"The tone, the words, the message. What do kids really hear when you talk to them?," Chick Moorman, motivational speaker, educator and author, said before he spoke to a crowd of parents and educators at Blair Oaks Middle School on Thursday night. "These are things we should be aware of."
Moorman was an educator for 46 years, teaching fifth and sixth grades before working as a consultant and now author and speaker. He is most famous for his "Parent Talk" books that focus on using verbal skills.
"I teach parents, couples and teachers verbal skills," he said. "Whether I am presenting to teachers or writing a book - I have a mission, and my mission is to help anyone with or who works with kids to raise responsible, caring, young people."
When he had just begun teaching, Moorman noted the difference in two teachers' style of speaking to students and the reaction the difference in verbal techniques had on the children and how they responded to her.
"I noticed Mrs. Brown's words and tones were different with the children," he said. "Both teachers wanted the same basic things - but Mrs. Brown had a different way of telling them that seemed to really work."
Over the years, Moorman said, he has learned through raising his children, single parenting two grandchildren and being an educator, that verbal skills really do work in a beneficial way for adults and children alike.
"I focused on how to say things to kids to empower them and retain the power yourself," he said.
Moorman's talks include touching on the best and worst things you can say to your child.