lost my voice

Since I've been whispering all day I've had this strange sense of not quite being a part of the world I inhabit. Like something's off kilter, which it is, because I can't talk normally, but very subtly. I can still communicate just fine, except, in a whisper.

Losing my voice wouldn't be too much of a tragedy if I sat in a tiny cubicle all day looking at a computer screen.

The cubicle I work in is about the size of four cubic classrooms, kids come in and out all day long and play instruments--loudly. There has to be some structure and order to it.

Without a voice it's pretty hard to call attention to a class of 35 with instruments.

I decided to something totally different. I asked the teacher next door, the middle school reading and writing teacher, if I could have the kids do something that would help her out. Oh yes, I could have them do Study Island. At the same time, I decided I would make sure every kid had their solo/ensemble piece picked out.

Teachers would come in the room and ask me things or tell me things and after a couple of whispered responses they'd wrinkle their noses or raise their eyebrows. "You lost your voice?"

Nod.

The younger the kids were the funnier they thought it. Having to listen to a teacher whisper--what power! The merest wiggle or squirmy noise would interfere!

Some of the 7th and 8th graders very nicely said they hoped I got better.

One more day tomorrow and I think I'll do the same thing again, have the kids do Study Island and finish up getting copies of music out and solo/ensemble pieces copied for me and the kids, that way we can start Monday running--and by then I should have my vocal chords back in operation.