[Katherine Lakatos]

My 1st grade teacher was fun and so caring. Every mourning, we sat in a circle and said one thing we liked about each other. I know I felt like I had confidence in school, and friends. It was a positive experience that I want to use in my classroom too.

[Trainer]

Katherine, your reflection beautifully highlights the power of supportive environments in fostering confidence and friendships. Great approach for your future classroom!

[Cynthia Rivera]

My mother and her siblings and a tough childhood. Both good and bad but mostly not good. It has made my mother be the strong independent women she is today. Sometimes a little to much as she only relies on her self and rarely asks for help.

[Trainer]

Cynthia, your reflection on your mother’s resilience highlights the complexity of early experiences shaping independence. Great insight!

[Mary]

There was a young boy that had anxiety about my different things. Leaving his parents, using the bathroom to poop, and having focus on himself in a large group. His teachers worked with him on building his confidence by encouraging him in small tasks and praising his efforts. The staff all celebrated his increased confidence and every task he began to complete by himself. He grew to be confident kindergartener by the end of the preschool year.

[Trainer]

Great example, Mary! Your insights highlight the importance of supportive teachers in fostering children’s confidence and resilience.

[Mauren]

Growing up, I had different teachers, most of them were grumpy ones, but I still remember two, who were kind and patient. I am a person with short term memory, but I can still remember everything about them, even their faces and the details on the way they used to dress. This is definitely making me understand the importance of our attitude towards everyone, specifically the children in our care.

[Trainer]

Great reflection, Mauren! Your experience highlights how positive teacher interactions can leave lasting impacts on students.

[Debra Johnson]

I had a child that couldn’t write his name. when he started coming to the Day Care when he left to go the first grade, he could write his and count to 50.

[Trainer]

Great example, Debra! Your experience highlights how early childhood education can significantly impact a child’s development and confidence.

[Alexandria Schwager]

I had a positive experience with my preschool teachers when I was from the ages 1-4. It impacted me so much that it made me want to become a preschool teacher many years later. I wanted to positively impact children the same way my preschool teacher did with me.

[Trainer]

Alexandria, your reflection beautifully highlights the lasting influence of positive early experiences. It’s inspiring to see your commitment to nurturing future generations!

[Kimmy]

<strong data-start=”103″ data-end=”408″>I grew up in poverty, without the love and support every child deserves. My environment was filled with anger, not encouragement, and I struggled with confidence because of it. But those early experiences gave me something valuable empathy. I understand what it feels like to be unseen and unheard.<strong data-start=”410″ data-end=”694″>Now that I have a daughter, I’ve chosen to raise her differently. I speak to her with love, show her kindness, and create the positive environment I never had. It’s amazing to see how our past doesn’t have to define us we can grow from it, and use it to build something better.

[Trainer]

Kimmy, your reflection beautifully highlights resilience. It’s inspiring how you’ve transformed your experiences into a loving environment for your daughter.

[Jena Theobald]

Several children not accepted by their own mother definitely effected their whole childhood and future, still struggling to understand why

[Deborah Boughner]

My daughter started K,, and initially loved it. About 2 months in, she came home sad, and said she didn’t like school anymore. She said her teacher yelled at her “all of the time”and didn’t feel like the teacher liked her. Her kindergarten year was challenging.The teacher was new and had a hard time with connecting to the children and managing the classroom…. The following year, my daughter was placed in a class with an experienced teacher who had a background in SPED. What a difference! My daughter said she “loved” school again and she loved her teacher. To this day..(my daughter is 22 now), she says her 1st grade teacher was her favorite of all time, because she felt loved by her and that made her want to do great things.What power teachers, coaches and leaders have. We can use it for good!!!

[Shannon Tyree]

I had a teacher in Kindergarten who never forgot a birthday and always made a big deal about them getting the whole class to encourage them. This built a great classroom culture and helped us to love coming in to class.

[Marie]

I had a kindergarten teacher who made the day fun. She played the piano and sang with us, and gave me an instrument to play once. I felt so special! And now I’m a preschool music teacher!

[Sandy]

I remember a teacher high-fiving us every day

[Trainer]

Great example, Sandy! That positive reinforcement can foster confidence and a love for learning in children.

[Simone DK]

I grew up in diet culture. I witnessed my mom and older sister constantly on diets to loose weight. That example caused me to restrict my own eating and exercise excessively. I developed a type of anorexia I struggle with to this day. I never had a chance to learn how to have a healthy relationship with food. I witnessed how food was bad, sweets were wrong and the less calories the better. It took years to unlearn these habits, and still when I am stressed I don’t eat because it has become a way to control my anxiety.

[Trainer]

Thank you for sharing your experience, Simone. It’s important to acknowledge the long-lasting effects of early influences on our relationship with food. Your journey highlights the need for positive modeling in childhood.

[Michelle Travis]

Yes, I was a preschool teacher for several years. I had the privilege to move up with my students from toddler years to private kindergarten. My students are now seniors in High School, and I am still in contact with their parents to this day. They tell me how much my presence and teaching facilitated the foundation for their academic journey, and for that I will forever be grateful to the time I spent with them, learning from them, and teaching them.

[Trainer]

Michelle, your reflection beautifully highlights the lasting impact of early childhood educators. It’s inspiring to see such meaningful connections and influence!

[Edith]

I have a childhood positive Memorie the stricter teacher in the elementary, came to me after my mom die and put her hand in my shoulder and told me your mom was a wonderful human being, coming for him was something that really make me feel confident in school because I feel it was ok to be sad.

[Trainer]

Edith, your reflection beautifully illustrates the power of empathy and support in shaping resilience and confidence during difficult times.