Grammar with Diogenes

[Laura Young]

I have just ordered Diogenes for my 9th grade students at a classical Christian school. We will not be starting with the first two books because they have mastered them, and quite frankly, are well-beyond those levels. What would be wonderful would be if each year included the basics of the stages that preceded it with some practice exercises. We have always used Shurley grammar, though in the last couple of years, grammar instruction has dropped off or been covered in their Latin instruction (to my chagrin). What I don't yet know is which Harvey's book to purchase. Is Diogenes aligned with the revised Harvey (for 7th-8th graders)?

Also, the first level of poetry will be too simple for my students. When is the next level scheduled to be released? And what about Diogenes Chreia?

Thanks for your help and for the excellent work you ladies are doing. I marvel at your accomplishment and wish I wave a wand and have all the levels completed! I also teach 10-12th graders (including classical rhetoric)>

Laura Young
[e-mail]

[Lene Mahler Jaqua]

Laura,

Thanks for writing.

Each level does include some basic review already, especially in the writing project area, we always start by reviewing the essay skills we have learned from the previous level.

Diogenes is "aligned" with either Harvey's. For 9th grade I would recommend you get Harvey's Revised and go through it cover to cover. Basically we list the sections you need to cover to do the lessons in Diogenes for either book. Both Harvey's are surprisingly similar.

I would have to ask you specifically what your students have completed in poetry and what level of imitation they have mastered to adequately assess whether they are beyond the first book. It is a book we recommend for students of poetry of any age because of the depth we go into both in terms of figures and imitation and the students' own writing of poetry. This book is not particularly simple compared to most beginning poetry courses. It it quite "meaty" and leaves many choices for work for older students that is optional for younger students. I would not term it "simple" by any stretch.

The next level of poetry is already completed. I plan to release it about July 1st. It is called Intermediate Poetry.

CW Chreia will be out by Christmas, if not sooner.

I too wish we were further along in our series. I have an 11th grader this year and would rather have the material ready to go for him.

Thanks for writing,

Lene