#135: Is your teaching presence undermining your classroom management?
Why Your Presence Might Be Undermining Your Classroom Management (And How to Fix It)Ever felt like you're being too nice... or not taken seriously enough in your classroom?Like you're walking a tightrope between being warm and relatable and being respected as the leader of the room?Whew—yeah. Been there. That’s exactly what today’s episode is all about.We're kicking off the Behaviour Club Kickstart with Day 1: PRESENCE—because how we show up in our classrooms (literally, physically) impacts everything from student engagement to classroom climate. And trust me, the shifts we can make here are subtle but mighty.In this episode, I’m giving you a front seat to one of the biggest lightbulb moments I ever had about classroom management—when I realised I wasn’t being taken seriously by my “easy” class… and it had everything to do with my nonverbal presence.Here’s what we’re covering:The two teacher personas you're constantly switching between (and probably don’t even realise it)Why being "approachable" isn't always helping your classroom calmWhat “credible” non-verbal communication actually looks like (without being cold, robotic, or mean)How I accidentally nailed behaviour management with a “tricky” class… and totally flopped with my high flyersWhat to tweak immediately to lead with more calm, grounded authority (yes, even if you’re still finding your feet)If you want the visuals, templates, and reflection prompts that go with this episode, make sure you’re signed up for the Behaviour Club Kickstart. It's just $1 and includes all five sessions + a super practical kickstart booklet to help you embed the work in your day-to-day.🎟 Join the Kickstart here: https://www.the-unteachables.com/kickstartWhat You’ll Learn in This Episode:The difference between credible and approachable teacher presenceHow your body language might be unintentionally inviting misbehaviourWhere I went wrong with my year 10 class (and how I fixed it)Practical strategies to switch from “friendly chaos” to “calm credibility”The quickest way to reset your presence mid-lessonResources Mentioned:The Behaviour Club Kickstart → https://www.the-unteachables.com/kickstartMichael Grinder’s ENVoY (Educational Non-Verbal YardsticksHave a question, comment, or just want to say hello? Drop us a text!👉 JOIN THE $1 KICKSTART! Click for more info and to jump in!RESOURCES AND MORE SUPPORT: Shop all resources Join The Behaviour Club My book! It’s Never Just About the Behaviour: A holistic approach to classroom behaviour management The Low-Level Behaviour Bootcamp Free guide: 'Chats that Create Change' Connect with me: Follow on Instagram @the.unteachables Check out my website
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#134: Bullying in the classroom?! 😖 How to talk to your students about it in a way that gets them listening, empathising, and creating change!
Ever had a student yell "I'M BEING BULLIED!" when their friend won’t let them borrow a pencil? Meanwhile, real, insidious bullying is flying under the radar?HEAD TO THE BLOG HERE FOR ACTIVITIES + MORE 😁In this episode, I’m giving you a front seat to the three-part framework I use to help students identify what actually counts as bullying, how to respond safely, and how to foster real empathy in your classroom. These are simple but powerful tools that work beautifully during Bullying. No Way! Week—but honestly, they’re useful any day of the school year.We’re talking real strategies, not posters and platitudes.You’ll also hear the story of the time I got my hair done by the girl who used to bully me in high school (yes, really), and what it taught me about what we really need to be doing to address bullying.What You’ll Learn:How to define bullying using the 3 P’s: Power imbalance, Purpose to harm, and Pattern over timeThe difference between conflict, meanness, and bullying (and why kids mix them up constantly)The "High Five" strategy to help students respond safely when bullying happensA powerful visual metaphor that makes the emotional impact of bullying stickThree discussion starters that build empathy and help students step into others' shoesResources Mentioned:Blog with all the activities: https://www.the-unteachables.com/blog/classroom-bullying-activities-no-way-weekHave a question, comment, or just want to say hello? Drop us a text!👉 JOIN THE $1 KICKSTART! Click for more info and to jump in!RESOURCES AND MORE SUPPORT: Shop all resources Join The Behaviour Club My book! It’s Never Just About the Behaviour: A holistic approach to classroom behaviour management The Low-Level Behaviour Bootcamp Free guide: 'Chats that Create Change' Connect with me: Follow on Instagram @the.unteachables Check out my website
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#133: Flipping your lid! The concept that changed everything about the way I responded to students in the middle of a meltdown.
What’s actually happening when your student flips their lid? And more importantly… what should you be doing when it happens?HEAD TO THE BLOG HERE FOR VISUALS + MORE 😁In this episode, I’m giving you a front seat to one of the most game-changing concepts I've learned about behaviour and brain science: flipping your lid. You’ll hear me break down Dr. Dan Siegel’s hand model of the brain in all its gloriously awkward podcast-visual-form, but also how this little model changed everything about the way I responded to students in the middle of a meltdown.Spoiler: trying to reason with a flipped-lid teenager is like handing them a trig worksheet in the middle of a panic attack. Not helpful. Probably going to make things worse.We’re talking about:What actually happens in the brain when students dysregulateWhy calm-down demands and consequences don’t work in those momentsHow this one model can change the way you respond (and how students see themselves)How to teach this concept to your students, even if you’re not a science-y personIt’s simple, powerful, and honestly... kind of magic when it clicks. Let’s roll the tape.What you’ll learn:Why traditional responses to dysregulation often escalate the situationWhat “flipping your lid” means, and why it explains so much about student behaviourHow to teach students what’s happening in their own brains (without the shame)Ways to embed the hand model of the brain into your class cultureWhat it looks like to lead with emotional safety first - not complianceHave a question, comment, or just want to say hello? Drop us a text!👉 JOIN THE $1 KICKSTART! Click for more info and to jump in!RESOURCES AND MORE SUPPORT: Shop all resources Join The Behaviour Club My book! It’s Never Just About the Behaviour: A holistic approach to classroom behaviour management The Low-Level Behaviour Bootcamp Free guide: 'Chats that Create Change' Connect with me: Follow on Instagram @the.unteachables Check out my website
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#132: The No-BS Back to School Breakdown! Exactly what I do lesson-by-lesson in Week 1 to build rapport, set expectations, and create routines that stick.
Back to school?! Whaaaaaaat?!If your first thought seeing this episode pop up was “Claire, I am still sipping margaritas and pretending I’ve never even heard of a seating plan,” I get it. 😅But if you are gearing up for the next school year or term, this episode’s for you.I’m giving you a front seat to my no-BS, non-negotiables for the first week back.Not the Pinterest fluff. Not the cheesy icebreaker where you have to use an adjective that starts with your name (I can feel the eye-rolls already). I’m talking about real, actionable, upper-primary and secondary-friendly stuff that actually builds buy-in, community, and clear expectations from the jump.This is the stuff that’ll have your students heading home thinking:"Okay. I know where I sit. I know where I stand. And I think this year might actually be pretty good.”Let’s roll the tape.What you’ll learn:Why I don’t start the year with expectations (and what I do instead)The underrated power of seating plans (nope, not in a controlling way!)My go-to “getting to know you” activities that actually work for older studentsThe structure I follow across my first 3 lessons—exactly what I teach, when, and whyHow I sneak SEL, regulation, and wellbeing into the mix without it feeling like another PD scriptWhat makes student expectations actually stick (hint: it’s about buy-in, not behaviour charts)Have a question, comment, or just want to say hello? Drop us a text!👉 JOIN THE $1 KICKSTART! Click for more info and to jump in!RESOURCES AND MORE SUPPORT: Shop all resources Join The Behaviour Club My book! It’s Never Just About the Behaviour: A holistic approach to classroom behaviour management The Low-Level Behaviour Bootcamp Free guide: 'Chats that Create Change' Connect with me: Follow on Instagram @the.unteachables Check out my website
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#131: 4 sobering statistics that prove that teaching is the hardest, and most important job in the world.
TW: Mention of self-harm and suicideEver left school feeling completely wrung out, wondering if you’re even cut out for this job?Same. And in this episode, I’m opening the curtain on one of the most raw, real reflections I’ve ever shared—because I know I’m not the only one who’s felt that way.This one’s a mix of real talk, sobering stats, and a whole lotta love for you and the incredible, emotional, life-changing work you do every single day.I’m giving you a front seat to the moment I sat in a seminar sobbing into my notebook, while simultaneously remembering why I started The Unteachables in the first place. The mental health stats? They’re scary. But they also confirmed something I’ve always known in my bones:Teaching is the hardest job in the world. And it’s also the most important.I’m also finally sharing something I’ve never opened up about publicly before: the burnout, the breakdown, the toxic school environment that almost broke me, and why I had to take stress leave even when I felt too guilty to go.But more importantly, I’m walking you through WHY this matters for you and how the “tiny” choices you make—moment to moment—can literally change a student’s brain.Let’s roll the tape.What you'll hear:The statistics that will stop you in your tracks—and how it impacts every classroomWhy 47% of Aussie teachers consider quitting within their first year (spoiler: it’s not just the workload)The one thing I said to my Year 10s before taking mental health leave—and why it matteredWhat emotional literacy and co-regulation actually look like in a regular, chaotic school dayHow tiny moments of connection can shift brain chemistry (yes, literally)Why your role is even more powerful than you think—and how to honour it without burning outHave a question, comment, or just want to say hello? Drop us a text!👉 JOIN THE $1 KICKSTART! Click for more info and to jump in!RESOURCES AND MORE SUPPORT: Shop all resources Join The Behaviour Club My book! It’s Never Just About the Behaviour: A holistic approach to classroom behaviour management The Low-Level Behaviour Bootcamp Free guide: 'Chats that Create Change' Connect with me: Follow on Instagram @the.unteachables Check out my website
Welcome to 'The Unteachables Podcast', your go-to resource for practical classroom management strategies and teacher support. I’m your host, Claire English, a passionate secondary teacher and leader turned teacher mentor and author of 'It's Never Just About the Behaviour: A Holistic Approach to Classroom Behaviour Management.' I'm on a mission to help educators like you transform your classrooms, build confidence, and feel empowered.Why am I here? Not too long ago, I was overwhelmed by low-level classroom disruptions and challenging behaviors. After thousands of hours honing my skills in real classrooms and navigating ups and downs, I’ve become a confident, capable teacher ready to reach every student—even those with the most challenging behaviors. My journey inspired me to support teachers like you in mastering effective classroom strategies that promote compassion, confidence, and calm.On The Unteachables Podcast, we’ll dive into simple, actionable strategies that you can use to handle classroom disruptions, boost student engagement, and create a positive learning environment. You'll hear from renowned experts such as:Bobby Morgan of the Liberation LabMarie Gentles, behavior expert behind BBC's 'Don't Exclude Me' and author of 'Gentles Guidance'Robyn Gobbel, author of 'Raising Kids with Big Baffling Behaviours'Dr. Lori Desautels, assistant professor and published authorAnd many more behaviour experts and mentors.Angela Watson from the Truth for Teachers Podcast.Whether you’re an early career teacher, a seasoned educator, or a teaching assistant navigating classroom challenges, this podcast is here to help you feel happier, empowered, and ready to make an impact with every student.Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode packed with classroom tips and inspiring conversations that make a real difference!
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