About the store
Hello TPT! If you teach Upperclassman English, this is your spot!
I’m an English teacher at a High School in Maple Valley, Washington, where I get to teach upperclassmen English and a bunch of fun electives. I’m a firm believer that English isn’t just for the word nerds—it's totally attainable and even enjoyable when teachers set high expectations and keep things consistent. Once students know what to expect, they can take on the trickiest concepts and skills without breaking a sweat. So, who says English can’t be both a challenge and a blast?
Career Stuff:
I graduated from the University of Washington with a Biology degree before continuing my education at Pacific Lutheran University, where I earned a K-12 English/Literacy degree with a focus on classroom management. My teaching career began with 10 years of middle school Honors science and English, during which I developed a passion for guiding students through their educational journeys. Afterward, I transitioned into a Literacy Coach TOSA role, where I spent four years supporting educators and fostering student literacy growth. Recently, I returned to the classroom, driven by my love for working with students. Now, I teach English 11, along with several upperclassman electives including SAT Prep, Advanced Composition English 405, Creative Writing, and Film as Literature in my new district, where I am excited to continue making an impact.
Read moreStore categories
All resources
Filters
Subject
Format
Standard
Beyond the Stars: Exploring Humanity through Interstellar I Discourse Work
Exploring Key Themes in InterstellarIn this lesson, we will analyze the profound themes in Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar, including feeding a growing population, the implications of time travel, the nature of love, and the intersection of science and spirituality. Through guided group discussions and structured notes, students will explore how these themes shape the film’s narrative, characters, and larger philosophical questions.
11th - 12th, Adult Education, Higher Education
Literature, Other (Performing Arts), Speaking & Listening
CCSS
SL.11-12.1a
, SL.11-12.1b
, SL.11-12.1c
+3
Showing 1-1 of 1 results
About the store
Experience
Hello TPT! If you teach Upperclassman English, this is your spot!
I’m an English teacher at a High School in Maple Valley, Washington, where I get to teach upperclassmen English and a bunch of fun electives. I’m a firm believer that English isn’t just for the word nerds—it's totally attainable and even enjoyable when teachers set high expectations and keep things consistent. Once students know what to expect, they can take on the trickiest concepts and skills without breaking a sweat. So, who says English can’t be both a challenge and a blast?
Career Stuff:
I graduated from the University of Washington with a Biology degree before continuing my education at Pacific Lutheran University, where I earned a K-12 English/Literacy degree with a focus on classroom management. My teaching career began with 10 years of middle school Honors science and English, during which I developed a passion for guiding students through their educational journeys. Afterward, I transitioned into a Literacy Coach TOSA role, where I spent four years supporting educators and fostering student literacy growth. Recently, I returned to the classroom, driven by my love for working with students. Now, I teach English 11, along with several upperclassman electives including SAT Prep, Advanced Composition English 405, Creative Writing, and Film as Literature in my new district, where I am excited to continue making an impact.
Teaching style
I’m a firm believer in high expectations in the classroom—like that sweet spot between a gentle nudge and a full-on push that doesn’t send students into existential crisis mode. It’s all about finding that balance: pushing students to a place of cognitive struggle, but not to the point where they’re Googling “How to become a professional napper” halfway through class.
As a writing-focused teacher, I embrace transference—guiding students to critically engage with rubrics, assess work with a sharp eye, and ultimately push the quality of their own work to impressive new heights. It’s pretty satisfying to watch that growth unfold! I’m definitely not the keeper of the red pen (the horror!), but rather a facilitator of knowledge—like a well-curated museum of ideas, resources, and concepts. My classroom runs on consistent routines, because, as I like to say, "familiar tasks equal cerebral space"—so the brain can focus on the content instead of figuring out where to sit or when the bell rings. I’m thrilled to share some of my lessons on TpT, showcasing how high expectations, when delivered with care, lead to real student growth and how we can unapologetically craft a rigorously challenging classroom environment our students can thrive in without fear.
Awards & shining teacher moments
I’ve had the privilege to work with so many incredible people and create memorable moments for students in their learning environments. I was honored to receive "Best Teacher" in 2010 and 2011, and runner-up for 2012 and 2013 for Best in Kent (my hometown), which was a humbling recognition. But ultimately, the awards and accolades that mean the most to me are the quiet ones—the small milestones that only I get to witness. Those little breakthroughs, the “aha” moments, and the growth I see in students every day are what truly make my job so incredibly rewarding and, honestly, just plain cool!
TPT is the largest marketplace for PreK-12 resources, powered by a community of educators.
IXL family of brands