Engage Students Differently to Save Teachers’ Voices

As a teacher, our voice is one of your most important tools for delivering a lesson effectively, or is it? We know, the constant strain of talking for extended periods can lead to voice-strain symptoms, which can impact your ability to teach effectively and may even result in absenteeism. Engaging your students in more curricular conversations can help save your voice and improve the quality of instruction. Teachers can also use less verbal communication in the classroom, such as reducing their volume to a whisper to force students to listen or using non-verbal communication methods like writing instructions on the board or using hand signals.

Reducing the Volume of the Teacher’s Voice

Reducing the volume of the teacher’s voice to almost a whisper can be an effective classroom management technique, forcing students to be quiet and listen. It may seem counterintuitive, but it forces the students to stop talking to be able to hear what the teacher is saying. Using wait-time; waiting until the class is quiet, to continue teaching is also an effective strategy. Students must learn at the beginning of the year that instruction will stop, and the lesson’s focus will not continue until everyone pays attention. The key is to resist the urge to talk and wait for a short period (usually 15-20 seconds) until the class is quiet (Glasgow et al., 2009).

Engaging Students in Many More Discussions

Encouraging students to engage in discussions can reduce the amount of direct instruction required and help students develop critical thinking skills. This approach also helps create a more student-centered learning environment where students feel valued and involved in learning (Watson, 2021).

Students actively think about the material being covered when they engage in conversations. This process allows them to build connections between the new material and their prior knowledge, which helps their ability to retain the information. This active engagement also helps reduce the time you spend speaking, reducing the strain on your voice.

Give Directions Without Using Verbal Instructions

Teachers constantly talk during class, give instructions and explanations, and answer questions. To help combat this problem, teachers can look for alternative ways to give instructions without verbal instructions (Ryan & Maina). Here are some ideas:

1.     Use visual aids: Rather than explaining a concept or process verbally, consider using visual aids like diagrams, flowcharts, or images to help students understand the content.

2.     Write on the board: Writing instructions on the board can effectively communicate with students without using your voice.

3.     Use hand signals: Establishing hand signals for common tasks, such as raising a hand to ask a question or giving a thumbs up to indicate understanding, can help reduce the amount of verbal communication.

4.     Utilize technology: Many schools now have access to technology such as interactive whiteboards or projectors.

5.     Collaborative learning: Encouraging students to work in groups or pairs and to communicate with each other can help to reduce the amount of talking the teacher needs to do during class.

Conclusion

Teachers can experience significant strain on their vocal cords due to the high amount of talking they do during class. However, there are various ways teachers can reduce verbal communication. By incorporating visual aids, writing on the board, using hand signals, utilizing technology, and promoting collaborative learning, teachers can help preserve their voices while creating a more engaging and interactive learning environment for their students. Teachers must take care of their vocal health; these alternative methods can help them do just that.

 References

 Glasgow, N. A., & Hicks, C. D. (Eds.). (2009). What successful teachers do: 101 research-based classroom strategies for new and veteran teachers. Corwin Press.

 Ryan, S., & Maina, M. (n.d.). PELINKS4U - Promoting Active & Healthy Lifestyles. Pelinks4u.Org. Retrieved February 19, 2023, from http://www.pelinks4u.org/articles/ryanMaina6-7_2012.htm

 Watson, A. (2021, November 16). Truth For Teachers - Tips for teachers: how to save your voice. Truth for Teachers. https://truthforteachers.com/tips-for-teachers-on-how-to-save-your-voice/