Product Description
Written by Cheryl Lowe (author of the best-selling Latina Christiana), First Form and its sister Latin products have been used by more than 100,000 students across the world to learn Latin! First Form’s grammar-first approach focuses on grammar forms and vocabulary because these are the skills suitable for the grammar stage student. All beginners—regardless of age—are in the grammar stage of learning. Syntax (how to use the grammar) and translation are logic and rhetoric stage skills, respectively, and quickly overwhelm the student unless introduced at a slow, gentle pace and taught for mastery. First Form is the ideal text for all beginners, grades 5 & up, or is a great follow-up to Latina Christiana at any age. Now every school and homeschool can have a truly successful Latin program that creates Latin scholars instead of Latin drop-outs.
Based on twenty years of teaching experience, this revolutionary “grammar-first” series will be your guide as you and your students successfully climb the mountain of Latin Grammar all the way to the top! The uniqueness of the Forms Series lies in two features: (1) Commitment to the trivium model of teaching grammar systematically in order to facilitate retention and understanding, rather than topically, to facilitate translation; and (2) Extensive workbook exercises to ensure skills mastery and rapid recognition of inflected forms.
This First Form Latin Complete Set includes the following eight items:
- An 9×7.5 inch Student Text, which is small, concise, and unintimidating with 34 two-page lessons on facing, uncluttered pages.
- An everything-you-could-possibly-need Teacher Manual that includes Student Text inset with answers in color, “Chalk Talk” scripted lessons, recitation schedule, extensive teaching notes, and an “FYI” (For Your Information) section for extra background.
- A full-size Student Workbook with 4-6 pages of exercises per lesson. These exercises teach concepts through practice and mastery learning.
- A Quizzes & Tests booklet with reproducible weekly quizzes and unit tests that ensure material is being mastered.
- A Teacher Key (for Workbook, Quizzes, & Tests) with answers to the workbook and quizzes/tests.
- A Pronunciation CD that includes all vocabulary and grammar forms for each lesson.
- Flashcards for the vocabulary and Latin sayings.
- DVDs (3 discs, 9 hours, 15-20 minutes/lesson) with superb explanations by Highlands Latin School teacher Jessica Watson. The DVDs also include helpful on-screen notes, illustrations, diagrams, recitations, and more!
After finishing First Form, the student will have mastered:
- The six indicative active tenses of the first two verb conjugations
- Five noun declensions
- First and second declension adjectives
- 185 vocabulary words
Optional supplements (not included in this set):
- Wall Charts (four 33″ x 17″ charts), which are great visual aids for students and teachers.
- Desk Charts, which are 8.5″ x 11″ versions of the above wall charts. (Desk Charts include charts from First Form and Second Form.)
- Classical Pronunciation CD for teachers who prefer that pronunciation. (The standard pronunciation CD included in the above set uses ecclesiastical pronunciation.)
- First Form Latin Workbook Key*, which includes answers for the workbook but not the quizzes & tests.
- Lingua Angelica: The Forms Series includes a syllabus that will take students through Lingua Angelica I and II over the course of the four Forms.
- Latin Grammar for the Grammar Stage, a compendium of grammar forms and very basic syntax that can be used as a reference with any Latin program.
- Latin Recitation CD/DVD Set, which includes a recitation of the entire Latin grammar, with the DVD also having visual charts.
- Latin Cursive Copybook: Hymns & Prayers, which combines handwriting practice and Latin practice.
*N.B. The Workbook Key is not needed if you buy the First Form Latin Teacher Key (for Workbook, Quizzes, & Tests) . We make the former available for our customers enrolled in Memoria Academy or similar courses.
First Form Latin DVD Sample
Other Resources
First Form Recitation
First Form Vocabulary Lessons Corrected to Match CD/DVD
First Form Latin Errata
shellyanglin –
used this for the first time this year with 2 students….it was amazing…I was nervous about teaching something I did not know myself, but MP makes it flawless. This set is all you need!
ilove2teach4him (verified owner) –
I LOVE THIS LATIN CURRICULUM! From the way concepts are introduced to the worksheets directed toward mastery this curriculum is wonderful! Clear explanations, enough repetition to ensure mastery, but moves at a good pace! I used this last year to teach myself Latin and will be using it this year to teach a class! Thanks MP!
allisonsandeen (verified owner) –
I wasn’t sure how my daughter would take to learning a new language, and I knew nothing about Latin going into this, but using First Form Latin has been absolutely amazing. The way each lesson is broken down has made learning this language a breeze, and my daughter and I are enjoying learning this language. Thank you MP, for making such an amazing curriculum!
mbarkett –
We absolutely love MP’s Latin Forms. I’ve been using the Form series to learn Latin myself to prepare for when my oldest LO is finally big enough to start the MP curriculum and couldn’t be more happy with it. Since I’m using the program for myself now, rather than a child I’ve been able to move at a rapid pace in learning my grammar forms. My husband studied Latin in both high school and college using a variety of different curriculums and he marvels at how much better I know my Latin grammar forms then he ever did, even after just a few weeks of using the curriculum. Now over a year after beginning First Form he is amazed that the information is still as fresh in my mind as it was when I learned it. MP’s Forms teach mastery of Latin and discipline of the mind. Thank you MP for this and all your wonderful products! We can’t wait for our LOs to be old enough to dive in to all the goodness, truth, and beauty you have to offer!
cathyedmonston –
For a parent who has never learned or taught Latin, First Form Latin by Memoria Press makes my job easier as a homeschooling mom. The lessons are easy to understand and contained in consumable amounts. The worksheets reinforce the lessons through methodical exercises. I cannot say enough about the value of this curriculum. Thank you, Memoria Press, for putting the learning and teaching of Latin on a reachable shelf!