Dictatio currendo

Dictatio Currendo

1. Students are in groups of 4 at one end of a courtyard, gymnasium or large space.

2. On Cardboard presentation boards are 3-5 sheets of paper with Latin sentences written on them.

3. Teacher sits half-way between off to the side as the “auxilium”.

4. When the start is given, the first runner runs to the board, reads the first sentence and runs back to his/her group and gives the dictation.  This runner returns as often as is necessary to get the whole sentence dictated to the group.

5. The group then must collaborate on the meaning of the sentence and write it beneath the dictation.  If they need help, they send a runner to Magister/Magistra who is sitting at the mensa auxilii.

6. When finished with the first, group sends the second runner, and process continues until all group members have all 10 sentences written and translated.  When finished, they turn them in.

Scoring:

Grade for each student is based on

–accuracy of Latin–5 points per sentence

–acceptability of translation–5 points per sentence

–completion of all–if a sentence or more is not completed, partial or no credit is given.
On the following day, teacher supplies a copy of the sentences and acceptable translations. Small groups grade each other’s paper with teacher’s consultation.  Students who did not complete all or who do poorly can come in and work on these individually to earn back all credit.  

This is a variation of the running dictation that is often a part of the Rusticatio sponsored by SALVI.