Voice and Speech - Voice Power for Teachers Part One

A powerful voice is a teacher’s most valuable asset. It expresses natural authority, enhances professional expertise and is a potent tool for interactive teaching. Voice skills are easily refined and augmented.

Your voice is a precious gift to be treasured and nurtured. It is a powerful tool for communicating with pupils and students, colleagues, parents and the community. It is unique to you!

Express your natural authority
Ensure you are easily heard and understood
Say what you mean
Use the right tonality
Your voice as an interactive learning tool
Develop ‘the voice of the heart’ and bring your own special teaching gift alive

Teachers use their voice every day throughout the whole of their teaching career. Not only does it convey information and facts but feelings, attitudes and hidden meanings. Yet training in this most important field is usually given insignificant attention. All teachers would benefit enormously from a greater understanding of how their voice works and how to use it most effectively and safely. They would improve their ability and proficiency as teachers; boost their own confidence and self-esteem which in turn influences the children.

Investment of time and money in this training could result in long-term benefits in terms of reduced teacher absences, naturally raising standards of teaching in the classroom, promoting quality relationships within schools, and encouraging an atmosphere of well-being and vitality. Teachers are now given plenty of help on what to say - but very little on how to say it. These courses aim to champion teachers supportively and sensitively in making the most of their foremost personal asset - their speaking voice.

Breathing - the groundwork of all speech, the carrier of communication, the basis of good health. Its relationship to dynamic movement and body use.
Tone - the resonance and quality of the voice make listening a pleasure and joy. Tonality also carries interior levels of communication beyond what is said.
Diction - gives precision to speech, enabling the words to be heard and interpreted clearly and accurately, allowing speech to be understood in difficult environments.

Areas of Focus
- Nurturing and looking after yourself and your voice.
- Body language and first impressions.
- Communicating in the classroom.
- Expressing natural authority and assertiveness.
- Avoiding confrontational or judgmental tonality.
- Presenting your warm, caring and friendly side.
- Compassionate understanding of blocks to your natural voice.
- Allowing your voice to serve you

Voice Power Training
is offered in formats to suit the needs of teachers, schools, colleges, LEAs and professional development centres including introductory talks, practical workshops, lectures, half or full day sessions for Inset training and on-going classes.

Consultations and Coaching
Confidential personal sessions help teachers address individual specific needs.

Ingrid St Clare
BA, LRAM, IPA, Dip TEO
Diploma in Speech and Drama
Diploma in Remedial Speech

Ingrid St Clare is a gifted and accomplished Speech and Drama Teacher. She gained a wealth of experience teaching in schools, colleges and drama schools in Britain and California, directing and performing in theatre-in-education and arts festivals, and through many years of specialist voice teaching. She is currently a director of Radiant Power Associates offering Voice Training, Stress Management and Personal Development for the business and professional community. She approaches the voice holistically with natural enthusiasm, humour and insight. Ingrid inspires you to free your own natural voice and open doorways to deeper understanding and rewarding practice.