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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:

#137: Feel like you need to split into 30 trying to support the whole room? This tool changes everything. Aug 19, 2025

Show notes

The task strategy that will change your classroom (even if you’re running on fumes)

Ever feel like the second you set your students off on a task, it’s like you’ve got to split into ten different versions of yourself?

In this episode, I’m walking you through one of my favourite practical strategies of all time — the humble task card — and showing you exactly how this simple tool can reduce overwhelm, cut through the chaos, and stop the constant chorus of “Miss, what are we doing again?”

This episode is giving you a front-row seat to:

The most overstimulating part of teaching (and how to fix it)
Why instructions alone aren’t enough (and what to do instead)
How a tiny piece of paper can help your students self-regulate, stay on task, and stop relying on you for every single step
The exact elements to include on a task card that actually works (no Pinterest fluff here)

So if you're tired of repeating yourself on loop and want to feel like the calm, credible leader of your room again, this one’s for you.

What You’ll Learn:

The real reason students disengage once a task starts (and why it’s not always behaviour)
Why clear instructions are not enough
How task cards increase engagement, autonomy, and differentiation without extra work
6 things to include on every task card to make your lesson run smoother
How this tiny shift can give you your energy (and sanity) back

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

#136: The entry routine that is magic for low-level disruption! The power of learning maps Aug 12, 2025

Show notes

Join the Kickstart: https://www.the-unteachables.com/kickstart

If your lessons feel like a sprint uphill from the very first bell... kids trickling in, backpacks still on, everyone chatting while you’re already repeating yourself, then friend, you don’t have an entry routine problem. You have an entry routine opportunity.

This is part two of the Behaviour Club Kickstart, and today we’re talking entry routines! Specifically, the simple but mighty tool: Learning Maps.

Think of Learning Maps like Google Maps for your lesson: they show students exactly where they’re headed, how they’ll get there, and why it matters. And the magic? They’re not just a “best practice” teaching tool, they’re also low-level behaviour kryptonite.

I’ll walk you through:

Why a shaky start sets the tone for a chaotic lesson (and how to fix it)
How Learning Maps calm student anxiety and cut down disruption
What to include so they actually work in the real world—not just on paper
How to use them as part of your entry routine without adding extra work to your plate

It’s never just about the behaviour, it’s every dang thing we do in our classroom!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

Why entry routines are your first (and best) line of defence against disruption
The three superpowers of Learning Maps for behaviour and engagement
Exactly what to include in a Learning Map so it’s clear, consistent, and student-friendly
How to embed Learning Maps into every lesson, no matter your schedule or classroom setup
Ways to keep students returning to the Learning Map throughout the lesson to boost clarity and buy-in

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

#135: Is your teaching presence undermining your classroom management? Aug 05, 2025

Show notes

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 calm
What “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 flyers
What 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/kickstart

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

The difference between credible and approachable teacher presence
How your body language might be unintentionally inviting misbehaviour
Where 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-lesson

Resources Mentioned:

The Behaviour Club Kickstart → https://www.the-unteachables.com/kickstart
Michael Grinder’s ENVoY (Educational Non-Verbal Yardsticks

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

#134: Bullying in the classroom?! 😖 How to talk to your students about it in a way that gets them listening, empathising, and creating change! Jul 29, 2025

Show notes

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 time
The difference between conflict, meanness, and bullying (and why kids mix them up constantly)
The "High Five" strategy to help students respond safely when bullying happens
A powerful visual metaphor that makes the emotional impact of bullying stick
Three discussion starters that build empathy and help students step into others' shoes

Resources Mentioned:

Blog with all the activities: https://www.the-unteachables.com/blog/classroom-bullying-activities-no-way-week

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

#133: Flipping your lid! The concept that changed everything about the way I responded to students in the middle of a meltdown. Jul 22, 2025

Show notes

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 dysregulate
Why calm-down demands and consequences don’t work in those moments
How 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 person

It’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 situation
What “flipping your lid” means, and why it explains so much about student behaviour
How 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 culture
What it looks like to lead with emotional safety first - not compliance

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

#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. Jul 15, 2025

Show notes

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 students
The structure I follow across my first 3 lessons—exactly what I teach, when, and why
How I sneak SEL, regulation, and wellbeing into the mix without it feeling like another PD script
What 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!

RESOURCES AND MORE SUPPORT:

Connect with me:

Follow on Instagram @the.unteachables
Check out my website

#131: 4 sobering statistics that prove that teaching is the hardest, and most important job in the world. Jul 08, 2025

Show notes

TW: Mention of self-harm and suicide

Ever 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 classroom
Why 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 mattered
What emotional literacy and co-regulation actually look like in a regular, chaotic school day
How 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 out

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

#130: Dealing with defiance? You don't need to say a word - you just need these 3 game-changing non-verbal strategies! Jul 01, 2025

Show notes

When talking more makes things worse… try this.

Ever felt like the more you say, the more defiant your students become?
Yeah. Been there.

This episode is all about the subtle magic of nonverbal strategies — those tiny, calm, game-changing tools that help you shift students out of defiance and into direction without saying a word.

Whether you're dealing with low-level defiance, overwhelm, shutdowns or full-blown phone battles, this is your gentle reminder that sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is say nothing at all.

Instead, I'm walking you through 3 of my favourite nonverbal classroom tools:
✅ Choice Cards
✅ Post-it Prompts
✅ Movement Tasks

Each one is designed to help you preserve your calm, keep your credibility intact, and create safety — for your nervous system and theirs.

These tools are gold. They’ve saved my sanity. And I want them to do the same for you.

What You’ll Learn:

Why “shutting your mouth” can sometimes be the best classroom strategy
How to give students ownership without surrendering the boundary
The psychological reason these tools reduce defiance (spoiler: it’s about safety)
Exactly what to write on post-it notes to de-escalate without saying a word
How a simple movement prompt can act as a nervous system reset
What to do when you want to build rapport without people-pleasing

Resources Mentioned:

Join the Waitlist for The Behaviour Club: https://www.the-unteachables.com/tbc

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

#129: The exact one-liners I use in the classroom when responding to defiant or challenging behaviour (and why every teacher needs these!) Jun 24, 2025

Show notes

What to do when a student flat-out says NO

[Get the FREE Calm Scripts Guide: https://www.the-unteachables.com/calmscripts]

Let’s talk about the moment every teacher dreads:
You’ve asked a student to follow an instruction… and they just say “No.”
Or ignore you.
Or crank the volume on their phone.
Or knock the work off the table.

Whether it’s passive defiance or full-on “get out of my face” energy, the stress response this triggers in us? Whewww. It’s real. And it’s raw.

In today’s episode, I’m walking you through how to respond to student defiance in a way that’s calm, regulated, and actually works.
No yelling.
No power struggles.
No public meltdowns.
Just 20 plug-and-play CALM SCRIPTS that help you hit pause, protect your values, and keep your credibility in check — even in the heat of the moment.

Whether you’re dealing with low-level noncompliance or outright oppositional behaviour, these phrases will help you hold firm boundaries without escalating the situation. They are a nervous system life raft — for you AND the student.

Let’s get into it.

What You’ll Learn:

Why defiance hits teachers like a threat — and what your brain is doing in that moment
Why “just staying calm” isn’t always realistic (and what to do instead)
The #1 way to de-escalate student defiance without losing face
20 word-for-word calm scripts you can start using tomorrow
How to practise these in low-stakes moments before things go off the rails
Why protecting the nervous system is the secret sauce to credible classroom leadership

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

#128: 4 ways imposter syndrome shows up for teachers in the classroom (and what you needed to know YESTERDAY to overcome it) Jun 17, 2025

Show notes

The imposter syndrome episode every teacher needs.
You’re in the classroom, trying your best, showing up with good intentions… but there it is. That sneaky voice that whispers:
“Maybe I’m not cut out for this.”

Sound familiar? Yeah. Me too.

In this episode, I’m walking you through four of the biggest ways imposter syndrome has crept into my teaching life — from crying over curriculum codes to having students find me on Tinder (yes, really). Because if you’ve ever felt like the only teacher in the building who doesn’t have it together, this is your reminder: you’re not alone.

More importantly, this isn’t a “rah rah you’ve got this” fluff pep talk. This is real-talk about the systems that set you up to feel like a fraud, why your self-doubt makes total sense, and how to reframe those fears into fuel.

If you’ve been feeling like a walking imposter in your own classroom — this one’s for you. Let’s roll the tape.

What You’ll Learn:

The four most common (and painful) ways imposter syndrome shows up in teaching
Why feeling confused by curriculum or acronyms doesn’t make you incompetent
How a group of Year 12s and Tinder nearly sent me into hiding (true story)
Why behaviour challenges aren’t proof that you’re failing — just that you need better tools
The difference between good and crap leadership when you’re struggling
How to stop measuring your worth by how quiet your classroom looks

Resources Mentioned:

The Pedagogy of Poverty episode
Join The Behaviour Club: https://www.the-unteachables.com/tbc

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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