Voice Care: a teacher’s voice is a tool of their trade
A teacher’s voice sets the tone and environment for the entire classroom in terms of engagement, behavior, and rapport with students.
Teachers are more than twice as likely as non-teachers to have voice problems and about three times more likely to see a doctor about the issue.
Who is most at risk? Women ages 40 to 55.
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Do I use my voice more than I have to?
- Could I effectively use other methods to make my message understood?
- Do I use my voice as efficiently as I can?
- Can I speak at a quieter level during certain classroom activities?
- Is the layout of the classroom conducive to efficient voice use?
- Do I always talk above background noise?
- What is the source of the background noise and how can I reduce its impact on my voice use?
When you have determined the answers to these questions, consider what behaviour modification techniques you could employ to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of your voice.
- Use amplification
- Give yourself a break
- Stop shouting
- Stay hydrated
- Reduce background noise
Voice care in an education setting is a WHS issue.
There is a Model Code of Practice: Managing the work environment and facilities which talks about the work environment it does not specifically talk about the voice but it does provide useful information about the responsibilities of employers and employees.
