A little about me
Hi, I’m Miss Foster! I’m someone who finds joy in the little things—slow mornings, a good cup of coffee, conversations that go somewhere real. I love creating things that mean something, whether it’s a cozy space, a thoughtful message, or a day that feels intentional. I’ve always been drawn to words, color, connection, and that quiet kind of creativity that shows up in how we care for others. I’m big on curiosity, deep listening, and the belief that small kindnesses really can change the tone of a day. Give me a hiking trail, a design idea, a blank page, or a reason to celebrate someone—and I’m happy.
Teaching Philosophy
I didn’t take one straight path to teaching—I took a few winding ones. I’ve always loved imagineering, hospitality, storytelling, communication, and design, and somewhere along the way, I realized the common thread was people. I wanted to create a space where students could explore who they are through meaningful learning. A classroom that feels like a little world—part theater, part think tank, part heart space.
What I love most about teaching is that I get to bring all the pieces of me into the room—my voice, my stories, my heart—and watch how those things make content come alive. I’ve learned that how I teach matters just as much as what I teach. The rhythm, the connection, the joy—it’s all part of the learning.
At the center of everything I do is communication. I want students to speak with clarity and compassion, to write with intention, and to enter conversations knowing how to align their hearts and minds. Because real learning isn’t just about checking boxes—it’s about becoming. And if I can be part of that becoming, I’m right where I’m supposed to be.
Key factors that Play a role in my Teaching
Global Connections: I believe global connections should be part of everyday learning—not just because the world is big, but because it’s relevant to everything we do. Anywhere something is happening in the world, it can be brought into the lesson. And when we do that, the lesson expands—it holds the world inside it. Suddenly, what we’re teaching gains a pulse it didn’t have before, and what’s happening out there becomes something students can see, feel, and interpret right here.
It’s a double crossing of connections: the lesson interprets the world, and the world reshapes how we see the lesson. That’s how new ideas are born. That’s how students grow—not just in knowledge, but in empathy, awareness, and purpose. Global integration isn’t just about maps and flags. It’s about helping students build the kind of thinking that sees beyond themselves, learns from difference, and begins to understand that their voice is part of a much bigger story. And once they feel that? The learning sticks—because it means something.
Career Connections: I don’t just talk about careers in the classroom—I design learning around them. Whether we’re writing arguments, analyzing texts, or crafting presentations, I connect the work to real-world jobs. We explore how a journalist writes differently than a grant writer, how a museum curator tells stories, or how a public speaker builds impact through tone and timing. These aren’t just hypotheticals—they’re invitations. Students practice the kinds of communication they’ll use in future careers, which makes their learning feel purposeful and alive.
It’s also a way to unlock motivation. When students see how writing and speaking show up in jobs that interest them, the “why” behind the skill clicks. We build projects around global industries, cultural perspectives, and even local professionals—because seeing how the world works helps students shape who they want to become. I believe every lesson has the potential to be a mirror, a launchpad, or both. So I always ask, What’s tugging at you?—and we build from there.
Hospitality in the Classroom
Hospitality, to me, is creating an environment where students walk in and feel like everything they need has already been thought of and prepared for them. It’s the sense of stepping into a room where you don’t have to search or worry—you’re provided for in such a way that the moment itself becomes memorable.
In my classroom, hospitality means more than comfort; it means intentional design. The lessons, the materials, the tone, and the rhythm of the day are crafted so that students can focus not on what’s missing, but on what’s possible. They are free to imagine, to grow, and to take risks because they know they are cared for.
This kind of hospitality is not only about the present - it’s about planting something lasting. A student who feels welcomed, equipped, and celebrated in small daily ways will carry that sense of belonging into larger moments of their learning and life.
Art and Creativity: If you peek into my classroom on any given day, you might see a memory orb glowing on the board, a web-spinning superhero shooting claims and evidence across the wall, or students mapping their thoughts with doodles, textures, and color-coded chaos. That’s because creativity isn’t a side dish in my teaching—it’s the plate everything gets served on. I’ve found that when students can see, build, or feel what they’re learning—whether it’s through art, movement, storytelling, or design—they hang onto it longer, and more joyfully.
Art is how we stretch the soul of a standard. It’s how I sneak a little wonder into the work. Whether we're sculpting a character's point of view out of yarn or writing from the voice of a museum exhibit, creativity gives students permission to show up fully. It’s also the thread that weaves their heart into the task—so they’re not just meeting the objective, they’re meeting themselves.