Voice Academy: 5-minute in-service

Take Five: A Healthy Voice overview

Over-arching session goal: to raise teacher awareness of a self-directed, no-cost educational program to promote vocal health

Audience: Teachers — all grade levels and disciplines
Presenter: School-based speech-language pathologist, teacher, school nurse, principal, media resource director or other advocate
When: May be added to any meeting
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Presentation length: 5 minutes

Promotional materials:
color artwork and/or text for school website or newsletter
script for school-wide intercom announcement

Preparation Checklist:
1. Request five (5) minutes of time on meeting agenda.

2. Review and download the outline found here.

3. Review your existing knowledge about voice production and learn more about the Voice Academy website by skimming through Frequently Asked Questions. Another resource is Taking Care of your Voice on the website of the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.

4. Download, print and sign prescription pad reminders for participants.

Presentation:

Like a thumbprint, every voice is unique. As teachers, you rely upon your voice as a main tool of your trade — to teach, to persuade, to discipline…. And let's face it, a teacher without a well-functioning, easy-to-hear voice is like an artist without a paint brush!

Unfortunately, however:

Teachers are 32 times more likely to report voice difficulties than people in other professions. (This is according to a recent study.)
As many as one-half of all teachers have experienced a voice disorder at some time in their professional lives. Compare this to 4-6 percent for the entire population.
In a study comparing teachers to non-teachers, about 20% of teachers (but only 4% of non-teachers) said they've missed work due a voice problem.

What we know about the voice comes from many disciplines: Speech-language pathology, medicine, science, vocal music, and acting and theatre.

Investigators in these disciplines are making strides in understanding the voice. In fact, with the correct knowledge at hand, it is estimated that 75% of teachers' voice problems can be prevented or self-rehabilitated.

This help is available through a new website, underwritten by the National Institutes of Health. The website is called the Voice Academy, and as its name implies, teachers are invited to learn about vocal health as they navigate through a virtual school. The web address is www.voiceacademy.org.

Among other information, the website explains how to keep your voice in tiptop physical condition, recover from vocal fatigue, implement stage actors' techniques to project the voice, and determine when it's time to seek medical help for voice problems.

In conclusion, here are a few comments from teachers who previewed the site:

"Accessible." "Practical." "Packed with good information".

"Piques your interest". "The language and graphics are cleverly used".

"Didn't get the feeling of being overwhelmed". "Fantastic, and much needed!"

I hope that you will take full advantage of the site, and return to it as often as necessary. And, as with all things worthwhile, that you will tell your teaching colleagues about the Voice Academy.

I have with me today a special prescription for you with the website address on it. Thank you for your time and interest today.

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