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Talk to the daycare director. She is not following work policy- no matter where you work that is the minimum of what employees need to do! She knows work policy and isn't adhering to them. And it's affecting the care of all the children, including your daughter. The director needs to know so they can appropriately address it.

@Cherrybee: it's probably no different than what I do with my son, honestly. So I doubt it's harmful. But I'd have to see it to really assess how aggressive she's being? I'm firm with my son, but not aggressive.
However, I need to reiterate that she is not following the policies of her workplace. If you as a parent, and any other parent, have been told the daycare practices positive discipline- that may be the reason parents chose this place! Some people may believe it's harmful, and that needs to be respected. Short and simple, she isn't following policy.

Is it actually negative discipline or just a harsher voice? I'm not quite sure what I would do, really. It doesn't sound like she's actually being mean, but maybe I'm not reading the description right. And if E really loves her, it doesn't seem to be hurting her. But at the same time, ME speaking to my daughter in a harsh voice (or, being honest, totally yelling) is a lot different than someone else doing it. So while I don't think you are totally under reacting, I don't know how I would react in the situation.

(This is coming from the parent whose 2 year old recently told me "I'm LOSING my PATIENCE!" After I said it to her a lot of times).

I would report it. E is only at daycare twice a week and she is mimicking this behavior instead of the more positive discipline tactics you and your family use five days a week. The teacher's mean streak is rubbing off. When you described the behavior to the director this is not what she wants done at her daycare and thus rub off on kids.

@Cherrybee: not related to the daycare lady, I guess...since you heard the harsh voice. But I say a lot of things to my daughter that she will repeat back to me in a MUCH ruder way. Like, recently she started shouting in this really mean way "Go!" Like, "Daddy don't sit with me. Go! Go!" And I was like, where the H did she learn THAT? (She's home with me while I'm on mat leave except for occasionally she goes to drop in care at a center). And then the next day I realized I say it a lot, but less rude....Like I'll say, 'M, go get your blankie...Go, it's over there on your bed. Go on, get it. No, up on the bed..Go up" etc.

Another example: When my husband gets home from work each day she wants to play with him but he always says he'll go change and come back first. So now as soon as he arrives home she shouts "Go! Go change and come!" like a drill sergeant. And my husband is the least aggressive, nicest person of all time so when he says it, he says it in the nicest way possible. But when LO says it, it sounds so rude and shouty.

My first thought was like @Anagram; young kids often say things in a much harsher tone than the adult they heard it from. When he was two, my son learned to say "walk away" a daycare when he didn't like something and he would ROAR it at us. I've seen kids play "nap time" and just pound on a doll's back instead of pat them gently.

However, since you heard the growly voice from the teacher and the director insists they do not use techniques like counting, I would pay more attention at drop off/pick up for a week or two. If you hear an aggressive tone again, then maybe go to the director. For record, I don't think most of the phrasing you mentioned your daughter parroting is unreasonable and I don't feel like an occasionally gruff voice is unreasonable either. Daycare teachers are the "mothers" to multiple children all day long and it'd be crazy to expect that they would never get frustrated & have a harsher tone (especially when we mothers to just a couple can admit we do it sometimes!) As long as it's not the norm, I don't see a huge issue there.

I don't think a lot of this sounds that negative. @Corduroy: summed up a lot of what I want to say better than I would. I guess the only thing that really stands out to me is that you aren't also seeing the positive discipline that you want. If she were saying the above but it was interspersed with a lot of other methods of positive discipline I'd be a lot less worried. Although it's possible your daughter is only repeating the negative stuff because it's new and stands out.

My daughters preschool teacher told someone to "make better choices" and she yells it quite forcefully and thinks it's hilarious. I'm pretty sure having spent some time with the teachers that none of them yelled it or overexaggerated it the way my dd does. I honestly think in your situation I would want to observe a little more. Good luck!

@Grace: haha what is it with the counting? My son HATES it when DH starts counting, he immediately yells "noooooo! Don't count!!!" And then rushes to do what we asked. It's funny because other than a timeout, nothing has ever really occurred from counting? But he hates it lol.