preparing students for the elementary latin exam
CATHERINE STANCIL
I teach Latin to 2nd through 6th graders at Calvary Day School in Winston-Salem , North Carolina . At my school , we use the Exploratory Latin Exam as an optional academic competition like the Spelling Bee , Math Olympics , or Speech Meet . I use the Minimus textbooks with my 3rd and 4th-grade students . In previous years I have held once-a-month “ Latin Club ” sessions after school with students to help them learn the extra words that are not part of the regular curriculum in those grades . I built my 5th and 6th grade curriculum around the exam syllabus with once a month sessions for those students to help them with the theme material for the year . In our sessions , we played games and did hands-on activities .
I have now moved all my after school exam prep activities to Google Classroom . I have a class for 3rd and 4th and one for 5th and 6th grades . I have assignments set up for each list on the exam . The assignments have goal dates for learning the material to help students pace themselves . I have made Gimkits for each vocabulary set . I have provided links to Magister Carroll ’ s videos from Andrew
Carroll .
This year I am going to the classrooms rather than the students coming to the Latin room . I travel with my Latin cart which is a roll-away tool chest equipped with all my supplies . I have had to find new ways to do most of my hands-on activities in the classroom .
When the pandemic hit , the Exploratory Latin Exam was the only competition that happened after we started distance learning . I am thankful that the American Classical League allowed students to take the exam at
home .
This school year , my school has had in-person classes , with masks and social distancing , for all but one week of the first semester . In following COVID safety protocols , I can not have after school clubs because I cannot mix students from different classes .
Catherine Stancil utilizes a roll-away tool cart equipped with all her supplies .
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