Latin textbooks
We've tried out many textbooks for Latin, from Cambridge to Henle and most things in between. After introducing the language with the Minimus book (s)*, we have found the best text to start properly with is Galore Park's Prep Book 1 by Theo Zinn, which is aimed at children aged about 11 (though it can be started at any age you feel is appropriate for your child). The prep books, of which there are three (though we only use two before moving on) lead naturally into the Galore Park 'So You really Want to Learn Latin' textbooks which are also very good: they focus on grammar right from the start yet manage to maintain the humour found in the prep books. Again, in our family we only use book 1 for revision before starting the GCSE text (or skip straight to GCSE depending on age and aptitude) but there are three books in the series, which will take you right up to GCSE level (and beyond) if you want to stick with them. Galore Park revise and reissue their books so frequently it is not necessary to buy the latest books if you can find the older ones second hand.
We started off years ago with the Cambridge course as that what my husband had used at school, but we quickly discovered that using the books as a stand alone textbook with no teacher meant the chances of a child mastering Latin grammar were pretty thin! We found ourselves supplementing a great deal and ended up using a variety of other books. Having said this, my husband does still like to use the Cambridge books early on as he says they are engaging and interesting for a younger child (say, 11 or 12 or so). But he uses them as a supplement to a more grammatically rich course.
For direct GCSE prep we use the newly updated Latin to GCSE Books 1 and 2 by John Taylor. These books cover the whole of the new 9-1 course in a clear, concise way. No fun and frills but very solid.
We have found the book 'Momentum tests' by Ashley Carter to be an excellent form of preparation and revision once you approach exam stage. It is simply a whole set of exam-style comprehension tests, increasing in difficulty as the book progresses.
Others have recommended Linney's 'Getting Started with Latin', which is aimed at complete beginners (and home-educators). I haven't used it, and I must confess I was put off by the repeated use of y'all to translate the second person plural (far too American for me!), but if you don't mind that kind of thing it might be worth a look.
* Regarding Minimus, I have mixed feelings about this course. It is a very gentle introduction to the concept of the Latin language, with little grammar teaching. If your child is already familiar with the fact that the Romans spoke Latin (or if you attend Latin Mass and so for your children Latin is a language they are used to hearing and using), you may feel happy to skip this stage altogether. If you do use it, I'd recommend starting much earlier than the usual Year 5/6 (ages 9-11), at seven or eight. The lack of grammar and a structured vocabulary can make it a frustrating text to use if you have no Latin yourself, yet I think the Teachers' Book is not really worth the price.
We've tried out many textbooks for Latin, from Cambridge to Henle and most things in between. After introducing the language with the Minimus book (s)*, we have found the best text to start properly with is Galore Park's Prep Book 1 by Theo Zinn, which is aimed at children aged about 11 (though it can be started at any age you feel is appropriate for your child). The prep books, of which there are three (though we only use two before moving on) lead naturally into the Galore Park 'So You really Want to Learn Latin' textbooks which are also very good: they focus on grammar right from the start yet manage to maintain the humour found in the prep books. Again, in our family we only use book 1 for revision before starting the GCSE text (or skip straight to GCSE depending on age and aptitude) but there are three books in the series, which will take you right up to GCSE level (and beyond) if you want to stick with them. Galore Park revise and reissue their books so frequently it is not necessary to buy the latest books if you can find the older ones second hand.
We started off years ago with the Cambridge course as that what my husband had used at school, but we quickly discovered that using the books as a stand alone textbook with no teacher meant the chances of a child mastering Latin grammar were pretty thin! We found ourselves supplementing a great deal and ended up using a variety of other books. Having said this, my husband does still like to use the Cambridge books early on as he says they are engaging and interesting for a younger child (say, 11 or 12 or so). But he uses them as a supplement to a more grammatically rich course.
For direct GCSE prep we use the newly updated Latin to GCSE Books 1 and 2 by John Taylor. These books cover the whole of the new 9-1 course in a clear, concise way. No fun and frills but very solid.
We have found the book 'Momentum tests' by Ashley Carter to be an excellent form of preparation and revision once you approach exam stage. It is simply a whole set of exam-style comprehension tests, increasing in difficulty as the book progresses.
Others have recommended Linney's 'Getting Started with Latin', which is aimed at complete beginners (and home-educators). I haven't used it, and I must confess I was put off by the repeated use of y'all to translate the second person plural (far too American for me!), but if you don't mind that kind of thing it might be worth a look.
* Regarding Minimus, I have mixed feelings about this course. It is a very gentle introduction to the concept of the Latin language, with little grammar teaching. If your child is already familiar with the fact that the Romans spoke Latin (or if you attend Latin Mass and so for your children Latin is a language they are used to hearing and using), you may feel happy to skip this stage altogether. If you do use it, I'd recommend starting much earlier than the usual Year 5/6 (ages 9-11), at seven or eight. The lack of grammar and a structured vocabulary can make it a frustrating text to use if you have no Latin yourself, yet I think the Teachers' Book is not really worth the price.