Technique: Strong Voice

Name of Activity: Three Registers Micro-Practice

Type of Activity: Micro-Practice

Objective: PWBAT improve their Strong Voice technique by practicing delivering a direction
using the two Registers (Casual and Formal) and self-monitoring to ensure that these
directions are given in the appropriate tone.

Task: Participants will have multiple opportunities to practice casual and formal registers

Estimated Time: 10 minutes

Background: Champion teachers convey authority through their tone, and body language.
The Strong Voice technique supports this authority. There are three registers that are
described in the Strong Voice Technique: Formal, Casual, and Urgent. Register is the word
used to describe the tenor of a conversation, encompassing eye contact, body position,
gestures, facial expression and rhythm of language. Below youll find a description of each:
The Formal Register is the default Register of the Strong Voice teacher. In the Formal
Register, the teacher Squares Up, Stands Still and holds his/her body symmetrically
while maintaining eye contact with students. When speaking, the teacher articulates
his/her speech clearly to convey the importance of their message, causing a
purposeful attentiveness from the listener.
The Casual Register is more informal. Speaking in the Casual register is like telling a
story, there is a level of comfort in speech. If the register contradicts the words the
teacher uses (delivering formal directions but in an informal register), then the
register is likely to take precedence over the meaning of the words students will
experience the directions informally.
In the Urgent register the speaker is focused, and speaks clearly by punching her
words with pauses to indicate importance. Body language might involve leaning in or
gesturing to further emphasize urgency.

1
 Facilitator Directions

Step 1 (2 minutes): Purpose

Explain the three purposes of this micro-practice to participants (listed below).

Purposes:
1. Find your best, natural version of casual and formal
2. Practice switching between these two
3. Hear yourself (and maybe check yourself) when you start to go urgent

Step 2 (3 minutes): Practice

Round 1: Participants will work in pairs they will practice delivering the direction: Pencils
down and eyes on me in both formal and casual registers.

Do a quick model of what this will look like with a partner, and then give participants 2
minutes to practice shifting between the two registers.

Round 2: Have participants teach in energetic instructional tone (using or adapting one of
the scripts on page 3). Drop into formal: Pencils down voice and posture. Resume
teaching in an instructional tone. Give feedback to each other (using the Feedback Cheat
Sheet on page 4). Repeat, incorporating the feedback.

Do a quick model of what this will look like with a partner and then give participants 3
minutes to practice this.

2
Three Registers Micro-Practice

Purposes:
1. Find your best, natural version of casual and formal
2. Practice switching between these two
3. Hear yourself (and maybe check yourself) when you start to go urgent

Practice delivering the direction: Pencils down and eyes on me in each of the registers.

Round 1: First practice each register in order, taking turns.

Round 2: Teach in energetic instructional tone (using or adapting one of the scripts below).
Drop into formal: Pencils down voice and posture. Resume teaching in an instructional
tone. Give feedback to each other. Repeat, incorporating the feedback.

Script #1: Math Script #2: Science Script #3: ELA

Nice, six times six Yesterday we discussed the Im excited to share

does give us 36
square centimeters.
What happens to the
area if I increase the
length of the two
sides?
three states of matter. Solid todays vocabulary words.
is one and liquid is another. The first word is resilient.
What is the third? Repeat after me,
Resilient.

Feedback: Give your partner feedback on how they were able to switch between registers
effectively.