#123: How to stand tall and confident in front of your class (even in the midst of some tough as heck behaviours)
One thing nobody tells you before you step into a classroom is just how much behaviour will challenge you. Not just your strategies. You. Your nervous system. Your confidence. Your sense of self.In this episode, I’m talking about what it really feels like to manage behaviour in the moment – especially when you’re young, new, or not naturally loud or assertive. And I’ll walk you through some of the exact strategies I used to build confidence in my classroom management without changing who I am.IN THIS EPISODE, I DISCUSS:Why behaviour hits us so hard (and what nobody prepares us for)How to feel confident even if you’re quiet, calm, or brand newThe 3 non-verbal strategies that completely shift your presenceHow to “embody the credible” and model calm, consistent leadershipHave a question, comment, or just want to say hello? Drop us a text!JOIN MY FREE LIVE TRAINING: TURN YOUR TEACHING INTO A CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT MACHINE 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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16:21
#122: “Miss, that deserves a detention!!” When students tell you how to do your job.
Students telling you who deserves a detention or questioning why you didn’t sanction someone? It’s frustrating, undermining – and it adds to the noise when you’re already handling behaviour. If this culture is creeping into your classroom, this episode will guide you on what to do next!IN THIS EPISODE, I DISCUSS:Why this dynamic is so frustrating – and so commonHow to break the cycle with a calm, clear class resetWhat to say when students start calling out behaviour decisionsWhy standing firm isn’t unkind – it’s part of compassionate, credible teachingThis is a perfect example of the approach I teach.Yes, we lead with compassion. Yes, we value connection. But that doesn’t mean we don’t stand firm, hold boundaries, and have strong expectations. In fact, doing both is exactly what builds credibility and buy-in with our students.Have a question, comment, or just want to say hello? Drop us a text!JOIN MY FREE LIVE TRAINING: TURN YOUR TEACHING INTO A CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT MACHINE 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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13:27
#121: 4 steps to building confidence in your classroom management
If you’re drowning in behaviour…If you’re thinking, “I actually can’t keep doing this”… If you’re exhausted from trying everything and nothing’s sticking… You are not alone. And you are not the problem.Confidence in classroom management can come with time and experience. But often, it doesn’t. That’s why I created a clear path forward.In this episode, I’m walking you through the four steps of my Classroom Compass Approach – a simple structure I designed to help teachers move from overwhelmed to in control. It’s the exact approach I’ve used to help over 1,000 educators take back the reins in their classroom.IN THIS EPISODE, I DISCUSS:Why classroom confidence doesn’t always come with time – and what actually helpsThe four steps of my Classroom Compass ApproachWhat to focus on before behaviour even happensHow to respond and resolve without escalatingWhy this is the stuff that truly transforms your practiceHere’s the beauty of this whole approach: it puts you back in the driver’s seat.We can’t control behaviour. But we can control how we show up, how we plan, how we respond, and how we connect.Have a question, comment, or just want to say hello? Drop us a text!JOIN MY FREE LIVE TRAINING: TURN YOUR TEACHING INTO A CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT MACHINE 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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19:35
#120: Your teaching IS your classroom management. Here are 3 ways to make it work for you
You’re trying to support every student – but the second you lean in to help one, the rest of the class starts to drift. The volume rises. The off-task behaviour begins. And you feel pulled in every direction.It’s overwhelming. It’s exhausting. And it’s not sustainable.In this episode, we break down why this keeps happening – and what to do instead.IN THIS EPISODE, I DISCUSS:Why teaching and behaviour management can’t be separatedThe number one trap teachers fall into when trying to support everyoneWhat true differentiation looks like (and why it should remove you, not rely on you)Easy scaffolds and strategies that keep the whole class on track – without burning you outIf this scenario hit home, you’ll love my free training Turn Your Teaching into a Classroom Management Machine. I’ll break down exactly how teaching and learning can actively reduce behaviour challenges – and how to build a classroom where every student knows what to do without needing you constantly.Head to the-unteachables.com/learn to enrol!Have a question, comment, or just want to say hello? Drop us a text!JOIN MY FREE LIVE TRAINING: TURN YOUR TEACHING INTO A CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT MACHINE 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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17:23
#119: Are calm corners worth having in secondary classrooms?
Calm corners look great online – but in reality? Students can ignore them, misuse them, or turn them into a hangout spot. You’re left wondering if they’re even worth it in a busy secondary classroom where time, space, and structure are limited. You want to support emotional regulation, but not at the expense of learning.I’ll take you through how I create calm spaces that actually support self-regulation – without turning your classroom into a free-for-all – and how I embed emotional literacy and co-regulation into my behaviour approach.IN THIS EPISODE, I DISCUSS:Why calm corners often fail in secondary classroomsWhat needs to happen before you set one upMy “pocket calm corner” and the tools students actually useHow to embed regulation without disrupting the flow of your lessonSo, are calm corners worth the rage in secondary? Yes – but only if they’re adapted to work in our world. That means ditching the distractions and zeroing in on strategies that are teachable, transferable, and actually usable for our students.Have a question, comment, or just want to say hello? Drop us a text!JOIN MY FREE LIVE TRAINING: TURN YOUR TEACHING INTO A CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT MACHINE 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!