I'm new to this site and hopefully I can get some helpful information on a problem at our daycare. I am a director of a small daycare and recently hired a lady to sub and fill in as needed. She seems nice enough and is okay with the children, but, I absolutely can not stand to hear her voice. I'm not being mean or insensitive, it's just that her voice is sooo loud and annoying. I've never felt this way about anyone and I'm sure some of the other teachers and parents are probably thinking the same thing I'm am.
Have any of you ever had ro deal with anything like this in your centers?
How do I go about even talking to her about it?
I hate to stop calling her in, but, by the time I leave work, I'm a nervous wreck.
Thanks for any help you can give me.

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No easy answer to this. If you feel that she can change and will be receptive to the request, then yes, talk to her and try and work it out. But as a temporary sub, you arent required to give her any time at work (correct?) so you could just either officially let her go and tell her you no longer require her services as a sub or just stop calling her in. I guess it depends on what your agreement with her was as far as hours and notice of termination.

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This is definitely a tough situation but I am curious.....what is it about her voice that is bothering you?

You said her voice is "loud"....I see nothing wrong with saying "Hey Sally, the rooms here really seem to amplify a persons voice so I wanted to mention that you need to speak a bit more quietly. Thanks!"

Keeping that light hearted and simply as if it applies to everyone would probably help.

You also said her voice is "annoying"....if her voice is annoying to you on a personal level, I guess I would just suck it up. As long as she is doing her job and doing it well, then I think the "annoying" part falls under the accepting and over-looking category.

As an adult, we meet and interact with all types of people. Some we click with and enjoy and others, we are annoyed by. I feel like you need to decide what it worse, her voice or having to find another qualified person to take her place...kwim?

If other people are complaining about her voice being annoying and not being able to work with her, then I would consider finding a replacement.

But again, if it is just you, then I would make sure you have her work when you are off site or in an area where you cannot hear her talking.

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While she can't change the her voice, she can control her volume. One of my ECE professors said that a way to get children (also works on adults!) to lower their voices is by when you talk to them try using a whispering voice or slightly lower your voice and keep it calm when you talk to them- it will make them more cautious of their volume and they will automatically adjust to the level of the voices of others.

If this does continue I suggest that the next time you have an employee meeting/news letter (invite her to the meeting or send a letter to her) that annonymously says something about all employees needing to remember that children feed off the vibes of their environment and if the noise level is too loud it can cause kids to start to get louder too- which makes it harder for them to focus on the activities at hand. And part of daycare is teaching kids social skills such as: impulse control, manners ("inside voice"), and consideration of others. You can also mention if there is an echo effect in the center which amplifies voices which can distrupt other teachers and groups of children.

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Maybe if she talks in a quieter voice it won't be so annoying?

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Funny, I read a post just like this on a preschool teachers forum last week, except from an employee (also a sub) who was being told she was too loud, high pitched and bordering on obnoxious by co-workers in the adjoining classrooms.

She was explaining that she could not sing, teach and read quieter/monotone and maintain the current level of enthusiasm and participation she now enjoys in her students....

It will be an awkward conversation to be sure, but I bet you will find a happy medium

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Sometimes I speak loud, sometimes too quiet. I am hearing impaired. Maybe she is as well?

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my assistant doesnt really understand my tone.. i am very enthuisiatic with the children as well and i think its what keeps the day upbeat. my kids always love to see me coming and i know that my voice is not the major reason why but i do think it contributes to it.. Man im glad im at home and dont have to worry about bothering other teachers LOL i would probably be the black sheep LOL

good luck!!

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The toddler teachers at my job are like this. They are really great teachers, but they just talk so loudly.... I guess because toddlers attention strays so easily and frequently, they feel they need to do that. All the classrooms open into one main area, and their voices carry...so I can sympathize

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