I’m writing to comment on my experience with Elsa who was my daughter Maeve’s (3.5 years old) teacher.

My daughter Maeve transitioned into Elsa’s room and immediately blossomed emotionally and intellectually. As Maeve’s mom, I was worried about the transition given that my family had just gone through several big changes in our personal life. Very quickly, I learned that I had no need to worry. Maeve was drawn to Elsa’s positive and supportive personality and after just a few short days I knew Maeve was in good hands.

In regard to Maeve’s development, her language, math, and emotional intelligence skills increased significantly with Elsa’s help. Prior to working with Elsa, Maeve did not have a concept of the alphabet or numbers. She couldn’t spell her name! Truthfully, I felt a bit guilty that I hadn’t taught her some of these things on my own and a bit frustrated that she hadn’t learned them in the classroom she was in before Elsa’s. I was amazed at how quickly Maeve started drawing the letters. To compare, her sister was in kindergarten at the same time and sometimes I felt as if Maeve were learning as much as her sister! Maeve frequently asks for a piece of paper to independently practice writing her alphabet and numbers. Just the other day, she wanted to write the numbers 1 to 10. After she did, I asked, “Who taught you that?” and she responded with “Elsa.”

Emotionally, Maeve has also blossomed. She has grown in her ability to express her feelings and to observe other people’s feelings. When I hit my elbow or hurt myself accidentally, she is quick to give me a hug and ask if I’m ok. While she is inherently a kind person, I’ve seen Maeve’s ability to regulate her own and understand others’ emotions increase in the last year under Elsa’s care.

Maeve has also displayed more confidence and desire to express herself. Maeve had been on the quieter side, but after being in Elsa’s room, her spoken language and her confidence in speaking her mind has increased. One of my favorite things about the last few months is Maeve’s desire and ability to tell me stories about her day, her dreams, and what she sees in the world. This has been a noteworthy change under Elsa’s care.

Her interest in learning is strong beyond language and math. Elsa has inspired Maeve to be curious, to ask questions, and to hypothesize why she thinks something is the way it is. For example, a few months ago she said, “Why is the moon bright, mommy? It’s because of the sun.” I am profoundly grateful for the time that Maeve spent under Elsa’s leadership.

Elizabeth J. McClean, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Cornell University

★★★★★

I am writing this letter to provide a testimonial for Ms. Elsa, who has been a preschool teacher for my daughter. I am more than happy to share my experiences and observations regarding her invaluable contributions to my child's early education.

Ms. Elsa has had a significant positive impact on my daughter's academic achievements, character development, and overall well-being. As the lead teacher in the classroom, Ms. Elsa introduced a new fascinating topic for each week and work related to the topic. My daughter enjoyed learning about nature (bees, clouds, volcano), human body (brain, bones), countries (Ireland, Japan) and celebrations (Diwali, Cinco de Mayo). The work not only included reading and writing about it but also making crafts such as the map of Ireland and Mexican hats, watching videos of volcanic explosions, and demonstrations such as making sushi. She also introduced the children to other languages by teaching songs in Hebrew and Japanese, which my daughter sings at home. Through her guidance and creative teaching techniques, my daughter not only gained a solid interest and understanding of the topic but also enjoyed learning about it.

Ms. Elsa consistently goes above and beyond to inspire and motivate the children. She understands the importance of instilling a growth mindset and has an incredible ability to foster a sense of self-confidence in her students. My daughter was introduced to language and calculation by using teaching tools such as sandpaper letters, movable alphabets, and math cubes. These teaching methods have proven to be highly effective in fostering a love for learning and encouraging academic progress. Her individualized attention and support have had a profound impact on my daughter’s academic growth.

Ms. Elsa excels in maintaining open and effective communication with parents, ensuring that we are informed about our child's progress, strengths, and areas for improvement. She emails weekly with details of the activities in the classroom and regularly scheduled parent-teacher meetings to discuss my daughter’s development, providing detailed feedback on her academic and social progress. Her approachability and willingness to listen attentively to our concerns made us feel valued and involved in our child's educational journey. She shared valuable insights and practical suggestions to reinforce classroom learning at home, allowing us to create a seamless learning experience for the children.

I am incredibly impressed with the efforts Ms. Elsa has made to create a conducive environment in the classroom. I observed a positive transformation in the physical environment of the classroom from work organization to its neatness and classroom decoration, primarily attributed to Ms. Elsa's dedication and hard work. Ms. Elsa's attention to detail, organization, and thoughtful arrangement of learning materials have contributed to an engaging and stimulating atmosphere. The classroom is now a vibrant space that promotes active learning, creativity, and collaboration.

In conclusion, Ms. Elsa’s dedication, passion, and ability to create a nurturing and stimulating learning environment make her an exceptional educator. She has played a pivotal role in shaping my daughter's early educational journey. I am grateful for the opportunity to share my experiences with Ms. Elsa, and I am confident that she will continue to make a significant difference in the lives of young learners.

Poovendran Saththasivam, MD Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesiologist

Guthrie Clinic Robert Packers Hospital, Sayre PA

★★★★★

★★★★★

... strongly recommends Ms. Elsa as

an excellent lead teacher of my daughter.

Ms. Elsa's classroom is a safe and caring environment.

My daughter was a quiet girl, and barely talks.

However, after my daughter join Ms. Elsa's class,

she is more talkative and always speak out what she needs. Ms. Elsa is the one of the most responsive teacher we have had. Regardless of the form of communication: emails, phone text, teacher meetings, Ms. Elsa answered our questions quickly, with no delay. Plus, I always see Ms. Elsa prepare the next day lessons while I pick my daughter up at 4:30 pm.

Ms. Elsa also gives different lessons to my daughter every day, use tools, with other peers or by her own, and she has a folder includes how far

my daughter has been learned. My daughter is motivated

and intellectually stimulated in her classroom.

Eva and John Guo