is separate English grammar necessary?

[guinever]

I plan to use Latina Christiana next year with my 5th grader. He has done Prima the last couple of years. I was wondering if a separate English grammar program will be necessary or if Latina Christiana has enough grammar. I am also going to use Roots of English as well as doing some diagramming.

Thanks for any tips. I'm new to this forum.

[tanya]

Hello.

We have found that students grasp grammar better if they do some separate English grammar with their Latin. Learning the Latin language is so much to concentrate on, that it is easier for students if they come into it with some English grammar background. The two languages then reinforce each other. At Highlands Latin School, we use Rod & Staff grammar and have found it to be a thorough coverage of English grammar. But there are other good grammar programs out there.

You would do well to nail grammar in the younger years so that the late middle school-high school years can be spent on writing. How much grammar you do is a matter of opinion. Can students write well without understanding how to diagram complicated sentences? Sure - if they have spent years reading good books. So how much grammar is really necessary? You would get varying opinions about this, and I really don't have the answer.

But in my years of teaching Latin, I have found it helpful if students already know basic English grammar so that I can devote my time to the Latin concepts using that grammar.

I hope this is of some help.

Tanya