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The Unteachables Podcast

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 Lab
Marie 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 author
And 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!

Copyright: © 2024 The Unteachables Podcast

Latest Episodes:

#67: So you want to move away from punitive discipline? Here’s where to start. Jun 18, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to today's episode where I dive deep into Pillar 3 of my upcoming book, "It's Never Just About the Behaviour."
This pillar focuses on the importance of compassion in classroom management, but not in the way you might expect.
I will explore actionable, compassionate pedagogy that moves beyond traditional exclusionary practices.

In this episode, I cover:

How my challenging school experience shaped my teaching philosophy and the struggle of becoming the teacher I didn’t want to be and how I overcame it.
Differentiating discipline from punishment and consequences.
Steps to engage in meaningful conversations with students, and the importance of suitable consequences that follow Jane Nelson's three Rs of logical consequences: related, respectful, and reasonable.
Why being compassionate in classroom management means more than just being kind; it's about equipping ourselves with effective, value-driven strategies.

Links and resources mentioned in the episode:
Download the free guide: 71 Behaviour Response Prompts
Join the waitlist for The Behaviour Club
Preorder my book, "It's Never Just About the Behaviour"

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

RESOURCES AND MORE SUPPORT:

Connect with me:

Follow on Instagram @the.unteachables
Check out my website

#66: Are you caught in the vicious cycle of reactive classroom management? Jun 11, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to this week’s episode! If you missed last week, head back and catch up, because this is week 2 of digging into pillars from my new book, It’s Never Just About the Behaviour, which is available for pre-order and will be released at the end of June/start of July.

In this episode, I'll be focusing on Pillar 2: Be Calm. One of the most impactful tools in our classroom management arsenal is maintaining a sense of stillness and calm, even in a chaotic environment. A strong teaching presence is built on the foundation of regulation—what we want from our students, we need to model ourselves.

I'll be discussing:

Strategies to stay regulated in a dysregulated environment.
How to craft a strong, calm teaching persona.
A 5-step non-verbal roadmap to respond to low-level behaviours.

I'll also delve into the importance of awareness in avoiding the vicious cycle of reactive classroom management. Drawing from my early career experiences, I’ll share how frantic and heated responses only led to more chaos and how many teachers, lacking proper training, fall into this reactive cycle.

Breaking this cycle starts with us. We need to be the calm conductors in our classrooms. I’ll provide insights into how to recognise signs of dysregulation in ourselves and techniques to regain control, such as pausing, deep breathing, and relaxing our shoulders. Additionally, I’ll highlight the value of mentorship in identifying and addressing these signs.

Tune in to learn how to mitigate challenging behaviours through self-regulation and establishing a calm, effective classroom environment.

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

RESOURCES AND MORE SUPPORT:

Connect with me:

Follow on Instagram @the.unteachables
Check out my website

#65: Redefining a strong approach to classroom management: It's about so much more than just the behaviour. Jun 04, 2024

Show notes

Welp… it’s happening.
The past 670 days have led to me being able to say this next sentence….
NEXT MONTH MY BOOK, 'IT’S NEVER JUST ABOUT THE BEHAVIOUR’, IS FINALLY HITTING THE SHELVES!!
It feels like a lifetime ago since I signed the contract above the title ‘author’. The imposter syndrome was real. Author? Me? How the hell am I going to pull this off? Especially because the person who signed on that line was a very pregnant Claire about to head into the chaotic unknown of parenthood for the first time.
So I guess it was a lifetime ago. I was a different person in my pre-mother, pre-author life. But the best news? The imposter syndrome is well and truly gone. It’s Never Just About the Behaviour is everything I wanted it to be and more.
When writing it, I kept coming back to these main goals.
To empower you to take the action you can take when you walk into your classroom.
To feel supported, confident and equipped to turn your own space into an island of safety and support for each one of your students.
To know that, when challenging behaviours inevitably pop up, you’ll be able to respond to them effectively and calmly.
Allowing you to do the job that you got into the profession to do, and do it damn well.
To teach.
To celebrate the release, over the next 7 weeks, there will be a weekly Podcast episode based around each of the pillars of the book - think about it as a VIP sneak peek to dip your toes on (or even make sure it is for you before you take the plunge and purchase… but I have a feeling it is for you if you are on this list).
This first episode right here is based on the first pillar, Get Curious!
In this episode I…

Introduce the overarching approach to classroom management I take in INJATB
Explain why being curious about our students' behaviour is essential for understanding and addressing it effectively.
Give you a quick overview of something from the behaviour backpack: William Glasser’s five basic needs—love and belonging, fun, power and mastery, freedom, and survival—and how they drive behaviour.
What this looks like in the classroom: I discuss how unmet needs can manifest in student behaviour and what you can do about it, and share practical strategies to help you stay curious and empathetic, even in challenging situations.

Other episodes of the podcast I reference throughout:
Episode 31: The Why That Drives Our Behaviour - The Good, Bad, and Ugly
Dive deeper into Glass’s Five Basic Needs and understand how they influence behaviour.
[Listen to Episode 31]
Episode 63: Blame My Brain - What's Behind Those Big, Bad, Bold, and Downright Baffling Behaviors?
Explore the connection between stress responses and student behaviour.
[Listen to Episode 63]

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

RESOURCES AND MORE SUPPORT:

Connect with me:

Follow on Instagram @the.unteachables
Check out my website

#64: Conquering the colossal to do-list, embracing imperfection, and being "more like Kerrie". Swimming, surviving, and thriving, with Ashley from Rainbow Sky Creations May 28, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of The Unteachables Podcast, I sit down with Ashley, a seasoned teacher with 18 years of experience and half of the wonderful Rainbow Sky Creation crew, to discuss practical strategies for managing the demands of teaching. Ashley shares invaluable tips that every teacher, especially those in their early years, can benefit from. From finding mentors and effective time management to self-care and flexibility in the classroom, Ashley's insights are designed to inspire and support educators at every stage of their careers.
In this episode, we cover:

Finding a Mentor: How to identify and learn from efficient colleagues to work smarter, not harder.
Peer Learning: The benefits of observing and engaging with fellow teachers for professional development.
Managing Overwhelm: Techniques for organizing tasks and reducing stress.
Reframing Your To-Do List: Viewing your list as a wish list to change your mindset and reduce pressure.
Prioritising Self-Care: The importance of hobbies and activities outside of work to prevent burnout, as well as taking sick days when needed.
Flexibility in Teaching: Giving yourself and your students grace and knowing when to change plans.
Authenticity and Relationship Building: The impact of being genuine and building strong relationships with students, as well as establishing crucial connections with your teaching community

Plus a bunch more!
If you want to learn more from Ashley, you can find her any place she hangs out:
Instagram @rainbowskycreations https://www.instagram.com/rainbowskycreations/
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@rainbowskycreations?lang=en
Podcast: Rainbow Skies for New Teachers https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/rainbow-skies-for-new-teachers/id1713486550

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

RESOURCES AND MORE SUPPORT:

Connect with me:

Follow on Instagram @the.unteachables
Check out my website

#63: Blame my brain! What's behind those big, bad, bold, and downright bloody baffling behaviours. May 21, 2024

Show notes

In today's episode, we're diving deep into understanding behaviours driven by the stress response. This foundational knowledge is crucial for any teacher looking to transform their classroom into an island of safety for their students which nurtures connection, reduces anxiety, and promotes growth.

In this episode, I discuss:
1/ The stress response and behaviours: Gain insights into how the amygdala processes information and triggers fight, flight, freeze, or fawn responses. Understanding this biological process is key to addressing student behaviours effectively.
2/ How to create a sense of felt safety in the classroom: Learn how to establish consistent boundaries, routines, and expectations to reduce anxiety and create a secure environment for your students.
3/ Responding appropriately (and effectively) to dysregulated behaviours: Classroom management strategies to handle stress-driven behaviours with empathy and support, avoiding punitive measures that can escalate the situation.
4/ Practical classroom management support: Explore practical ways to reduce the unknowns in the classroom by using visual aids, clear communication, and structured lesson plans to help students feel more in control and less anxious.

Referenced episodes of The Unteachables Podcast:

Episode #32: "Teaching Kids with Big Baffling Behaviours: The Science of Opposition" with Robyn Gobble
Episode #62. 'Apathetic' teenagers, post-pandemic classrooms, and finding all the glimmers with Dr Lori Desautels

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

RESOURCES AND MORE SUPPORT:

Connect with me:

Follow on Instagram @the.unteachables
Check out my website

#62. 'Apathetic' teenagers, post-pandemic classrooms, and finding all the glimmers with Dr Lori Desautels May 14, 2024

Show notes

On today's episode I speak to the brilliant Dr Lori Desautels to answer one of the big behaviour questions I am often asked...
What's going on with apathetic teenage behaviour?!
As well as this, we speak about:

Neuroplasticity and why it is crucial for teachers to have an understanding around.
How we can transform the experiences and education of our students in the smallest of moments, in the day to day 'touch points'.
How you can foster a classroom environment where students feel a sense of trust and emotional safety.
The impact of the pandemic on the emotional wellbeing of our students and how this manifests in challenging classroom behaviours
Plus so much more

I am so excited to bring you this episode. Dr Lori Desautels is an absolute wealth of knowledge and experience, and is a true leader in education.
Instagram @lori.desautels

Dr Lori Desautels has been an Assistant Professor at Butler University since 2016 where she teaches both undergraduate and graduate programs in the College of Education. Lori was also an Assistant Professor at Marian University in Indianapolis for 8 years where she founded the Educational Neuroscience Symposium that has now reached thousands of educators and is in its 10th year. Lori’s passion is engaging her students through the social and relational neurosciences as it applies to education by integrating the Applied Educational Neuroscience framework, and its learning principles and practices into her coursework at Butler. The Applied Educational Neuroscience Certification, created by Lori in 2016, is specifically designed to meet the needs of educators, counselors, clinicians and administrators who work beside children and adolescents who have, and are, experiencing adversity and trauma. The certification is now global and has reached hundreds of educators.

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

RESOURCES AND MORE SUPPORT:

Connect with me:

Follow on Instagram @the.unteachables
Check out my website

#61. “Make me a sandwich”. How we can address the alarming misogyny present in our classrooms. May 07, 2024

Show notes

Download the guide: Addressing misogyny in the classroom

In the wake of recent events sparking renewed conversations about gender-based violence, the imperative for educators to address misogyny in the classroom has never been more pressing. Samantha Schulz's article, "Make me a sandwich," sheds light on a disturbing reality: the behaviors and language male students exhibit that perpetuate sexist and abusive attitudes towards their female teachers.
In planning for this podcast and the guide that you can access above, I reached out to educators (from Australia) and what they shared about their own experiences reinforced the concerns in Schultz’s research. From dismissive attitudes towards female teachers to alarming comments about gender roles and sexuality, the spectrum of issues, ranging from subtle yet insidious remarks to overtly misogynistic comments, demands our attention and action.
Yet, our response must be as nuanced as the issue at hand itself. We cannot resort to shaming or isolating our students; instead, we must seize each interaction as an opportunity for buy-in and education. This episode, and the attached guide, aims to equip teachers with strategies to do just that; to address misogyny effectively and strategically.
By taking these steps, we not only create safer spaces for our students but also do our part to contribute to a broader cultural shift. None of us can do this alone, and we can all play a small part.
In this episode I provide you with a 4 step roadmap to feeling more confident and empowered addressing misogynistic and other problematic comments in the classroom.

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

RESOURCES AND MORE SUPPORT:

Connect with me:

Follow on Instagram @the.unteachables
Check out my website

#60. Students not taking accountability for their behaviours? Here's what to do. Apr 30, 2024

Show notes

Click here to download all 71 behaviour response prompts!

Tell me if this sounds familiar, teacher friend...
You have struggled to get through even a minute of teacher-led instruction because of one student who is cutting you off at every turn.
It has a knock on effect, causing other students to become disengaged and dysregulated. You become increasingly frustrated, you address him, and you get a very loud response...
“Why are you talking to ME?!”

“Other students are talking too!”

“Go talk to them!”
When students struggle to take accountability for the behaviours that you see happen in front of your very eyes it can be incredibly frustrating . BECAUSE it is so frustrating, it can be even harder to stay calm and regulated, which we know is crucial when it comes to addressing these behaviours effectively.
That's why in this episode you will find some steps that will guide you through the process, and some clear prompts that you can use to take all the guess work out of it.

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

RESOURCES AND MORE SUPPORT:

Connect with me:

Follow on Instagram @the.unteachables
Check out my website

#59: Struggle with boundaries as a teacher? This one sentence will change absolutely everything about how you see them, and hold them. Apr 23, 2024

Show notes

Struggle with boundaries as a teacher?

Safe to say you're not alone on that one.

These stats are scary:
(NASUWT survey Nov 2023)

87% of teachers say their workload has increased in the past year.
Teachers are working 54 hours a week on average (you just know some are working 40, and some are working 70!!)
83% of teachers believe their job has adversely affected their mental health over the past year

So why don't we just say no more?

Push back?

Say that we simply won't work on the weekend because we have a family, or a date with our bed and UberEats?

Well there's a bunch of complex reasons. It is cultural, it is expected, and there is a bunch of FEAR attached to it! I wish I could tell you that this fear wasn't justified, but even I have my own rotten experience of holding a boundary that was far from well-received (as you will hear in this episode).
But then I heard something that changed me.

It changed the way I saw how I was approaching boundaries.
It helped me be more discerning, critical, and reflective on what I was saying yes to.

It helped me to hold my boundaries, advocate for myself, and do the same for my staff.
THAT is what you will find in this week's episode, teacher friends.

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

RESOURCES AND MORE SUPPORT:

Connect with me:

Follow on Instagram @the.unteachables
Check out my website

#58: Do your students take you seriously? How to balance being warm, friendly, and approachable, with holding crucial behaviour boundaries. Apr 16, 2024

Show notes

Is it possible that being too friendlyis harming your classroom management efforts?

No.

Okay, maybe a little, but not in the way you think.

Does the below resonate?

You feel like you have a really great relationship with your students, but when it is time to get to the business side of things and get some serious work done, the energy is high, they aren’t really listening to you, they might be calling out and having a chit chat during instruction?

Maybe this is leaving you feeling a little disrespected and deflated? After all, you have a fab relationship with them, but they don't seem to be taking you seriously!

Maybe you are feeling that pressure to be more stern and strict but you don't know how to do that in a way that aligns with your values?

PLEASE KNOW FIRST UP... This is NOT because they don't RESPECT you!!

So what is the problem?
That is what I cover in this week's episode:

What is the credible and approachable teaching personas?
How can we craft this into the day to day?
What does it look like in practice?
How this can be a game changer for our teaching practice and classroom management!

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

RESOURCES AND MORE SUPPORT:

Connect with me:

Follow on Instagram @the.unteachables
Check out my website

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