Originally published in TEACH Magazine, July/August 2016 Issue
By Martha Beach
You’ve probably experienced some bouts of hoarseness, whether you’ve corralled a group of students on a field trip or experienced a scratchy throat during cold season. But imagine pushing your voice so much that you lose it entirely: you can’t quickly ask students to turn to page 34, you’re unable to sufficiently get their attention in a noisy room, and it’s pretty much impossible to explain any topic at length.
As an educator, “taking care of your voice is everything,” says Jane Schultz-Janzen, a music teacher in Kitchener-Waterloo, ON. “If you lose your voice, you lose your ability to teach.” Thankfully, there are plenty of steps you can take to help keep your voice healthy and prevent damage and voice loss.
Martha Beach lives and works in Toronto as a freelance fact-checker, editor, and writer for a wide variety of publications. When she’s not working, you’ll find Martha on her yoga mat or hanging out with her daughter and husband.
