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...
Aug 12, 2025•20 min•Season 6Ep. 136
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) impact...
Aug 05, 2025•22 min•Season 6Ep. 135
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! ...
Jul 28, 2025•19 min•Season 6Ep. 134
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 th...
Jul 22, 2025•19 min•Season 6Ep. 133
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 alr...
Jul 15, 2025•26 min•Season 6Ep. 132
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...
Jul 07, 2025•28 min•Season 6Ep. 131
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 y...
Jul 01, 2025•16 min•Season 6Ep. 130
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 w...
Jun 23, 2025•19 min•Season 6Ep. 129
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 th...
Jun 17, 2025•21 min•Season 6Ep. 129
Wait, did I just explain classroom management to the King?! Yep. That happened. In this episode, I’m giving you a front seat to one of the most bizarre, surreal, and pinch-me experiences of my life — being invited to Buckingham Palace and getting to literally talk to King Charles about what we do as educators. But more importantly, I want to unpack why it was so powerful. Not because it was fancy or royal or Insta-worthy (though…yes, yes it was). But because what I shared with him? It wasn’t shi...
Jun 10, 2025•18 min•Season 6Ep. 127
This episode is in response to a great question: How do you support staff through mindset shifts? Whether you’re leading a team or just quietly modelling a new way of doing things, this episode is for you. IN THIS EPISODE, I DISCUSS: Why change feels so threatening – and what’s really underneath the resistance How to lead culture change without lecturing or pushing Why the most resistant staff are often just burnt out What actually helps shift mindsets: stories, modelling, and showing what’s pos...
Jun 02, 2025•17 min•Season 6Ep. 126
This week I’m doing something a little different – answering your questions! I asked over on Instagram what you needed support with when it comes to behaviour, and wow… you delivered. In this episode, I’m giving practical advice for three of the big ones: What to do when students gang up on you How to motivate learners who refuse to try How to manage the class clown without losing the room These aren’t fluffy hypotheticals – they’re the actual struggles you’re navigating day to day, and I’m so e...
May 26, 2025•22 min•Season 6Ep. 125
You’ve followed the advice. You’ve implemented the strategies. You’ve worked your heart out – and still, that one student just isn’t responding. It feels hopeless. Like nothing’s shifting. Like all your effort is for nothing. If you’ve ever found yourself saying, “I’ve tried everything, and it’s not working,” this episode is for you. IN THIS EPISODE, I DISCUSS: Why your strategies are working, even when it doesn’t feel like it The importance of patience when working with our most vulnerable stud...
May 19, 2025•12 min•Season 6Ep. 124
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...
May 12, 2025•17 min•Season 6Ep. 123
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 common How to break the cycle with a calm, clear class reset What to say when students start calling out behaviour decisions Why standing fi...
May 05, 2025•14 min•Season 6Ep. 122
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 ...
Apr 28, 2025•21 min•Season 6Ep. 121
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 separated The number one trap teachers fall into when trying to support ...
Apr 22, 2025•18 min•Season 6Ep. 120
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 an...
Apr 14, 2025•25 min•Season 6Ep. 119
You’re not failing at behaviour because you’re “just not cut out for it.” And no, it’s not because you don’t have that magic voice or commanding presence either. The truth? Most of us simply weren’t taught how to manage behaviour effectively. And it shows – not because we’re not trying hard enough, but because no one gave us the tools to begin with. In this episode, I’m taking you right back to where it all began for me: the whopping 20 minutes of behaviour training I received across two degrees...
Apr 07, 2025•16 min•Season 6Ep. 118
You're in the middle of a lesson, focused on delivering content, when a student walks in displaying behaviours that signal things are about to escalate. Maybe they look angry, and you know they have the potential to become physical. Maybe they’re swearing, laughing, and trying to draw in the rest of the class. Maybe they walk in and tip over a chair. Your brain immediately goes into survival mode. You feel the pressure to fix the situation , regain control, and keep the lesson on track. It’s com...
Mar 25, 2025•10 min•Season 6Ep. 117
When I engage with students about their behaviour, it’s often just a conversation between us. But sometimes, having a structured reflection task can make a huge difference. Reflection is a skill that needs to be taught, modelled, and practised . These tasks help students problem-solve, build self-awareness, and develop emotional regulation. In this episode, I’m sharing five different reflection strategies that can guide students through conflict, help them process their behaviour, and encourage ...
Mar 20, 2025•9 min•Season 6Ep. 116
Check out my Brain Break Bundle! As a secondary English teacher, I used to struggle with the idea of brain breaks. The pressure to get through content and prepare students for exams felt too overwhelming to justify stopping for “games.” But my classroom culture was suffering. Students were stressed, disengaged, and burnt out—especially during heavy writing sessions leading up to exams. So I decided to try something different. When I started embedding brain breaks into my lessons, I immediately s...
Mar 18, 2025•14 min•Season 6Ep. 115
In today’s episode, I’m sharing a simple yet powerful transition technique that can help you regain student attention without raising your voice or using unnecessary energy. Transitions can be one of the trickiest parts of classroom management. Picture this: students are engaged in a group task, there’s movement, chatter, and productive chaos, but now you need to bring them back to whole-class instruction. Rather than calling for attention repeatedly, try this: Play transition music —a predeterm...
Mar 13, 2025•4 min•Season 6Ep. 114
One of the most powerful shifts we can make when addressing student behaviour is to stop lecturing and start leading. Instead of telling students what they did wrong, we need to ask the right questions to guide them toward reflection, accountability, and change. Lecturing rarely leads to buy-in. It is one of William Glasser’s seven disconnecting habits, and without realising it, we often fall into this trap—especially in the heat of the moment. The result? Students tune out, nod along without tr...
Mar 11, 2025•13 min•Season 6Ep. 113
There are strong opinions when it comes to consequences in schools. Some believe in strict enforcement—"do the crime, do the time"—while others advocate for restorative conversations and plans. Regardless of approach, one thing remains essential: we need student buy-in for consequences to be effective . Without buy-in, consequences lose their impact. The students who struggle the most are often already expecting punishments like detention or suspension. They wear a mask that says, "I don’t care....
Mar 06, 2025•8 min•Season 6Ep. 112
In this episode, I reflect on my recent move from New Zealand to Australia and the unexpected lessons it reinforced about classroom management. Moving is always challenging, but relocating with a toddler highlighted the profound impact of predictability and structure on behaviour. This experience reaffirmed a key classroom management principle: predictability is the brain’s best friend. I explore how structured routines, such as entry and exit procedures, transition cues, and scaffolding techniq...
Mar 04, 2025•16 min•Season 6Ep. 111
Feeling overwhelmed by endless lesson planning and grading? Struggling to maintain work-life balance? Unsure how AI can help lighten your workload? In this episode, I chat with the incredible Angela Watson , veteran educator, instructional coach, and creator of the Truth for Teachers podcast. Angela has spent years helping teachers streamline their workload and reclaim their time. We discuss her 40-Hour Teacher Workweek program, the power of AI for productivity , and practical strategies to work...
Feb 24, 2025•39 min•Season 6Ep. 110
In today’s episode, I’m sharing a personal story that shaped how I approach behaviour and relationships in the classroom, and how a single moment of connection can shift everything. IN THIS EPISODE, I DISCUSS: A deeply personal story from my school days : How one teacher’s unexpected response broke down my tough exterior. Why connection is key : The profound impact of showing care and curiosity over control. Practical ways to connect with your students : Simple phrases to use when addressing cha...
Feb 20, 2025•7 min•Season 6Ep. 109
WARNING: This episode has a lot of swearing in it!! Dealing with the challenging behaviours are never easy, especially when they feel personal. That's why in today's episode, I wanted to talk through one of my own experiences, how I dealt with it, and the lessons we can take away. SOME KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE: Connection First: Even when behaviour feels personal or triggering, prioritise connection as it de-escalates and opens the door to change. Context Matters: There is no one-size-fit...
Feb 17, 2025•23 min•Season 6Ep. 108
Do you feel stuck in a constant cycle of addressing challenging behaviour in the classroom? What if there was a small, intentional act that could shift the focus, rebuild trust, and nurture the emotional wellbeing of your most challenging students? In this episode of Quick Wins , we explore a simple yet powerful strategy called Positive Post-Its. This small action has the potential to create profound changes for both you and your students. IN THIS EPISODE, I DISCUSS: Why students with challengin...
Feb 13, 2025•6 min•Season 6Ep. 107
