well, that's exactly what I did. 

After hearing about Visual Latin through Five J's and poking around on Visual Latin's very informative website, I ordered myself the first set of lessons (1-10). I started back in February and completed them all as time allowed here and there. I'm now on the next set of lessons (11-20) and the boys are on lesson 3. It's going fabulously. 

A bit about Visual Latin

Rather than simply repeat Visual Latin's awesome explanation of their program, I'll direct you here. Seriously, go read it. It explains the program nicely. Basically, it's a series of video lessons with accompanying pdf worksheets that you download and print out. (So, you get the visual aspect with the video, the audio by listening and the kinetic by doing the worksheets. Nice!) The plan is to eventually have more than 60 lessons. To see what's offered now, check out the list of topics covered. You can buy the lessons via download or you can order a dvd to be shipped to you. I ordered the dvd so that I can play the lessons on our tv as well as on my computer. I can also replay lessons in the van while we're driving if I want. 

If you're unsure whether you want to commit to the lessons, they have a free sample lesson and four short introductory videos about why studying Latin is useful. You can download them free. 

What I like about Visual Latin

I had initially thought I'd use a more "kid-friendly" program to teach Latin to my boys. I thought I'd use Visual Latin just for myself for now and introduce it to the boys when they got older. After doing a number of the lessons on my own, though, I decided that I liked the program so much that I wanted to use it with my boys, too, even though two of them are younger than the recommended age. So far, it's turned out to be the right choice for us.

So. Here's what I like:

• I really love the bite-sized lessons...they're very doable even if you only have a few minutes. Because of this, they don't overwhelm my boys. Altogether, each lesson (with its three parts) takes us about 30-40 minutes, watching the dvd and then talking through the worksheets together. (Right now, I have yet to print out the worksheets for each boy and have just been using the set I printed out for myself. I think the age recommendation stems more from the worksheets than from the videos and have been able to work around that just fine by doing the worksheets together.) If we need to, we can do just one part of the lesson at a time and then take a break. If they're feeling particularly productive, we can always do more that week. ;) 
• Even being bite-sized, the lessons pack a punch. I've looked at other programs where a single lesson introduces only a couple words or a single concept. The Visual Latin lessons cover a nicely sized concept *while* managing to introduce (and review) a number of words. Even though each word is new, they're repeated often enough (within a single lesson and over the course of the lessons) that they simply sink in without being condescending or annoying about it. For all that my boys complain that they don't really know that much yet, they have a vocabulary already of dozens of words...enough that they can actually use sentences properly.  
• I love that the lessons build nicely on each other. They don't present new information without indicating that they're doing so and/or telling the student that a particular concept will be covered more in a future lesson. From the browsing of other programs that I've done, that's been another definite hang up...if a lesson doesn't fall short and just present wee bits, it tends to jump right in but fail to explain enough of the material (just assuming that you'll be okay with that). Visual Latin presents one concept at a time and the lessons proceed in a logical sequence to allow you to build your skills as you need them. Like in Goldilocks and the three bears, these lessons are *just right.*
• I love, too, that the lessons jump right in. Rather than worrying about pronunciation or the alphabet and spending heaps of time on things like how to say "hello" in a dead language that isn't spoken any more, the lessons start right off with "to be" verbs and have you reading and saying sentences like a pro. The concepts covered are *useful*...not just fluff.
• Finally, I love that the instructor is a "real" person. This isn't to say that I thought he was pretend or that other video instructors aren't human. ;) What I mean is that Dwane has a very easy air about him...he talks *to* the student and makes mistakes from time to time and cracks jokes. He makes my boys aware that it's okay to struggle with Latin sometimes and that it's important to keep things in perspective. And, he makes it fun. You really can't beat that. :)

What I'd love to see

Having said all that, I do have a caveat and a couple requests. 

• First, in case it matters to you, do know that the "reading" portion of the lessons thus far is based on the bible. As I've explained to my boys, historically speaking, the bible was translated into Latin while Latin was still in use, so is a good source of authentic Latin usage. 
• Second, I'd LOVE to see an iPhone/iPad app to accompany these lessons! You don't *need* one to enjoy these lessons, but I know my boys would practice more and better with one. :) If there were a way to incorporate the worksheet questions into a fun app, that would be awesome.
• Further, simple flashcards or an ongoing list of words would be useful. We can continue going back through the worksheets to review, but a separate list would be lovely. To that end, though, I'll likely make my own soon. :)

So. That's my review of Visual Latin. Love it. You should, too. ;)

And...awesome news...the lovely folks over at Visual Latin were kind enough to offer a special discount for you, my readers. Use the code BTW for 25% off all Visual Latin products for the next three days! (I'm interpreting this as meaning that it's good through the end of Sunday, April 10.) So go check it out and get a great deal on a fabulous program!

Quote #14.

Sorry. Just wasn't inspired yesterday. ;) Here's this week's quote:

Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire. –William Butler Yeats

This is a quote I’ve used before. I’ve given it to teachers and homeschooling friends. I plan to frame it for our own home. Basically, I just love it. It’s so very true and such a simple way to think about education. In my own homeschooling efforts, I know that I sometimes struggle with this…particular as my boys are still young. In part, I do think that my job right now is to “fill the pail” with information. I know, too, though, that the more important job is to inspire…to help them fall in love with learning. So, while I’ll continue to expose them to plenty of information, I’ll do my best to remember that simple exposure isn’t enough. Helping them to be excited by the information is much more powerful.

Colorado weather.

Yesterday, it was about 80 degrees and sunny. The boys had a water fight in the front yard. They had a blast. (Nathan did not. It was also windy.) Today, this is what I saw when I looked in the back yard:

Yes. Two of them are shirtless. It's what they do. They were also barefoot until I made them put Crocs on. Boys.

A few more shots...

Noah tried to start a snowball fight (which I thought ironic given yesterday's activity) but the other two were too cold by that point. ;) Asher did, though, venture down the snow covered slide (having run back inside to grab a shirt at least). And, I have no idea why, but Micah felt it necessary to cover his eyes while trying to catch snowflakes on his tongue. Weird.

Answers...

Well, no one got it completely right. :) Many who emailed me thought I was pulling a fast one and that all of them were true. Even my husband thought I was cheating. :) Here, so you know, are the answers...

1. I purchased songs from iTunes for the first time ever earlier this week. TRUE. Amazingly, yes, I'd never done that before. I finally broke down and nabbed some tunes for my new morning running dealio since my iPhone isn't as cool as newer iPhones that can run Pandora at the same time as doing other things. ;)

2. Yesterday, I overheard these words, "You really need to work on your Chewbacca sound."Really. TRUE. Yup, Noah said this to Micah. You'd think they'd have the sounds down, but you'd be wrong apparently. Light sabers and other sound effects, though, are totally nailed. 

3. I went running this morning. TRUE! Yippee for me! I'm using the Couch to 5K plan right now to help my completely-not-used-to-running self ease into the process. So far, I really like the program and found an app for my iphone that tracks all that and tells me when to run and walk. Excellent.

4. Micah asked me to email Lego to find out if you need to go to college in order to be a Lego designer. TRUE. Cute little boy that he is, Micah really did ask me this. I searched around online and discovered a number of examples of people employed by Lego as designers that did not go to college. Micah is stoked.

5. The boys were using their Nerf guns to shoot their Lego minifigures much of yesterday afternoon. TRUE. Enough said.

6. I strongly dislike getting massages. TRUE. I know this makes me weird but I honestly just don't like massages. I'm way, way ticklish. Ask my husband, I don't even like for him to give me a massage. :)

7. I already have a number of things for the boys' Easter baskets but nothing to send with them for lunch on Monday (to Options). TRUE. Guess I'll be heading to the grocery store soon...

8. I actually managed to scrapbook a few layouts last month but haven't gotten around to photographing them to share. FALSE. Ah. This is the one that sounds like it might be true but sadly just isn't. I haven't scrapbooked in ages. Sorry. 

9. Micah's kindergarten alphabet words of late were Xavier (his middle name...handy like that, eh?) and Yoda. He made a finger puppet Yoda to take with him to Options that day. (We'd finished reading "The Strange Case of Origami Yoda" just before.) TRUE. ;)

10. I get cold often and easily...to the point that I sit on a heating pad when at my computer and have an electric blanket on my bed still. TRUE. Don't laugh at me. 

11. I'm sadly addicted to Angry Birds on my iPhone. FALSE. I *did* recently download the game on my phone but have yet to actually play it. The boys, on the other hand, are a different story. I think Micah was telling me that he's already made it to the final level.

12. Last night, I finished printing off all of the invites and such for my baby brother's wedding this summer. FALSE. Sorry, Joe. This one's not true. But I really *am* going to print them today (or tomorrow)! Honest! :)

The end. 

Oh. And I actually did manage to at least *attempt* an April Fools prank yesterday. Nathan decided to work from home, which really meant from another location but at least still in Fort Collins. The boys and I went to Party City and bought a dozen helium filled balloons, a bag of normal balloons and a balloon pump. We sat in the parking lot and blew up as many as we could. (Noah and I used our lungs, Micah used the pump, and Asher supervised.) Then we stealthily drove to where Nathan was. Because his car was parked right near the window, I snuck into it and moved it to a spot further back in the parking lot, right next to our van. The boys and I proceeded to transfer all the balloons and were just getting ready to blow up a few more to finish filling the car. 

But. Then Nathan walked up. Turns out that he was ready for a break and had decided to relocate. Talk about bad timing! Poo. Here's what we'd managed:

On the plus side, we'd managed to completely freak him out by moving the car in the first place. And, did I mention that we filled some of the balloons with confetti? Hee hee. ;)

Every three years?

Sigh. I always have such good *intentions* to do something awesome for April Fools. Honest. But, I haven't managed to actually pull any good pranks for awhile now. In lieu of that, how about resurrecting something I did three years ago? Here's a list of random things. Most are true. Guess which three aren't. :)

1. I purchased songs from iTunes for the first time ever earlier this week.

2. Yesterday, I overheard these words, "You really need to work on your Chewbacca sound." Really.

3. I went running this morning.

4. Micah asked me to email Lego to find out if you need to go to college in order to be a Lego designer.

5. The boys were using their Nerf guns to shoot their Lego minifigures much of yesterday afternoon.

6. I strongly dislike getting massages.

7. I already have a number of things for the boys' Easter baskets but nothing to send with them for lunch on Monday (to Options).

8. I actually managed to scrapbook a few layouts last month but haven't gotten around to photographing them to share.

9. Micah's kindergarten alphabet words of late were Xavier (his middle name...handy like that, eh?) and Yoda. He made a finger puppet Yoda to take with him to Options that day. (We'd finished reading "The Strange Case of Origami Yoda" just before.)

10. I get cold often and easily...to the point that I sit on a heating pad when at my computer and have an electric blanket on my bed still.

11. I'm sadly addicted to Angry Birds on my iPhone.

12. Last night, I finished printing off all of the invites and such for my baby brother's wedding this summer.

Okay. Guess which three aren't true. Go!

I'll be back with the answers tomorrow. And, I know I didn't get around to more posting this week like I'd promised. I'm thinking I'm going to start reviewing some curriculum programs soon, though, so stay tuned!

Oh. And if you have any really good (but not too mean) April Fools pranks to share, I'm all ears!! (Even if I can't manage it this year, maybe if I start now I'll actually manage it for next year, lol!)