New Latin Textbook

It is time for us to look into another textbook series for our Latin program.  In my 19 years of teaching.  I have gone through Ecce Romani, Latin for the Third Millennium, and we are currently using the Cambridge Latin Course.  I have also had extensive experience with the Henle series with my homeschoolers.  In college I remember using Wheelock's famous text.

While I undestand the natural/reading method's idea and concept I am sure now that the way Cambridge is designed is deficient.  It has taken it to far away from the grammar approach.  It was really obvious in many occasions but especially when dealing with the future tense.  Is the future of mitto mittebo or mittam?  Impossible to know if the student doesn't know the conjugation of the verb.   The same can be said backwards.  Doces?  Is it "I teach" or "I will teach"?   The only way to know is by memorizing the verbs' principal parts . . .   Also exchanges like the following with my sophomores a month ago got alarming to me:

-Amico what case is it?
-Present first person!
-What???
-Genitive
-No
-Accusative
-Wrong again.  C'mon guys it is dative!  Now what is its function?
[silence]
-What is its function?  What does it do in the sentence?
-Object!
-Yes.  What kind?
-Direct.  Direct object!
-No.  The other one.
-Indirect Object!  Yesssss!  I got it!!!  [dab]
-[sarcasticly] Good job!

Such scenarios were unthinkable with top students 10 years ago when we were using more grammar based textbooks.  Now with Cambridge I feel that we have put away in the closet one of the best part of Latin.  The part that is the formative part of the subject.  The part that mold brains in a certain way.  The part that is the real mental workout.  The part that teaches endurance.  The part that teaches grit.  The part that allowed me to say: "Don't ask what Latin can do FOR you but see what it will do TO you."

So it is time to go on a search for the perfect textbook to rescue our youth from intellectual outofshapeness and give them a real Latin workout.

Should I go back the the roots of my teaching with . . .

ECCE ROMANI?

Should I go back to my College days' Latin with . . .

WHEELOCK?

Do I want to go back the . . .

LATIN FOR THE NEW MILLENNIUM?

Could my students get turned on by my personal favorite . . .

Fr. HENLE'S LATIN?

What about one I never opened . . .

JENNEY's LATIN and
OXFORD LATIN

Or are the following still in use . . .

OUR LATIN HERITAGE
LATIN FOR AMERICANS

Something to explore this summer . . .

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