Time To Teach Educational Trainer

The meeting was opened by former President Claude Kendrick until President-Elect Nancy Darga, arrived and took charge. Invocation was delivered by Bob Carris. 

Nancy shared that she spent a week in Washington, D.C., and experienced a renewed sense of appreciation for our nation and its ability to overcome significant challenges, both historically and in the present. She likened the foundation and purpose of our nation, “to serve the needs of its people,” to the foundation and purpose of our mighty Livonia AM Rotary—to serve wherever there is a need.  

Nancy reviewed how the Livonia AM Rotary is serving its community by the number of activities that are on the calendar for the rest of July through September. Bob is particularly excited that he has been able to secure 3 helicopters for the Touch a Truck event on August 24. This year, we will have the Army’s Black Hawk helicopter and two other helicopters, plus Claude mentioned that there will be 4 Silverado electric trucks present to provide shuttle service from the parking lot and be on display. 

Check out the Upcoming Events part of the newsletter for dates, times and to register for events you are able to participate in. 

Nancy is particularly looking forward to the Livonia AM Rotary picnic on July 30, where members will have time to socialize and become more bonded as Rotary club mates. 

Nick Middleton, the speaker for this meeting, presented the teacher’s professional development workshop created by the Center for Teachers’ Effectiveness called “Time To Teach Educational Trainer.” Nick opened his presentation by sharing the biggest challenge that teachers face: Classroom Management.

He talked about his first days as a new teacher and how much he struggled to find control and balance in the midst of chaotic student behaviors. He cited the problem as being that teaching degree programs rarely teach classroom management skills, and so, Rookie teachers are clueless as to how to handle their students’ behaviors. This leads to many first-year teachers and other teachers experiencing early burnout and quitting the teaching profession. The "Time To Teach” one-day workshop provides teachers with strategies, techniques, and the support they need to learn effective classroom management skills.

“Time to Teach” has five basic beliefs: 1) The students need to know how much you care about them before they care about how much you know. 2) Conflict is an essential part of growing up and human development. 3) Behavior can be changed 4) Good behavior must be taught because students don’t know how to behave. 5) Good discipline is well-timed.

Nick also outlined five components of the workshop, starting with teaching teachers how to regulate their own emotions and behaviors. Nick stated that the workshop has been very effective in eliminating 90% of low-level behaviors that obstruct the ability of teachers to teach students subject content. The key is to manage the behavior first before content can be taught.

Nick has taught for 17 years and currently teaches music at Redford Union High School and also plays the trumpet.

Victoria Haltom