Why Loving Kids And Consistency Build Great Classrooms @Jeremy Foster

The most powerful classroom tools aren’t flashy—they’re love, consistency, and a plan you can execute on a tough day. Jeremy joins us to share how he found his path from business management to teaching across three countries, and why a self-contained special education classroom became home. His approach is practical and human: lead with care, stay predictable, and prepare at the individual level so every student sees a way forward.

We dig into the moments that shaped him, including an 11th grade English teacher who met rebellion with steady kindness and changed his benchmark for what great teaching looks like. Jeremy explains how he builds a week from IEP goals, uses simple cues to reset attention without shaming, and keeps multiple redirection strategies ready before stress hits. From a soft harmonica note to quick brain breaks and a confident teacher voice, he shows how small systems prevent big disruptions.

We also talk about being a male educator in a female-dominated field, how to support colleagues with a service-first mindset, and what it really means to “find your teacher voice.” For Jeremy, it’s authorship: deciding the shape of the day so students and support staff can teach, learn, and breathe. The stories are honest, the tactics are usable tomorrow, and the throughline is clear—kids do best when adults show up with love, consistency, and preparation.

If this conversation sparks ideas, share it with a colleague, subscribe for more teacher-tested insights, and leave a review telling us your favorite redirection strategy. Your voice helps more educators find theirs.

Transcript

Meet Jeremy And His Journey

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Jeremy, tell us about yourself. Like what are your hobbies? Like, what do you what do you like to do? Like, how long have you been teaching? Like, um, tell us, tell us all. If you would.

SPEAKER_01 0:13

And we love, I'd be happy to. We love the outdoors. I am currently a moderate to Zephyr, self-contained classroom special education teacher. We've got a team of four, but myself personally outside of the classroom, we loved outdoors, loved to travel. Um, we have been fortunate enough to live in, including America, three different countries now, teaching in all of those countries. So that's definitely something my wife and I enjoy. Um we're gonna stay, we're gonna stay local from hopefully from here on out and do our traveling around this country. Um, but yeah, travel and teaching, those are my two big things. Awesome.

SPEAKER_00 0:54

Do I dare ask you like which is your favorite like teaching area so far?

SPEAKER_01 1:01

Area of the world?

SPEAKER_00 1:03

Yes.

Teaching Abroad: China And DR

SPEAKER_01 1:04

So I loved China, but unfortunately, I was there in 2019 and 2020. Oh, after COVID happened, it was wrong, wrong place to be during that time. Um, the Dominican Republic is my favorite country country on earth, but it was incredibly difficult to teach there because my class did not speak Spanish and I o or did not speak English and I only speak broken Spanish. So teaching the general education population. Right. Only with broken Spanish was a real difficult challenge. And then of course, in the United States, I get to do my calling, which is special ed. So I I really enjoy teaching here.

SPEAKER_00 1:51

That's awesome, man. Well, tell me, tell me, like, okay, like kind of a side note. Tell me why why that is your calling. Like what drew you um to special ed specifically.

Calling To Special Education

SPEAKER_01 2:05

So I've always wondered that. And when I decided I was going to be a teacher and specifically a special ed teacher, I was speaking with a friend that I had had from high school, and I said, I don't know why I'm so drawn to do special ed. And she said, Of course you do. Don't you remember in high school you used to sit at the table at lunch with all of the special ed students? It's like, oh yeah, I guess you're right. But I just I enjoy giving a voice to those that can't necessarily articulate their thoughts or what's going on on the inside.

SPEAKER_00 2:36

Right. That's awesome, man. And I you're so good at it too, man. You really are. Uh, I can see um, you know, like it all over you. You're you're really good at that. Um, that's very cool. Thank you. Um so okay, so this kind of like goes into my next question here. Um, and and you can kind of like um just add on to what you've what you've already started there with with why you were drawn to special education. Um what um why are you like passionate about like teaching, like education field, like student students, like what what lights your fire? Like why why are you passionate about that, about those things?

Why Education Lights The Fire

SPEAKER_01 3:25

For me, there's three big things for children in their lives, and that's education, sleep, and diet. And I can't be a part of the diet and the sleep part, so I'm going to be a part of the education part of that. And because that is such an important factor in a kid's development, I want to make sure I go into it 100% every time I walk into that classroom. Kids are so incredibly important. You know that. I've seen it on your face and I've seen it in your work. Thank you. So however I can be best upon that, I would like to do that. And for me, it just happens to be special education.

SPEAKER_00 4:06

Right.

What Makes A Great Teacher

SPEAKER_00 4:08

Now, did you uh there was there ever a time where you where you switched, or has it always been special education for you?

SPEAKER_01 4:16

It has always been special education, other than when I was in a foreign country that did not have special education. But when it's been my choice, it's special education.

SPEAKER_00 4:26

Okay. Gotcha. That's awesome, man. Well, and I I completely agree with that. Um, and I love how you said that. Like you can't be a part of their diet and their sleep, but you can sure be a part of, you know, you can be a part of something. Like you so that's awesome. Um so what do you like? And you know, we we talk about like what what is like a good teacher, like what what makes a good teacher, what makes a great teacher? Like, has that has that kind of evolved for you like over the years? Like who what you thought was a good teacher, maybe when you first started, like has that developed or changed, like in your opinion, what what makes um an educator, like what makes a teacher a uh quote unquote, like good teacher, great teacher?

SPEAKER_01 5:22

So from the very first year I did this, uh eight years ago, until now, the number one thing has always been someone that loves their kids. You've got to love your children. Now, what adds to that has definitely developed and grown over the years is I've been in different school systems and seen different teachers. And so kind of love number one, but then the background things has definitely evolved as I've learned more. A lot of I wouldn't have expected how much consistency matters to children, general ed or special education. Um, if you can be consistent, they're gonna know what to expect, and that's all you're gonna get the best learning out of them. So loving on them, consistency, and then you being prepared. I didn't realize how much preparation or goes into being a good teacher.

SPEAKER_00 6:13

Right. That's awesome.

Preparing For Individualized Learning

SPEAKER_00 6:15

So talk about like what what is that preparation like uh on a on a on a specific like day-to-day basis? Like, what does that preparation look like for you? Like how how is how is Mr. Foster?

SPEAKER_01 6:29

So for me to be prepared to begin a brand new school year, every year looks the same for me in preparing. I just get ready for you know that day. But you're going to learn your kids as you go on through the school day, and that's when you really develop your preparation. And for me, it is it's very individualized instruction. So I am sitting down and going through each of my kids, what do they need to be working on this week, and how can I best support that learning? And so for me, it's a pro it's a very detailed process of just starting with each individual student. What do they need to get accomplished? What do they need to learn this week? And how can I best prepare them for learning that?

SPEAKER_00 7:09

Right. Awesome. How many students do you have in your classroom? Or have right now I have nine. Okay, nine. Awesome. Um so is there so Jeremy, is there is there like is there was there a moment that you had, or is there someone because I and I'm sure that you've heard this too, like um and that's not the case for me. I I don't know why, but it's not the case for me. But I've heard this a lot, like um uh a lot of teachers became teachers because of a teacher in in their past, or you know what I'm saying, like in in their life, like they they were inspired by another teacher to become a teacher. Um did that happen for you that way, or like looking at your your past, like how what was the moment um where you said, like, oh, I I want to do that? Like, was it a moment? Was it multiple moments? Was it

The Teacher Who Changed Everything

SPEAKER_00 8:11

somebody? Was it like what what was it for you?

SPEAKER_01 8:16

Me, it was so I I had a degree in business management, and I was doing that, and I wasn't fulfilled with that. So I wanted to have a career change, and that's when I thought of teaching, and specifically I wanted to help special education. And it's funny you mentioning a teacher in the past, maybe doing that for me, and there really wasn't one, but now that I've been teaching, there is a very specific teacher that I think of quite often that I had not thought of when I was doing business.

SPEAKER_00 8:47

Wow, and do you want to elaborate?

SPEAKER_01 8:52

Yeah, so I had an 11th grade English teacher, and I was not into school at all when I was in school. I was into golf. Golf was my thing, so my head wasn't really in school. And I had an 11th grade English teacher who I gave all kinds of trouble, and she did nothing the entire year but love on me and figure out how she could help me learn. And that was that's kind of been my my goal for going into my teaching. Even if a student doesn't want to be there, even if a student is difficult, I'm going to give them 100% of my love and energy to help them learn and grow. And I, and again, in that intermean time when I was doing all of my different business ventures, I never thought about that teacher. But now that I am teaching and have students of my own, I think about her quite a bit.

SPEAKER_00 9:38

Right. That's awesome. Shout out to that teacher, right?

SPEAKER_01 9:42

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 9:43

Yeah. Um that's awesome, man. That that is so cool. Um I so what for you specifically, and and maybe this is something uh also that you've seen um other teachers, like what what classroom strategies like on a day-to-day basis or on a weekly basis or monthly, uh semester, what whatever that

Redirection Strategies That Work

SPEAKER_00 10:11

may be? What what strategies specifically have you seen that encouraged you or you use inspired you to keep to use them? Like, is there anything like that um that has been the case for you?

SPEAKER_01 10:26

So definitely uh consistency again is the number one thing, but a lot of redirection skills. There's going to be so much redirection that you will need to do throughout a day. And just having those specific triggers for the kid. I know last year I had a really good teacher friend who implemented a soft harmonica note when she needed to redirect her children, and it worked wonders, and that's something that I've now implemented, and it's working fantastic for my kids as well. But finding and you get a lot of this from observing other teachers, finding great redirection skills is is a very big game changer in the classroom. Right.

SPEAKER_00 11:09

Um when we when we talk about like redirection, um does that ever and and and some of this like a lot of this podcast is just like talking through this stuff, and and I want to gain as much as I can. I mean, I know you can never be fully prepared all the way until you're in the classroom. I mean, that's that's that's a given. Um but for like new teachers and teachers just coming in, like what would you say um about redirection as far as like maybe a teacher getting frustrated so much about the redirection that it kind of seeps into the teaching part? Um, what so that is what do you think?

SPEAKER_01 12:00

That's definitely a battle that is going to happen even with seasoned teachers. Just as you go into it, have several strategies that you're going to keep in the back of your mind for hey, whenever things are kind of

Advice For Male Teachers

SPEAKER_01 12:16

going off the rails or a different direction than what I wanted them to, how am I going to bring those kids back in? And that could be different for every teacher. Obviously, we've all got different personalities. Um, me being a male in an elementary school, it's a lot easier for me. I've got the big voice that they don't normally hear. Um for someone else, it may be ringing a bell. It may be, okay, we're gonna have a brain break and all do something goofy on the smart board. But just I would research intervention strategies for when the classroom is kind of getting out of out of your hands.

SPEAKER_00 12:56

Um and and you and and again, I uh these are the questions I sent to you, but I appreciate you rolling along with me.

SPEAKER_01 13:04

No, you're fine.

SPEAKER_00 13:06

Um being a male, and and I mean, let's be honest, it it is uh a female, still still is, still is a female dominated um field, correct? I mean, would you agree with that? Yes, very much so. Um but talk to talk to males like specifically, like how how do you how do you find your place? Um, because I I just remember based on and I only had one year with you and didn't work directly with you, but saw you interacting really well and blending in really well um amongst you know your coworkers and and teacher friends and all that stuff. Like speak speak specifically to like a male um coming in, um being a teacher. What what are tips you could give or what um what are things maybe specifically for males that they could do or or not do? You know, things, things like that.

SPEAKER_01 14:09

So being in a female-dominated environment, I've learned that the best way to integrate yourself is to just be of assistance to other teachers. Go out of your way to see how you can help them. Um, as far as working with the children, figure out who your father figure is and why they're your father figure and be that person to your kids. But the as far as working in in that environment, the biggest thing I've discovered is go out of your way to help your coworkers.

SPEAKER_00 14:43

Right. That's awesome. I I feel like that's I I gosh, man, I I love that answer because I I agree with that. I I side with that. I think that's um that's key, like no matter who you are, right? I mean doesn't matter, right? Um

Finding Your Teacher Voice

SPEAKER_00 15:03

okay, so um Jeremy, what uh and and this is kind of because this podcast is called Finding My Teacher's Voice, and and that means like finding your, you know, like for new teachers, even seasoned like veteran teachers, like you finding your inner teacher, like finding what works for you, finding your voice, finding your, you know, like um your your vibe, your your work ethic, like all that stuff. Like so for you, um, what does it mean when I say um like uh finding your teacher's voice? Like what is that, what does what does that represent to you?

SPEAKER_01 15:44

For me, it's being the one in control in the classroom and being the decision maker in the classroom, dictating how the day is going to go, not letting the children dictate how the day is going to go. That is something that takes quite a bit of practice. Um, it took me quite a lot of practice. But now that I am dictating how the day goes, things go considerably smoother for me. And being in the unique type of classroom that I am with three other adults in the classroom working with me, making sure that they know I am dictating how the day goes so that they can act as teachers because they know exactly what's coming next.

SPEAKER_00 16:27

Right. Awesome. Awesome, man. I love it. Good answers. Did you ever thought think about running for office or anything? Getting into politics. Uh no, absolutely not. No, no, they're right. It's not for you. Yeah, same, same. Never leaving the classrooms. Yeah, yeah. Um, okay, so here's here's my thing. Uh, here's how we're gonna end this. And I I'm so sorry, man. Listen, I didn't tell you about this because I want the surprise element to come into play. This is just something, this is just something for fun. Like, this is just something funny. Um, you're not gonna be graded on it, you're not gonna be tested on it. It is not a pop quiz. Uh, all of those things. So this is just some rapid fire like questions coming at you, okay? And just um rapid fire like teacher questions. Just just respond however you want, like whatever pops into your head, think about it for a moment and respond. Okay. Okay, you ready?

SPEAKER_01 17:29

Yeah.

Rapid Fire: Classroom Moments

SPEAKER_00 17:30

Okay. All right. So, um, most creative or funny excuse that you've ever heard for a student missing an assignment or not doing it.

SPEAKER_01 17:43

So it was an excuse, but it was true. Okay. I had a second grader tell me they crashed their dad's car. And that's why they couldn't get it done. Was everybody okay? Jeez. Yeah. Yeah, he just rolled it into a tree. Oh my god. I'm sorry. I think it's actually a student that you know. Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_00 18:06

All right. You'll have to you'll have to tell me after this after we're done. Crazy. Um, I'm glad that I shouldn't be laughing at that. That's horrible. No, it's hilarious. I mean, you know, I'm glad they're they're okay, so I can laugh at it. Um, okay, so what's a sentence you say so often at your school that if you had a dollar for every time you say it, yada yada yada, you know the rest.

SPEAKER_01 18:29

Oh gosh, in a special education classroom, there's so many odd things. Uh this year it's been put your pants on.

SPEAKER_00 18:44

At least this year and probably times a week. Every year that could be a thing, right? That's funny. Um, okay, so if you had to have a name for your that's enough white teacher look that that you give students, what what would it be? Mean dad. Okay. Alright, mean dad? Okay, so you can only pick one of these uh in your day. Coffee, silence, or extra planning time? Oh, it's gotta be silence. Yeah, nice. I would pick that too, probably. Because I don't uh I mean I don't drink coffee though. Um okay, so last one. What would be your walk-in song? You've heard of like uh like people like kids having like walk up songs to like in baseball and stuff like that. Like what would be what is your walk up song when you walk into your classroom?

SPEAKER_01 19:48

Oh, it's gotta be A C D C back and plaque.

SPEAKER_00 19:52

Oh, nice. That's a good one, man. I got that on my running playlist for sure. I've listened to that one time too. Yeah. Sweet. Awesome, man. Well, um, any any any parting like any any parting advice um for me coming in as a new teacher or anybody else? Like what would you what would you tell us?

Parting Advice And Closing

SPEAKER_01 20:17

As you're pulling into the parking lot every morning on workday, know that you're going to love your children. If you can keep that attitude, you're gonna make it just fine.

SPEAKER_00 20:26

Awesome. Awesome, man. Awesome. That's great. I love that. All right. Well, Jeremy, I appreciate you, man. And um, I appreciate you being on the podcast. And uh I look forward to um talking to you soon, and you'll have to let me know um at some point who that student was, but not right now, but it's fine. You'll let me know later. All right. All right, all right, man. Have a good night. Appreciate you, man. Hey, you as well. Thanks for being on. All right, bye bye. Of course.