Hello friends! Happy Wednesday! This week you get a bonus installment of Management Monday...on a Wednesday!
Let's talk about one of your most important tools...your voice! To further prove it's importance, have you ever lost your voice and tried teaching?! It's pretty difficult! As teachers, our voices couldn't be more important.
To download a printable version of the Vary Your Voice Reference Sheet, click here.
The two I find easiest for me to incorporate into my classroom are volume and inflection. I sometimes may say something louder if I want my students to pay attention, but other times I find it just as important to whisper so they will have to listen harder. I try to use inflection also to show how excited I am about a concept. I like to use inflection especially when I am read books and stories.
ReplyDeleteI use volume and expression often. I love when I start to speak in a quiet voice, my students turn their volume down so they do not miss out on what I am saying.
ReplyDeleteI love the whisper voice, and it does seem to get students attention for a little while anyway. I have to remind myself that louder is not always better. I liked how in the video the teacher got the attention of the students with a shaker and then whispered instructions. I also liked how calm the teacher with the kid throwing puzzle pieces responded without emotion in her voice. I have tried to respond to a certain student with a really calm,even voice, even when he shouts or screams; he is much more receptive and tries to comply much more than when there is even a hint of disapproval in my voice.
ReplyDeleteThese are so fun!
ReplyDeleteI whisper in my class, but it is usually after I notice my voice is really loud and I am beginning to yell over the kids. I need to remember to not let my voice get to that point. I will sometimes whisper things like "Touch your nose if you can hear me." and other things to get my students' attention.
Like the article suggests, using a calm and steady voice has worked many times in my class when diffusing a situation. It is especially helpful when students are upset.
I agree with previous posters! I love to whisper in my class. It instantly gets all attention from students. They are immediately engaged and focused on you. This also keeps those who like to talk during your lessons to stop, because too many people will hear them. I use this so often!
ReplyDeleteWhen I say my attention call I always vary my voice. Sometimes saying it normally just won't work but if i sign it or whisper it students catch on more quickly. I have noticed that when the class gets loud the worst thing for me to do is get louder.
ReplyDeleteMy natural voice is loud and excited. When I remember to speak softly my class quiets down quickly. It is really easy to tell if someone isn't paying attention because they will be the only one still talking. I like this this management tool. Most of it we already do. I think everyone slows down their speak when something is important and we check for understanding more often. We speak louder and faster when we're excited. Varying the volume for attention has proven to be effective and is kind of my go to when I need something that works.
ReplyDeleteI don't usually whisper in my class. I do lower my volume and have a very soft easy tone (like a surfer tone or a ski bum) something really chill. Usually they pick up that I'm tired of their attitude and the other kids bring them back in. Another expression, inflection, and volume I like to use is saying Mister or Miss and then their last name. This gets their attention really quick, and picks them out of a crowd.
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