Don't Make Me Use My Teacher Voice!

It's time to go back to school, and as a teacher, your voice is vital!

​Take a moment to think about how often you use your voice everyday...
​now how would it change your day if you developed a voice disorder?

​It's not often that we think about our voice, and if we do it is usually because our voice is gone. For many people, something like laryngitis wouldn't be a long term issue. They may take a few days off work, have a sore throat, rest, and when it's passed their voice will return to normal. However, for some professionals, like teachers, the voice is a key tool in ensuring an effective job performance. A teacher is constantly using their voice, and although many teachers experience some voice changes in their profession they don't seek treatment or changes. The longer a voice problem goes untreated, the worse the problem will become.

​Most voice problems are (or should be) preventable. Having good vocal hygiene can reduce the risk of developing voice problems.

​So let's self evaluate for a minute. Think about whether or not you commit any of the following vocal abuses:

• ​prolonged talking
• ​screaming/yelling
• ​frequent throat clearing/coughing
• grunting while playing sports/lifting weights
• smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke
• consuming excessive amounts of alcohol
• excessive whispering
• singing in the car/shower

​To be honest...we're all guilty of one or more of those vocal abuses! Teachers especially, are the number 1 offenders of vocal abuse  because they use they're using their voice all day with little or no rest.

​So...how can we reduce our vocal abuse in the classroom?

​Here's some ideas:

1. Avoid yelling
   1. This is a hard one. Although teachers aren't looking for an opportunity to yell, one always seems to arise. Students can get unruly, especially towards the end of the day and you end up yelling at them to quiet down or to get their attention more than once. Try to use nonverbal actions to get their attention instead. Clapping your hands, blowing a whistle (my favorite idea), turning the lights on and off, or raising your hand.
2. ​Use good breath support
   1. When you're speaking concentrate on getting good breath support. If you run out of air, don't​ force yourself to continue speaking! Take frequent pauses and breaths during your lessons.
3. Relax
   1. Keep your neck and jaw as relaxed as possible while you're speaking. Don't strain your muscles when you're trying to teach a lesson.
4. Stop throat clearing!
   1. Throat clearing causes excess wear and tear to your vocal folds. It causes irritation and swelling that can actually cause​ saliva to sit on your throat, resulting in more throat clearing. A vicious cycle will begin. When you feel the need to clear your throat try swallowing hard or taking small sips of water. You can also try to clear your throat silently by saying "huh". If you have excess mucus build up talk to your doctor about different medication options.
5. ​Use a sound amplification system while teaching
   1. Now, most of my teacher friends have stood in front of a large group and said "You can hear me all the way back there can't you? I don't need a microphone, I'm loud enough without one!" Although it may be true that you have excellent projection skills, our voices weren't meant to handle that constant strain all day long for an entire school year! Use the mic!
6. Instead of whispering use a "confidential tone"
   1. Whispering is an unnatural volume for us to use. Instead try lowering your voice and changing the tone you use to get the same effect
7. Try to be within three feet of your listener while speaking
   1. This isn't always possible in large classrooms, but trying walking around the room and between the rows of desks while teaching. This way your voice makes its way to every student without causing too much vocal strain.
8. Build periods of vocal rest into your day
   1. Not everyone is blessed with a planning period to rest during. If you have a planning period, try not to use your voice during that time and give it the rest it deserves. If you don't have a planning period, you need to build in rests elsewhere. Cut out singing in the shower or car and incorporate times in your lessons where the students are working on a silent activity.
9. Be aware of your environment
   1. Air-conditioned rooms and dusty areas can dehydrate you and impact your voice. If you have the ability to control the temperature in your classroom try to keep it room temperature. Promoting good ergonomics in your classroom can also have a positive impact on your voice; maintain good posture and avoid excess tension. Re-arrange your room to achieve this. Also, using partitions in your room for better acoustic protection from background noise will decrease the volume you need to use to be heard. Lastly, invest in a humidifier. Humidifiers work to put moisture back in the air, use one every school night when you go to bed.
10. Stay hydrated!
    1. Carry water with you throughout your day. Vocal dehydration can come from prolonged talking and even too much caffeine intake. Take small sips frequently rather than chugging down a large amount at once. Replace your coffee, teas, and sodas with water.

​Put these 10 tips into practice this school year and see if it makes a difference in your quality of voice!

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​For more information on the voice check out my pages below!

Voice Disorders

Vocal Hygiene