About Profe

Born in Mexico and raised in Texas, Mr. Tejeda (aka "Profe") moved to New Jersey in 2002. He has been teaching in the Middle School at Morristown-Beard School ever since. When Profe isn't playing with his newborn twins, he is in the attic playing with his Transformers, playing his clarinet, or drawing caricatures. He currently lives in Union with his wife Veronika and twin babies Juan Pablo and Victoria.

At MBS, his current duties include teaching 6th grade Spanish and 8th grade French. He is also a 6th grade advisor. He moderates three Activities per year, supervises the Middle School morning meeting tech booth, and maintains the Middle School homework and projects website.

In previous years, he has taught 7th and 8th grade Spanish, served as a 7th grade advisor and Assistant Coach for Girls’ Tennis and Boys’ Soccer, and moderated Activities in Cartoon drawing, Caricaturing, Graphic Novels, Calligraphy, Paper Craft, Web design, Podcasting, Blogging, and Klingon language.

About the Course

PAGES IN THIS SECTION:

• About the Course

• What are the class expectations?

• How am I being graded?

• How does class work?

What is TPRS?

Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling is a relatively new and exciting method for teaching and learning languages. Research shows that humans acquire language primarily by hearing it and secondarily by reading it. The language you receive via your ears or eyes is called input. For you to acquire a language, you must understand the input, otherwise it is gibberish. This comprehensible input is the key to internalizing the language.

How does it work?

TPRS provides an environment in which you are exposed to constant comprehensible input within meaningful contexts, such as within the framework of a story. Most of our time in class will be dedicated to hearing a few chunks of language that I want you to learn. I’ll ask questions repetitively in Spanish so that you can internalize the language chunks. Also, we’ll read stories to help you reinforce, learn, and practice additional expressions. We’ll discuss the readings in class in Spanish, also with repetitive questions.

What are the class expectations?

PAGES IN THIS SECTION:
• About the Course
• What are the class expectations?
• How am I being graded?
• How does class work?

Classroom Discipline Plan

Class expectations:
1. Come to class prepared and ready to work.
2. Sit up — Squared shoulders — Clear eyes.
3. Be respectful of others and their property.
4. Answer Spanish questions in Spanish.
5. Ask for permission to speak English.
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Students who follow the rules will receive the following positive recognition:
Positive Recognition:
Praise
Positive notes to students
Commendation Slips
Rewards
—
Students who choose to break the rules will face the following consequences:
Consequences:
First time a student breaks a rule: Verbal reminder
Second time: Name on board
Third time: Talk with teacher after class
Fourth time: Talk with teacher after class and Parent Communication Form sent home
Severe Clause: Send to Mrs. Luna or Mr. Mead

How am I being graded?

PAGES IN THIS SECTION:
• About the Course
• What are the class expectations?
• How am I being graded?
• How does class work?

Tests and Quizzes : 35%
All tests and quizzes are unannounced.

Projects and Classwork: 20%
I don’t assign projects often, but when I do, they will count as two “Classwork” assignments. “Classwork” is anything that is not homework.

Homework: 20%
 My homework assignments are graded on completion. As per Middle School homework policy, you may turn in a homework assignment a day late for half credit. You will receive a zero for homework submitted after the grace period.

Participation: 25%
You will be responsible for evaluating your class participation using a rubric. I will corroborate your grade to make sure it is realistic.

How does class work?

PAGES IN THIS SECTION:
• About the Course
• What are the class expectations?
• How am I being graded?
• How does class work?

Most of the time, class consists of two main activities: 1). talking about you in Spanish, and 2). reading and discussing. Every day I will be asking questions repeatedly so that your brain absorbs Spanish. Soon, you won’t even know you’re thinking in another language!

1. The first type of class activity involves me writing on the board the key language structures I want you to acquire. Using these language structures, I then ask questions about someone in class. I’ll “circle” the questions repeatedly so that you can acquire the language. We may then create a little story about your classmates using the information we learned in class.

2. Reading mirrors what we do with the personal question and answer sessions, only our conversations stem from the text. We first translate the written Spanish aloud into English so that we all understand what we are reading. I ask questions throughout the class as stated above.

* * *

Acquiring a language begins with your ears! As such, you MUST listen with the intent to understand. Also, I ask that you respond to EVERY single one of my questions. If I present new information, say “¡Oh!” and if you don’t understand a word, say “¿Qué quiere decir _____?” (What does _____ mean?) Responding to everything I say will help keep you focused in class.

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