Teachers Tweet About Using Their “Teacher Voice” at Inappropriate Times

As teachers, we spend so much time at school, so deep into the role we play as educators, that oftentimes, it’s difficult to break character outside of work. Sometimes, it shows through the “teacher look” we give, and other times, it’s through the “teacher voice” we use.

According to Urban Dictionary, “teacher voice” is defined as:

“The loud volume of voice that teachers use. It’s not really a yell since that indicates fear or anger–just the loud, obnoxious voice of someone accustomed to endeavouring to speak over the crowd without sounding angry. Off-duty teachers often don’t know they are being too loud and coming off as bossy.”

Other times, it can simply be the tone of voice or terminology that teachers often use when speaking to small children.

1. Great packing. Well done!

Does anyone else use their teacher voice at totally inappropriate times? A man packed my shopping for me at the check out and without thinking I said (in teacher voice) ‘Great packing. Well done!’ Wanted the ground to swallow me up.
— Emma Stanley (@MissStanleyYr6) April 15, 2019

2. Indoor voice, please!

I once turned to my husband and said “indoor voice please” because he was talking loudly ?
— Andrea (@andreascopes15) April 15, 2019

3. No gums in this store!

Once asked a check out lady ” are you chewing gum?” In a very negative teacher voice, much to the embarrassment to my daughter.
— Ceri Stokes (@CeriStokes) April 15, 2019

4. No rocking on chairs!

I told a friend to stop rocking on her bar stool in a pub. All four legs on the floor please. Way to kill the cocktail vibes pretty quickly! pic.twitter.com/yHTvDyroEw
— Clementine Stewart (@CStewartSHS) April 16, 2019

5. The teacher look

I gave a teacher “look” to a child in a shopping center today and he promptly burst into tears!!! I’m not that scary!!!
— Catherine Knight (@Missymusician81) April 15, 2019

6. Tie your shoe laces up!

I always have an urge to tell people to tie their shoe laces up.. !
— Ally Onions (@ally_onions) April 15, 2019

7. The power of that teacher voice

Two cyclists (grown men) collided in front of me and started blaming each other, nearly breaking into a fight. I told them off using my teacher voice for cycling on the pavement. They both apologised to me and promised not to do it again before cycling off shame faced.
— Nicky (@nichola_wilkin) April 18, 2019

8. Sorry, Miss…

And The Look. Two young men once made me jump by emerging from the bushes on a secluded path (they were have a little smoke) & I accidentally gave them The Look. As I passed they both looked at their feet & said, ‘sorry, Miss.’ ?
— Siân Rowland (@Sian_Rowland) April 16, 2019

9. Free books!

Yes! I was giving out free books on World Book Day and walked into a random coffee shop and said, ‘All right, I have my last three books to give out. Who wants them?’ The shop went quiet and three people slowly raised their hands. Probs not the joyous atmosphere envisaged.
— Annie Fox (@anniekathfox) April 16, 2019

10. Once a teacher always a teacher.

Yes. I told my dad he used ‘inappropriate language in the classroom’. He’s 63. We were in his car. He said ‘Crap’.
— Straight Talking English (@Str8talkEnglish) April 15, 2019

11. When you’re married to a teacher…

My wife will regularly remind me she is not in my class ?
— Teaching Resources (@Resour1Teaching) April 16, 2019

12. Keep up the good work!

Yep! My daughters parent’s evening the other night I told her teacher to ‘keep up the good work’ ?‍♀️
— Mrs Gosling (@mrs_g_biology) April 15, 2019

13. Hats off!

We don’t allow hats indoors and I’m always asking students to take of their hats.
I went to the gym after work and as someone walked past me I asked them to take off their hat.
— Marc Evans (@marcmaths) April 16, 2019

14. The Look.

I like to silence wayward, screechy, spoilt children in supermarkets by giving them The Look. Before I turn at the end of the aisle I have a quick look back to ensure the child is still behaving. If we meet again in the store, they don’t meet my eye. I call that success.
— Stuie ??????????? (@StuieMW) April 16, 2019

15. Confiscated!

Almost confiscated my wife’s second set of earrings…
— Matt Ryan (@mr060511) April 17, 2019

16. Use your manners!

I once asked a child at a rugby match to remember to use his manners. My friends died laughing, but then admitted that they were impressed. ?
— Victoria Redshaw (@VictoriaRedshaw) April 15, 2019

17. Positive reinforcement.

I was once chastised at boxercise for giving too much positive reinforcement…
— Jessica Mason Blakey (@edu_jessy) April 16, 2019