“Confidence is key.”

- Naomi Gordon

Naomi Gordon, Owner - Confidenceintheclassroom.com

If you met me today, you would never know that I used to be shy. Speaking in public was impossible, meeting somebody new left me utterly frozen in silence. I lacked confidence in every aspect of my life. Everything changed the summer before my junior year of high school. Taking a job as a camp counselor forced me to socialize with unfamiliar people - not just the young campers, but also their parents, and my teenage peers along with my supervisors. Taking this job changed me. Engaging with children each day, interacting with their parents regularly, and learning from and with my peers and supervisors brought out a new and confident me (Naomi). Subsequent experiences like interning in a kindergarten classroom and working an after-care job made me realize and appreciate how critical confidence is, particularly for young children and specifically in the classroom setting, where kids spend the majority of their time. 

Today, I am a high school senior and aspiring educator. With Confidence in the Classroom, I hope to create a resource for teachers seeking a safe space to learn and grow as educators. I hope that families of young children can find it useful as well.