Blog
When I’m fried.
Sometimes I get overwhelmed. It is during those dark times I rely on stuff like this to bring me back: https://youtu.be/w-0TEJMJOhk
🙂
This note made me happy: "We just made the decision (rather reluctantly ) last weekend to be done with Latin. Henry is entering his junior year and is beginning some college courses for dual credit. You have had a positive powerful influence on Henry’s education...
Spanish?
I received this question: My son needs to learn Spanish. I was wondering if you have any suggestion as to a curriculum that you've heard is good or know to be good and effective. Cost is an issue but I have a bit of knowledge of the language and can help him out quite...
Yep.
Grammarly sends a report to me every week. They inform me that I have been writing. They always include a quote. This one blew me away. “To achieve great things, two things are needed: a plan and not quite enough time.” —Leonard Bernstein
How to track what you are reading.
Last week, I blogged about a simple way to stand out in your chosen field of expertise. Simply read more than everyone else. If you read a book a week for twenty years, that adds up to 1,040 books! 20 years is going to pass anyway. You might as well have something to...
Book Review #4: Lingua Latina by Hans Ørberg
A few months ago, my students and I just finished another trip through Lingua Latina Per Se Illustrata, by Hans Orberg. Since I had to cancel class in April, we were a bit off schedule. I promised students we would continue until we finished the book. Every time I...
Ouch.
One thing is sure: conservative American Protestantism is not future-oriented. In this sense, it is lower class. Lower-class people and movements do not shape history; they are carried along in the back of the bus in order to be milked by those future-oriented people...
If you are around…
As everyone knows by now, my son survived a brutal car accident on April 13. Three months tomorrow. While we were in Denver, there were several fundraising parties thrown in our honor... in Franklin. One of my girls complained. They are throwing parties for us in...
I could earn more money…
I received this question: Comment: Hello! I am wondering where to place my children in your classes. They were at a classical Christian school until January of 2016. My 14-year-old has had 4.5 years of Latin before we began homeschooling. As we started mid year, I...
Notes like this keep me going…
The Latin and Greek world can be a lonely world of dry, dusty books. Notes like this keep me going: “I just wanted to let you know that I am loving your classes! I say that in the plural form because even though I am really taking the Lingua Latina class, I am also...
Help me?
I received a cry for help. To keep myself on track, I responded to her questions in red. Her questions are in black font. Ok so I think I get it. Your classes are live? & recorded. Correct. Live and recorded. Come to class if you can, or watch class later...
Poverty
I have started reading "The Tao of Seneca" by Tim Ferris. In Seneca's second letter, I found this: "It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor. What does it matter how much a man has laid up in his safe, or in his warehouse, how...
How to stand out.
In one of my favorite books, The Pledge, by Michael Masterson, the author reports that the average American reads one book per year. It may not be that bad. According to the Pew Research Center, the average American in 2013 read a book a month. What about "above...
No sugar so far.
I haven't eaten any sugar in 11 days. As best I can remember, I haven't had a "no sugar" streak of 11 days since I first discovered sugar in England... as a 6-month-old. I am estimating, of course. I don't have many memories of the first year of my life. Okay. I...
Ditto
I target people who want to be successful. I see no reason to target people who are content with failure. - Gary North
Superfoods
While we were in Colorado, a friend sent us a copy of the book Superfoods, by David Wolfe. One of the main themes that kept coming up while we were out in Colorado was the theme of food and health. Quite a few doctors, medical professionals, and therapists told us...
A little too ironic…
I received an email from a public school wanting to join my classes. The email included this note. This doesn't appear to be Christian, but their (sic) are biblical resources here....as a public charter we can't pay for non-secular classes....just checking...let me...
A note to a discouraged student…
I received this email: I am very worried that I am not doing well with my Latin. Up until around Chapter 32, I can read most of the chapters pretty well, even if I read pretty slowly. But I can hardly read Chapter 32 at all, and I know we're supposed to be starting...
The world is getting better.
I received an interesting question from one of my students. I was at youth group tonight (mine meets on Monday nights) and I was thinking about something that you had said in the Harry Potter class. At least I think it was in the Harry Potter class. Maybe it was...
Protect yourself before you go.
One of the great inventions of the modern world is insurance. (I know. I know. It's also one of the great nuisances of the modern world.) But, think about it. By pooling your resources with others, you can protect yourself from massive financial setbacks. By now,...
Athens, Greece, Georgia and the prices I charge.
People often ask me, "How can you afford to move to, and live in Europe?" It's simple. Europe is about 40% cheaper than the United States. I received an email offer from Holiday Lettings. You could stay in California for about $110 per night. Texas for about $75....
Yes. This is me.
"Kerri" on Facebook, sent this one to me. Yes. I so get this. I throw everything away. Source of most of the conflict in our home, in fact. https://youtu.be/HfYzlSNHapA
Made my day…
I received this note: Thank you so much for leading us through Henle 2 this past year. I didn't attend your live online class very much, because I was directing Challenge 2 and juggling many balls at once. Sigh. Now, my son is moving on to Challenge 3 and trying to...
Lingua Latina, Quiz 22
This quiz is to help those going through the Lingua Latina course. Spot any mistakes? If so, please let me know... ================================================= Quid est nomen servi qui aperit et claudet ostium? A) magister B) ostiarius C)...
Should we keep going in Latin?
I received this letter: Comment: Hi, My son is going into ninth grade and is taking Lingua Latina with you. He really enjoys it but also wants to learn other languages. We didn't do a good job of passing on our Spanish to him and he wants to learn it before he...
Laughter is the best medicine…
A few months ago, my son was in a terrible car accident. Now, he can't work, can't work out, can't type, and has trouble reading. While he is expected to make a full recovery, he is pretty disappointed while he waits. He is fighting depression. This morning, he told...
What are the online classes like?
One of the most frequent questions I receive on my site is this one: "What are the online classes like?" Fair enough. First of all, you should know that the online classes are designed for two types of students. First, the online classes are designed for those who...
Finding Ultra
Several days ago (June 19, 2017) I finished reading Finding Ultra, by Rich Roll. I've been wanting to read this book for several years. Just never could find the time. Then, when my son, Jackson, wrecked in Colorado, I suddenly found myself with the time. I had moved...
After Visual Latin?
I received this comment: My 12 yr old has finished visual latin. What class should he go to next school year? Why do you suggest on classs over the other. Why do you teach Henle latin if you don't suggest it? ================================================= Here is...
Latin Lite
I received this letter: I am a 17-year-old high schooler (homeschooled) taking your Visual Latin course (I just finished VL1 and will soon be starting VL2). To start, I would like to say that your course is a lot of fun, and I am thoroughly enjoying learning Latin....
An amazing email…
While we were in Colorado, a subscribing family sent this phenomenal offer to me in an email. They offered to send any books we liked. Can you believe that? Anyway, the reading list alone was so useful, I thought I would share it with all of you....
The world is getting better.
I am a hardcore futurist. You may hear me complain about Islam from time to time. This is because I know history. But, I am not a pessimist about the future. I am optimistic about the future. Here is part of the reason why: https://youtu.be/NoRnK_azJhU I agree with...
Student Patterns
It's popular to attend college in America. Either we all go, or think about going. I went to three colleges. I attended Pensacola Christian College for a year. I majored in pre-law. Decided that wasn't for me. Transferred to the University of Alabama at...
I have some Latin? Where do I go next?
I received this question: Hello, I am looking for a continued Latin program for my son. He has completed Latin for Children A and B for Classical Academic Press. Can you guide me as to what class would be appropriate for him? Here is my reply:...
Cicero
Next year, I plan to teach Henle 3. This book is composed mainly of the writings of Marcus Tullius Cicero. It's going to be some seriously tough Latin. That part I am not really looking forward to. Getting inside the mind of this amazing Roman? That part I am...
Lingua Latina Quiz 21
Feel free to tinker around with this. Let me know if you spot any mistakes. Feel free to offer suggestions... or even compose your own questions: Num Sextus, Marcus, Titusque boni pueri sunt? A) Marcus solus bonus puer est. B) Iulius et Sextus boni pueri...
I’m done.
I don't weigh in much on politics. For the most part, politics is a tar baby. Especially in my extended family. Best to avoid the conversation. Generally, I have had the same stance with Islam. But, after the attacks in London, and especially after the attack...
Lingua Latina, chapter 20: Quiz
This is the first draft of a quiz I am writing for chapter 20 of Lingua Latina. It will be available for subscribers/students on my my site. If you have been through the Lingua Latina course, or if you are going through the course, and if you like quizzes, and if...
The Vestal Virgins
For some reason, we tend to idolize ancient Rome and ancient Greece. We forget that they were barbaric statist societies built on slavery and, at times, human sacrifice. https://www.facebook.com/TEDEducation/videos/1606324309380769/
Wunderlist
During my son's recent ordeal, I discovered several things about myself that I did not like. Among other things, I am not the Stoic I thought I was becoming. Under pressure, I lost my cool. More than once. Sigh. I also discovered that, under pressure, I stop...
My favorite note this week.
The Obstacle is the Way.
Last Saturday, my family and I left Denver, Colorado and drove home to Tennessee. For those who do not know, on April 13, my son was in a terrible car accident just outside of Denver. My wife, my girls and I were in Athens, Greece at the time. I was there to study...
Refund season
This time of year, I send a lot of refunds. This is one of the reasons I no longer offer a discounted annual rate. To set this up, I have to set the payments up recurring annually. People are excited when they join. "Sure," they think, "we will stick around for...
Home
After several months away, and more adventure than I asked for, my family and I are back home in Franklin, Tennessee. I'm going to spend the next few days doing my very best to catch up. I know many of you are waiting for a response from me. You will hear from me...
Visual Latin 2 vocabulary
I received this email: Dwane, Always love to read your thoughts. Hope your son is progressing through his recovery, I want you to know our littlest son is still praying for his older brothers Latin teacher's son every night, he never forgets him. When you have a...
Summer school
I wasn't planning to be in Tennessee this summer. I was going to be studying Greek in Greece and I was going to be giving informal tours of Athens and Corinth to mission teams. But, everything changed in a moment. My son nearly lost his life in a car accident in...
Lingua Latina over the summer?
I received this question from a student: I got very behind in my Lingua Latina Latin class this year because I enrolled in a full course load at the community college and still had homeschool high school courses to complete. I was hoping that I could enroll in Lingua...
Made me happy…
We subscribed to your classes in January because my son needed some extra help with the class he was taking locally. He never got to participate in an online class because your class was much farther ahead in the book. But he loved watching the online videos. You...
Which Latin pronunciation?
I get this question all the time. Do you think it would be confusing for a student to do both pronunciations? My kids (age 11 and 13) will be doing a class next year that uses Classical pronunciation but I would love them to be able to use some of the resources that...
From Henle 1 to Henle 2? Henle 3?
I received this question: My daughter is going to be enrolling in Classical Conversations for the very first time, going into Challenge 3 where the class will be completing the last part of Henle 2 and then starting Henle 3. I don't think she is really going to be...