1. In a TPRS classroom, it is crucial to establish a rule early in the year that students are not allowed to say anything negative about the class. This requires students to have a positive buy-in to learning through stories. 2. If a student says something negative, the teacher should walk directly to the student and firmly remind them of the rule in a prepared response. Negative comments spread negativity and make the teacher feel like giving worksheets instead of teaching through stories. 3. Minor questions that seem innocent can actually be negative, like "Do we have to do another story today?". The teacher must be aware of any potential negativity and shut it down to ensure success.

1. In anyclass there isa honeymoonperiod.The studentsgenerallycome toclasseagerto learn.
At some pointthoughstudentswillbegintotestthe teacherandsee whatthe “real”limitsare.A very
fewstudentshave foundgreatpowerinbeingnegative aboutthe class.These negativestudentshave
great powerif allowedtosaynegative things.Othermightbelieve thateveryone feelsthiswayabout
the class.The negative feelingscanspread.
In a booktype class,a teachercan survive the negativityeventhoughitishard.Givingstudents
worksheetsgivesthemsomethingtodoand at leaststopstheircomplaining.
In a TPRS classthoughit doesn’tworkthatway. Since we teachwithstoriesitrequiresabuyin.
It requiresabuy-inof beingpositive.Everystudentmightnotbe positive everydaybutat leastthere isa
feelinginthe classthatitis a positive experience.
A rule mustbe establishedearlyinthe yearthatyou (the teacher) won’tallow anyonetosay
anythingnegative aboutthe class.Youmightsaysomethinglike this.
“I am veryexcitedtoteachyou Spanish(language) withstories.There isone rule thatmustbe
followed forthistowork.You are not allowed(ever)tosayanythingnegative aboutthisclass.We all
have negative thoughts fromtime totime butinthisclassyou are not allowedtoverbalizethose
thoughts.”
From that momentonitis veryimportantthatyou listenandare aware of anythingthatmight
be negative.Thingslike,“Dowe have todo anotherstorytoday?” “Why dowe have to be here?”“Can
we do somethingelsetoday?” These questionsmightnotappeartobe negative buttheyreallyare and
youcan’t allowstudentstosaythem.
If a studentsays,“Do we have to doanotherstory today?”prepare a pat answer. Walkdirectly
to the studentandbe veryfirminyour voice.Say,“Whenyousay that,it makesme feel bad.Itmakes
me feel like Idon’tevenwanttoteach.It makesme feel like justgivingyouworksheetsandthengosit
behindmydesk.If youdon’twantto do a story withthe restof the class,I will be gladto give you
worksheetseveryday.Wouldyoulike that?”
If a studentsays,“Ihate stories”or“I hate thisclass”,walkto the studentandina veryfirm
voice say,“Billy,youforgotthe rule. Inthisclassyou are notallowedtosayanythingnegative aboutmy
class.NowI want youto go outside andcome back in.Whenyoucome inI wantyou to say,“Me gustala
clase de español.”
These ideasmightseemlikelittle things,butinthe longruntheyare a crucial part of your
success.
QuestionsforBlaine
ShouldIstart the yearwithTPR?

2. I believeitisgoodto doTPR at anytime.TPR are wordsthat are modeledandhave onlyone
interpretation.Forexample,“the classstandsup.” The teachermodelsthe commandandthenthe class
doesthe command.
There are lotsof TPR wordsthat can be practicedand internalizedquickly.TPRhasa huge advantage in
that yourstudentsare able to fastprocessthe words.The meaningisapparent.There isalsononeedto
translate.(Youcan write the wordswithtranslationonthe boardthoughto helpwithreading.)
You mighttake regularTPR breaks.
A majordisadvantage of TPRis thatthe wordshave a verylow correlationtothe frequencywords.