USING YOUR “TEACHER VOICE”

MARCH 2025

Using Your Diaphragm

A supervising teacher I once had, told me about a workshop she went to, where the teachers were taught how to speak from their diaphragm, in order to project their voice. She also learnt about the dangers of vocal chord damage that many teachers suffer over time, at this workshop. She spoke about how she can feel the difference between speaking normally and speaking from her diaphragm just by placing her hands on her stomach when she speaks and feeling where the air is leaving from. I found this a little tricky at first, but got better with practice.

A few years later, a music teacher I worked with spoke of a similar strategy, and she suggested singing as a way to develop the way you speak from your diaphragm. You can find Youtube videos and training about this strategy that go into more detail. When I sing, I can instantly feel my core tighten and my voice project more.

All these years later, I feel I speak with my diaphragm most of the time, even when I’m not teaching. A relative told me once that I have a quiet voice but it seemed to travel far.

There are benefits to speaking with your diaphragm predominantly. I no longer seem to lose my voice as often as I did in my first few years of being a student-teacher, and a new teacher, also, I am able to project my voice without strain. If I am beginning to feel unwell, and I can feel my voice going, I now know to take a day or two off work, otherwise I will lose my voice completely and will not be able to teach effectively. It’s important to protect yourself and your voice.

Tone of Voice

Children are listening to you all day. Your impact needs to be effective. I find that I use many different tones of voice in many different situations. For example, if I am setting the mood for the day during our morning meeting, I try to use a calming tone of voice. If I am trying to build excitement about something such as a sports day or a group game, I’ll use an excited tone of voice. If I am trying to be very serious when trying to get a message across, such as a safety matter, I will use a stern tone of voice.

When starting as a teacher, I found it helpful to listen to the way different teachers and educators spoke in different circumstances, to best get their message across. I practiced using different tones of voices myself, to work out what tone of voice suited each situation. I would suggest doing the same, listening to others, and practicing yourself.

Things I am mindful of when speaking to a class full of children:

• Tone of voice and effect it has for children. What kind of mood am I setting?

• Considering volume and tone of voice to use if I need to be stern and assertive at times (when children are at risk of being hurt, when they are making unsafe or poor choices), or if I need to be calming and reassuring at times (during my morning meeting, during events such as a fire drill practice)

• Using my diaphragm to protect and project my voice, to ensure I am heard by all children.

• Noise level in the classroom and gaining children’s attention. I may need to use a strategy such as ringing a bell, singing a rhyme or clapping my hands in rhythm to get children’s attention before speaking, this way I am not speaking too loudly and straining my voice.

• Drink water regularly to prevent my mouth and throat from drying out, which tends to lead to voice strain.

Concluding thoughts: My advice would be to develop your teacher voice by trying out different ways of speaking, of projecting your voice, and of using different tones and observe the effect it has on your class. Singing is a great way to strengthen your diaphragm muscles, and it is also great for stress relief. Be mindful to protect your voice when you have strained it or if you are feeling unwell. Be sure to give your voice a break. Most importantly, be patient with yourself. These skills are learnt over time, with practice. 

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