Personal Introduction

Hi! I'm Traci Dougherty, though my students know me as Mageesh. As a passionate Latin educator and neurodiverse learner myself, I'm dedicated to making Latin accessible and engaging for all students through communicative language teaching and compelling storytelling. I believe deeply in active learning, movement in the classroom, and game-based pedagogy that meets every student where they are.

"Before your class, I always thought of Latin as the 'SAT language.' But once I started Latin in 6th grade I learned there was much more to it... Your classroom techniques have not only made me better Latin student, but also a better English student." — 8th grade student

Core Beliefs That Guide My Practice

1. ALL students can acquire a second (or third!) language

2. Language acquisition occurs as the result of receiving comprehensible input

3. Compelling input can eliminate the need for motivation

4. Comprehension Precedes Production

5. Students will not invest in IMPROVING their second language unless they OWN it (John DeMado)

6. Immersion can be inefficient

7. We learn grammar from language, not language from grammar (Kato Lomb)

8. Interaction is a driving force in acquisition

My Personal Mission as a World Language Educator

My mission is to ensure ALL students:

1. Understand how languages are acquired

2. Confidently see themselves as language learners

3. Enroll in upper level classes

4. Achieve intermediate proficiency by end of high school

5. Are empowered to continue acquiring through deliberate practice wherever life takes them

How I Achieve My Mission: The 3 C's

As an educator passionate about both the CRAFT, the THEORY, and the HEART of teaching, I implement the 3 C's approach:

💡 Comprehensible

We acquire language subconsciously through understandable messages. I focus on:

• Establishing meaning early in every lesson

• Constant comprehension checks to ensure message clarity

• Focusing on the message, not grammatical forms

• Providing input one step beyond learners' current level (i+1)

🎯 Compelling

When content becomes personally interesting, language becomes secondary—learners get "lost in the moment." I create compelling experiences because grammar alone isn't interesting to most learners.

❤️ Caring

When stress increases, learning decreases. I establish a safety net where students can communicate incomprehension and stress. As a neurodiverse learner myself, I advocate for all students, promoting coping skills, social skills, and motivation.

"She makes me feel like my input is wanted and all of her students' educations are important to her." — 6th grade student

Teaching Background & Credentials

Education & Certification:

• Master's in Latin Education

• Licensed World Language Educator

• Certified in Comprehensible Input methodologies

• Specialized training in neurodiversity and inclusive teaching

Experience:

• 8+ years teaching Latin using communicative methods

• National Latin Honor Society advisor

• Regular conference presenter on active learning pedagogy

• Advocate for neurodiverse learners in language education