Foreign Language: Any inexpensive yet effective ?

[playschool]

I am looking for something that I can use with both a 3rd and 6th grader that will be relatively inexpensive and effective? I was really leaning towards Spanish, but I also considered Latin and Greek. What do you find works well, and fits into a homeschool day with HOD without being too overwhelming?

[Mommamo]

We're using La Clase Divertida for Spanish. I got it on sale, and only paid about $80 for it. It came with 2 packs of materials and crafts and cds and dvds. We like it a lot. It's for k-6th grade. I prefer imersion, but my kids go to an imersion class, so this is just a good continuation for us. It's fine on its own though. They have 3 levels. When we're through, I plan to get Rosetta Stone.

[my3sons]

"Hey Andrew, Teach Me Some Greek" is a good program. Though we only used it for a spell, it worked well and was low maintenance. We now are only doing HOD (since I had a problem with adding things on and making our day too long awhile back ). You're probably better about balancing that than I was!

In Christ,
Julie

[playschool]

Thank you ladies for all of your advice. I have looked into La Clase Divertida and it sounds like a lot of fun but I am afraid it would be too much with Preparing next year. I guess I am looking for something simpler but doable time-wise with Preparing. Thanks again!

[Mommamo]

Honestly, we just give La Clase Divertida about 1/2 hour 3 days/week and about 10 minutes the others. It takes very little time on my part. But... that may be more time than you're wanting to spend. Mine are still really little so that is different.

[mskogen]

We will be starting La Clase Divertida in August. It seems so fun and easy to use with all ages. My ds is excited to be starting Spanish and having crafts to do it is a bonus!!!!
The beauty of HOD is that there is time for the extras, like spanish. I will be doing level 1 at half-pace (2-3 times a week) To keep from being overwhelmed and dropping it completely. I live in South Florida but have never had any spanish so I needed something I felt comfortable teaching. We saw La Clase Divertida at our local HS convention in May ( Really am praying that Carrie will make it to FPEA convention next year ). It seemed the right fit for our family to learn, especailly with the ages of all my kiddos. I plan to use it with all my children at the same time.
As with any curriculum you have to find the right fit for your family. It isn't a good find if you stop it because lack of interest or to time consuming or what ever reason. I pray you find the curriculum for your family....

[playschool]

I know that my dc would like La Clase Divertida. I love that they incorporate crafts and recipes but I was looking for something that I could incorporate on Fridays being that Preparing is a 4 day schedule. I am looking for something fun, to wet their appetites but I do not want to overwhelm them or myself being that this is my children's first year in HOD. La Clase Divertida definitely fits the "fun bill" but for the sake of $ and time I wanted something on a smaller scale. BTW , thank you for all of your ideas. It is nice to be able to communicate directly with people who are or are going to use the exact same curriculum as myself. BTW, I gave a good friend of mine a HOD catalog. Needless to say, she was impressed although she has already purchased her curriculum for the year but maybe the following year she will become an "HOD convert."

[Tmisek]

I found a book and CD set called "I Can Read and Speak in Spanish" put out by McGraw Hill. It looks like a fun and easy way to introduce the language. The MSRP is $15.95, but I think I paid less. It had good reviews. I also bought a workbook to use later called "The Complete Book of Spanish" for grades 1-3 which looks very fun.