Voice Management

I always wondered how people develop a "Teacher's Voice", but no one could give me a direct answer. I am currently reading, "Teacher's Survival Guide 2" by Angela Thody, Barbara Gray and Derek Bowden. I truly enjoy this book, because it offers insightful feedback for the average teacher. There is one section titled, "Success with Pupils' and it divded into three sections: Creating a positive learning environment, managing difficult situations and voice management. The first two sections were key in helping me pinpoint the specific causes for the disruption in my classroom and an excellent review on how to correct my behaviour.

Graham Welch's Voice Management section is excellent for a person like me. He breaks down the section into two key components: physiological causes/responses and psychological causes and responses. His background in kinesology helps the reader understand the scientific reasoning behind vocal disorders and why they may have a problem controlling the classroom. He gives these excellent exercises to help people understand and develop the 'teacher voice" and then ends the chapter with ways to help prevent vocal disorders and actual steps to help you. It is remarkable how much your diet and posture can help with your voice.

It is also explained why I had so much trouble breathing in the classroom. (I shall try to explain, but I will probably butcher it. lol) Due to the dry air, lack of ventilation and my actions, my vocal folds were being overlengthen and used ...creating a vocal collapse or prohibiting the proper amount of moisture and air to flow through my larnyx / lungs...which made it hard for me to speak and gain control of the class..as well as actually breathing.

I am now on the success with collegues section, but first I think I will continue to clean out the clutter. The espon salt bath and cleaning the bathroom seemed to help as well.