Teaching Voiceless

I have lost my voice. If I talk above a whisper I either sound like James Earl Jones or Alvin (of Chipmunk Fame). I have 82 5th grade students, many of them 10-13 yr old boys. You would think that this day would both begin and end in disaster. However, so far those rambunctious boys are the ones holding me together. They have taken leadership roles, helping me to make announcements, corral talkative pre-teens, and even volunteered to pass out papers and clean up the class. They even modeled writing!

I am so proud of ‘my’ not so little terrors right now. They are going to be so mad at themselves when I’m better but I still expect them to step up like this! *cue evil and maniacal laughter*

Now if I can only stop squeaking and sounding like I’m crying every time I cough or try to speak above a whisper…Where did that hot tea go?