Parvis Imbutus Tentabis Grandia Tutus or
How To Succeed at Latin
By Julie Collorafi
here is a wise old Latin saying, beloved of elementary prep schools, which
advises the need for consistent, thorough instruction in the basics, building a solid foundation upon which to build intensive, accelerated academic success on the secondary level. This motto, “Parvis imbutus tentabis grandia tutus” which is rendered literally as “You, having been steeped in little things, being safe, shall attempt adult things,” is the guiding inspiration of my elementary level Latin program, Little Latin Readers.
Especially noteworthy is the participle imbutus (imbued, saturated, permeated). The student who has been thoroughly saturated in parvis, (little things), will feel tutus, (safe, secure and confident) enough tentare (to attempt) grandia (adult, grown-up matters).
Little Latin Readers was developed to extend the study of the elements of first year high school Latin over the course of several grades, so that upon entrance to high school, students will be well-prepared to transition smoothly and easily to a standard secondary Latin program such as Henle Latin I-IV.
After four years of high school Latin and two years of college Latin I wanted to share the benefits of Latin studies, especially an enhanced facility with grammar, composition, and vocabulary with my six home-educated children. So with standard Latin text in hand, my fourth and fifth grade sons and I fearlessly dived into the arcane mysteries of Latin declensions and conjugations one bright fall afternoon some years ago.
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