Tom Steenson on the Teacher's Voice

Volume, pitch, pace, tone, inflection: the human voice is our primary teaching instrument. The spoken word has not just a logos and an ethos but an embodied and personal quality—which comes with enormous advantages. This week, twenty-five-year Heights veteran Tom Steenson shares a valuable reflection on the human voice and how we use it in the classroom. He includes many practical examples of how to engage students, express expectations, correct without disruption, and love your students by using your voice with intention. Chapters: 3:11 The humanity of voice 5:14 The science of volume and pitch 6:56 Your reading and teaching voice 9:04 Speech as love, not punishment 10:46 Voice for humor and engagement 13:54 All the advantages of spoken word 16:25 A unique, live meeting of minds 20:26 Control without yelling 27:05 Enjoying your students 30:17 Song and poetry in the classroom 33:04 The value of the voice in-person Links: Teaching the History of Our "Strange New World": The History of Western Thought Course featuring Austin Hatch and Michael Moynihan Also on the Forum: The Ritual of Reading in the Classroom featuring Tom Steenson Classroom Ambience by Joseph Bissex Classroom Tone and Culture featuring Tom Steenson Featured Opportunities: The Art of Teaching Boys Conference at The Heights School (May 6-8, 2026) – waitlist Teaching Essentials Workshop at The Heights School (June 22-26, 2026) Convivium Conference for Teaching Men at The Heights School (November 2026) – link coming soon