The Unteachables Podcast

In this episode, I’m giving you a front-row seat to how I break the ice with my classes without forcing kids (or me!) into anything awkward, loud, or fake.
Whether you’ve got a class full of students with complex needs, or just want something low-stakes and actually useful — this is the episode for you. I’m walking you through the exact back-to-school icebreakers I’ve used for years with huge success. These are tried-and-tested with mainstream AND complex classrooms — and they do more than just "get to know you." They start building classroom culture from day one.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why traditional icebreakers often flop, and what to do instead
How to balance fun, structure, and behaviour foundations from lesson one
My 3 go-to first-day activities (that double as classroom management tools)
What I do instead of “stand up and introduce yourself” 😬
How to make a class playlist that builds community (and teaches expectations!)
The icebreaker games I use with students who are not here for your card sort
Resources mentioned:
The Back to School Bootcamp: https://www.the-unteachables.com/backtoschoolbootcamp
Join the Behaviour Club: https://www.the-unteachables.com/tbc
The Back to School Mega Bundle: https://www.the-unteachables.com/offers/WC32PseW/checkout
Have a question, comment, or just want to say hello? Drop us a text!
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

That quiet calm at the start of the year? Yeah, it won’t last... unless you do this.
Welcome back to The Unteachables Podcast. It’s still back-to-school season, and this episode is for every teacher who wants to avoid the classic Week 7 spiral when behaviours suddenly spike and everything feels a bit… cooked.
I’m giving you a front seat to the real reason that early-term magic fades—and what to do right now (yes, even this week) to avoid the whiplash of your “angel class” suddenly turning into chaos gremlins.
If you’ve ever thought, “What happened to my lovely class?” or found yourself pleading with the room to just start packing up already, you need this.
We’re talking about:
What the grace period actually is and why it ends
The difference between setting expectations vs reinforcing them
The boring-but-brilliant routines that will carry your class through the term
What you’ll learn:
What “grace period” behaviour is—and why it isn't lasting!
The routines that do the behaviour management for you
How to create buy-in for expectations so students actually follow them
What to do when (not if) kids start testing boundaries
How to balance warmth and structure without being “too soft” or “too strict”
Easy wins for your starter, transition, and exit routines
Resources mentioned:
The Back to School Bootcamp: https://www.the-unteachables.com/backtoschoolbootcamp
Join the Behaviour Club: https://www.the-unteachables.com/tbc
The Back to School Mega Bundle: https://www.the-unteachables.com/offers/WC32PseW/checkout

Have a question, comment, or just want to say hello? Drop us a text!
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

Feeling like last year’s behaviour battles stole your joy? Let’s change the energy at the door. We kick off the new season with a grounded, practical roadmap to reset expectations, reclaim credibility, and build calm with routines that do the heavy lifting—even if you’re returning to the same challenging group.

In this episode, I’m giving you a front seat to:
What to do when you’re dreading going back to school after a chaotic year
Why co-disregulation is real—and how to avoid it
How to reset your credibility and teaching presence with students who’ve seen you struggle
The difference between being approachable vs credible (and why it matters)
Why routines do the heavy lifting for classroom management
How to press "reset" without shame or defensiveness—yes, even mid-year!
Resources mentioned:
The Back to School Bootcamp: https://www.the-unteachables.com/backtoschoolbootcamp
Join the Behaviour Club: https://www.the-unteachables.com/tbc
Listen to past episode on Credible vs Approachable teacher presence 
Have a question, comment, or just want to say hello? Drop us a text!
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

In last week’s episode, we talked about what to do when student energy is flat, motivation is MIA, and you're pulling teeth just to get through a lesson. This week, we're flipping the script and tackling the other end of the spectrum, those wild, chatty, off-task end-of-year vibes that have you asking:
🫠 “Why is everyone shouting?”
🫠 “Why can’t we sit down for longer than 2 minutes?”
🫠 “Is it me? Am I the drama?”
This high-energy chaos is totally normal (and very human), but it doesn’t mean you have to just white-knuckle your way through it. In this episode, I’m walking you through exactly what to do when your students are dysregulated, off-task, and bursting with excitement as the holidays approach.
We’re talking clear routines, calm teacher energy, classroom games that actually work as brain breaks, and how to keep your lesson bones strong while still leaning into festive fun. Let’s do this.
What you’ll learn:
Why student energy spikes in December (and why it’s not a behaviour “problem”)
The brain science behind high arousal and dysregulation
How to stay consistent and calm, even when students are bouncing off the walls
The exact classroom games and mindfulness activities I use to channel energy without chaos
The real reason some students act out before the holidays
How to reset your teaching presence when you’re just plain tired
Resources Mentioned:
🎁 Free Game Download: 13 no-prep classroom games you can use anytime
 https://www.the-unteachables.com/freedownloadgames
Have a question, comment, or just want to say hello? Drop us a text!
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

We’ve officially entered the end-of-year zone... You know, the part where students are either bouncing off the walls or slumping over their desks like they’ve pulled three all-nighters in a row. And let’s be honest, we’re right there with them.
In this week’s episode, I’m unpacking a common (and deeply exhausting) classroom vibe: student apathy. That “ugh, why are we even here?” energy that rolls in hard during December. Whether your students are dragging their feet into class, doing the bare minimum (if anything), or slurping down Red Bulls the size of their heads — I’ve got you.
We’ll chat about:
Why apathetic behaviours spike at the end of the year (spoiler: it’s not just because they’re lazy)
How arousal states impact student engagement
And most importantly? Some super practical strategies to upregulate energy in a way that doesn’t leave you more drained than they are.
What you’ll learn:
Why students are checked out in Term 4 (and why it’s NOT a reflection of your teaching)
The difference between low, optimal, and high arousal states — and how to use them
My favourite “shake it up” tricks for getting student energy back
Fun, fast ways to use novelty, movement, and talk-time to re-engage your class
How to maintain routines without making things boring
How your energy sets the tone — and what to do when you’re the one running on fumes
Resources + Mentions:
🎁 Free Whole-Class Games! Grab them here
🎉 Brain Break Bundle!Grab it here
🧠 The Regulation Rooms Resource (exclusive to Behaviour Club members): Not for sale yet, but might be soon!
Have a question, comment, or just want to say hello? Drop us a text!
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