Chris Ulmer, a teacher at Mainspring Academy in Jacksonville, Florida, starts each school day with a very valuable lesson for his students. He spends the first ten minutes complimenting them individually to their face, providing affirmation and praise. See how this positive reinforcement affects the students’ self-image and how they respond to such a loving approach. Learning to love yourself, now that’s a valuable lesson.

With the collaboration of his students’ parents, Ulmer is on a mission to make a difference in the world. On the Special Books by Special Kids Facebook page, Ulmer writes that he is on a mission to erase social stigmas and show the true nature of his amazing students. He writes that he “loves to share stories from children with special needs across the world. Together we can make a difference.”