amitymamaThe Attachment Parenting Community

maryalene · 04-14-2005, 03:39 PM

I'm not homeschooling, but I thought you ladies might be able to help me out. My oldest will be in 1st grade in the fall and my 4 year old will be in preschool. I also have a 2 year old. I would like to do some very relaxed learning activities in the summer with them. I don't want anything very structured - just something so they don't completely lose the school groove, iykwim. I've been browsing the homeschooling websites for some ideas, and I just bought a "Learn at Home" K curriculum off ebay that I thought might help with some activities.

However, I was thinking that it might be really neat to try our hand at learning a foreign language. I've always wanted to at least have some passing knowledge of another language. I took russian in college, but I've decided that I have no natural ability to learn other languages, and I really struggled with it. I thought maybe starting something very basic might help me learn and would be something fun to do with the kids. I'm guessing that there probably aren't any basic russian courses out there although that would probably be my first language of choice. I've seen some Latin programs, but I am not sure if that would be too intense and too advanced for the kids. So I suppose what I am using too many words to ask is if anyone can recommend a foreign language course that would be appropriate for children my age. TIA!

branwyn · 04-14-2005, 03:43 PM

power-glide is awesome
ive heard muzzy is good for younger ones

bak

maryalene · 04-14-2005, 03:50 PM

Wow! Talk about a quick response! Thanks Branwyn - I'll check those out.

Marion · 04-14-2005, 04:49 PM

We just started adding German words in our everyday conversation. Instead of "Please put that in the trash" it's "Bitte put that in the trash", etc. We haven't worked up to phrases yet. Sabreena has so many questions about each word that it's taking time. It helps that my German cousin lives here now and he tries to speak German with her. My mother does as well but she gets frustrated translating everything eventually gives up LOL

HTH

Marion · 04-14-2005, 04:52 PM

BTW
we used the Learn At Home curriculum this year (first grade) and plan to use it when we start second grade in a few months. It has really good ideas and activities but we usually end up supplementing with some extra reading/writing skills. What helps Sabreena is writing in her journal. She does this everyday. She can write whatever she wants and does it alone. I don't spell words for her. She really has improved since we started this 3 months ago.

maryalene · 04-14-2005, 09:59 PM

Thanks Marion! I'm glad to hear that the Learn at Home program has worked for you. I tend to bid on impulse, and after I bid on it, I thought to myself, oh no, I should have looked up some reviews before buying it. I don't know how close we'll follow it, but I figure it will be a good springboard for activities, discussions, etc.

librarymama · 04-17-2005, 08:31 AM

I second the idea of using words whenever possible. We also learn songs and poems in other languages. In the case of Latin we learn prayers.

PowerGlide Jr. drove me nuts. I've heard criticisms of the accents, too -- you aren't learning from native speakers.