Salve! I'm Magistra Seidman

I remember when I first picked up the book, “The Well Trained Mind.”  I was ready to deliver my sixth child and my oldest was not even eight years old.  Yet, even in all of the chaos, this clarity came over me.  This “classical” approach to education was everything I wished I had experienced.  The author, Susan Wise Bauer, detailed how and what to do to make my homeschool classical.  Sign me up. I had the benefit of a great relationship with the local librarian and together we pulled together tons of books, videos, and other resources to make this classical thing work. The reality of six little ones kicked in soon I lost steam.
 
Many years later, I discovered that the Classical Christian community packaged the highlights that I remembered of the Well Trained Mind into bite-sized, fun and fulfilling memory work.  Classical became attainable! Like many inspired moms, I ended up teaching both 8th grade and 10th-grade level classical classes which integrated all six subjects including Latin, logic, math, science, writing/literature and history/debate.  Any teacher will tell you…If you want to truly grasp a subject, teach it.  I did just that.  Tackling Latin and formal logic enough to teach it, was classical learning on steroids.  Yet, I loved it.  I developed a love for the Latin language yet I realized my need for formal instruction.

Dr. Rick LaFleur was my first formal independent study teacher which was a perfect place to begin - with the master!  Not long after, I began my Master's Classics/Latin program at Villanova.  With only two classes left, I hope to finish and matriculate in May 2023. I try to attend a biduum or conventiculum a few times a year and am always encourage and inspired to add more conversational Latin and improve my reading method teaching.

I taught for five years at Trinity Classical Academy in Valencia, CA using both Ecce Romani and the Picta Dicta Primer series as well as using the many novellas from Magister P and Andrew Olimpi. Last year I settled into the mountains of Northern Arizona at Trinity Christian School in Prescott. I teach out of the Oerberg text, Lingua Latine per se Illustrata - Familia Romana.  I've seen tremendous acquisition of the language since switching to this reading method and text.
 
I would love to hear from you!  Do you have a great link, book or program?  Send it to me.  I will feature Latin programs that I absolutely love, resources I can’t live without and freebies for everyone. I also want to hear your comments.  Just know, I still have much to learn. My goal is to share a site with the numerous moms who ask me for help/advice. That’s the short bio.  

​Valete!