multi-level classes

[Anonymous]

I've had some experience teaching Latin and so I've offered to have Latin classes in my home next year for families in our homeschool group. I'd like suggestions on teaching at several different levels. I have several students who will do LCI, several older ones who're ready to start Henle Latin I, three who are at Lesson 11, two who are at Lesson 27, and one who had a year of Latin Road to English Grammar and wants a second year of Latin for high school credit! I can see having everyone together to do chants and songs, and I can teach one group while others are taking a quiz or working on worksheets. Does this seem feasible? Has anybody had experience with the one-room-schoolhouse approach?

Another question. How much is reasonable to charge for classes? I want it to be affordable, especially for families with several kids. However, I do need to be reimbursed for the time and effort spent and students/parents don't take a class as seriously if it's too inexpensive.

Also, how much of Henle should be covered for a high school credit? Seton and MODG do 26 lessons, but that's a lot unless you've had a good deal of preparation in earlier grades. How about spending 120-150 hours and trying to cover 21 lessons? (Tackle subjunctive in the second year.)

Sorry for the long post and thanks for any suggestions!

Julia

[Cheryl Lowe]

I have taught in a one-room school with mult-level, multi-age students. It is quite challenging but doable. Yes, do songs, chants (grammar recitations), vocabulary drills, sayings, etc. together. Beginners will be exposed to advanced material and advanced students will have much needed review.

The key is to focus on grammar forms, vocabulary and sayings. Many younger students will be able to pick up a lot of the grammar in the first half of Henle while you're teaching the older ones - all five declensions, 4 conjugations, active and passive. They can't do the syntax and translation, though. Even for older students, syntax and translation take the most time so some may have to be omitted, especially English to Latin translation.

Yes do the subjunctive the second year.
You can save time by doing oral quizzes.
You obviously have had some experience this year. Could you share what you have learned?