The Unteachables Podcast
By Claire English
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Subscribers: 18
Reviews: 0
Episodes: 139
Description
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!
| Episode | Date |
|---|---|
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#138: Brain breaks that secretly boost behaviour (and help us reclaim a bit of teaching joy in the classroom)
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Aug 25, 2025 |
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#137: Feel like you need to split into 30 trying to support the whole room? This tool changes everything.
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Aug 18, 2025 |
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#136: The entry routine that is magic for low-level disruption! The power of learning maps
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Aug 12, 2025 |
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#135: Is your teaching presence undermining your classroom management?
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Aug 05, 2025 |
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#134: Bullying in the classroom?! 😖 How to talk to your students about it in a way that gets them listening, empathising, and creating change!
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Jul 28, 2025 |
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#133: Flipping your lid! The concept that changed everything about the way I responded to students in the middle of a meltdown.
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Jul 22, 2025 |
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#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.
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Jul 15, 2025 |
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#131: 4 sobering statistics that prove that teaching is the hardest, and most important job in the world.
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Jul 07, 2025 |
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#130: Dealing with defiance? You don't need to say a word - you just need these 3 game-changing non-verbal strategies!
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Jul 01, 2025 |
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#129: The exact one-liners I use in the classroom when responding to defiant or challenging behaviour (and why every teacher needs these!)
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Jun 23, 2025 |
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#128: 4 ways imposter syndrome shows up for teachers in the classroom (and what you needed to know YESTERDAY to overcome it)
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Jun 17, 2025 |
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#127: I met the King, and he asked me a question about the work I do with classroom management I was NOT expecting
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Jun 10, 2025 |
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#126: How to support staff mindset shifts around behaviour approaches
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Jun 02, 2025 |
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#125: Q&A: Dealing with the class clown, when students gang up on you, and motivating unmotivated learners.
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May 26, 2025 |
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#124: What to do when you’ve tried it all (and behaviour is STILL a battle).
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May 19, 2025 |
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#123: How to stand tall and confident in front of your class (even in the midst of some tough as heck behaviours)
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May 12, 2025 |
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#122: “Miss, that deserves a detention!!” When students tell you how to do your job.
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May 05, 2025 |
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#121: 4 steps to building confidence in your classroom management
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Apr 28, 2025 |
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#120: Your teaching IS your classroom management. Here are 3 ways to make it work for you
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Apr 22, 2025 |
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#119: Are calm corners worth having in secondary classrooms?
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Apr 14, 2025 |
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#118: The number one reason you’re finding behaviour tough right now
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Apr 07, 2025 |
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#117: What to prioritise when big behaviours bubble up in the lesson.
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Mar 25, 2025 |
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#116: Quick Win Challenge! 5 brilliant behaviour reflection strategies you can start using immediately
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Mar 20, 2025 |
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#115: Brain breaks are my secret sauce for student engagement. Here are my 3 I can't live without!
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Mar 18, 2025 |
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#114: Quick Win Challenge! Use this technique for smooth, stress-free, and energy-saving transitions.
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Mar 13, 2025 |
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#113: 1 powerful shift to make in your behaviour chats to create more change
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Mar 11, 2025 |
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#112: Quick Win Challenge! How to get students to care about the consequence (and why their buy-in definitely matters)
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Mar 06, 2025 |
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#111: What moving countries with a toddler reinforced about classroom management and behaviour.
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Mar 04, 2025 |
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#110: Is a 40-hour work week achievable for teachers? Today's guest Angela Watson says YES!
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Feb 24, 2025 |
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#109: Quick Win Challenge! When behaviour happens, stop and ask this one question.
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Feb 20, 2025 |
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#108: "Shut up miss, you're a sh!t teacher, your lessons suck!" How to respond when behaviours get really personal.
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Feb 17, 2025 |
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#107: Quick Win Challenge! Put it on a Post-it.
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Feb 13, 2025 |
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#106: Steal these 10 exit tasks for better engagement, behaviour, and calm end to the lesson.
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Feb 10, 2025 |
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#105: Quick Win Challenge! Pick up the phone.
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Feb 06, 2025 |
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#104: My 3 non-negotiable exit routines to make the final 15 minutes feel less like crowd control
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Feb 03, 2025 |
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#103: Quick Win Challenge! The power of hello.
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Jan 30, 2025 |
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#102: How to make this year more positive for ‘that’ student (and of course, for you)
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Jan 27, 2025 |
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#101: My 3 non-negotiables for the first week back at school. How to set strong expectations students follow AND still smile before Easter!
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Jan 20, 2025 |
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#100: Goodbye, 2024!! Reflections on rest, filling our cups, and how to return to school in 2025 feeling like "you" again.
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Dec 17, 2024 |
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#99: The holidays aren't fun for everyone, which is why those behaviours might be on the rise!
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Dec 12, 2024 |
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#98: 5 questions to ask your students today to foster an attitude of gratitude!
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Dec 10, 2024 |
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#97: Do your classroom celebrations turn to CHAOS?! Here's what to do to get festive without the fear of mayhem.
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Dec 05, 2024 |
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#96: 3 classroom games that are fun, easy, and can be used at a pinch to channel that end-of-year energy!!
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Dec 04, 2024 |
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#95: BEHAVIOUR BITE: When you chat to students about their behaviour, are you lecturing, or guiding? The difference it makes is HUGE!
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Nov 28, 2024 |
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#94: What to do when students are barely showing up to class? Breaking the cycle of non-attendance with compassion, not consequences.
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Nov 26, 2024 |
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#93: BEHAVIOUR BITE: What messages might your classroom be sending to your students, and how can you make sure it is working FOR you, not AGAINST you!?
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Nov 21, 2024 |
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#92: The (seemingly) simple strategy that has the power to MAKE or BREAK the start of your lesson.
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Nov 19, 2024 |
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#91: BEHAVIOUR BITE: Let the visuals do the talking to avoid confrontation, change the tone, and increase buy-in!
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Nov 14, 2024 |
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#90: What to do when students come to class late (whilst still keeping things cool, calm, and collected!)
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Nov 12, 2024 |
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#89: BEHAVIOUR BITE: On average, teachers pause for... (🤚 Guilty)
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Nov 07, 2024 |
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#88: How to nail the first 5 minutes of every lesson by controlling what you CAN control!
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Nov 05, 2024 |
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#87: Struggling to have some students even START their work? Here’s what to know (and do)
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Oct 28, 2024 |
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#86: BEHAVIOUR BITE: Avoid locking horns.... at ALL costs. Here's how.
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Oct 17, 2024 |
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#85: Teach students THIS about behaviour to help them reflect, take accountability, and feel empowered to make lasting positive change.
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Oct 14, 2024 |
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#84: BEHAVIOUR BITE: Students will always follow our example, before they follow our instructions.
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Oct 10, 2024 |
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#83: How to craft a strong teaching presence that transforms those constant low-level disruptions (almost like flipping a switch, no exaggeration!)
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Oct 07, 2024 |
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#82: Discover your teacher type! AND find out what this means for your classroom management.
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Sep 30, 2024 |
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#81: 3 common mistakes that fuel low-level disruptions, and the immediate fixes that transform behaviour!
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Sep 24, 2024 |
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#80: The low-down on low-level behaviours: Why they are so tricky and why the advice around them sucks!
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Sep 17, 2024 |
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#79: 1 simple tool to tackle low-level behaviours, increase engagement, and bust dysregulation.
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Sep 10, 2024 |
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#78: Feel like you're constantly repeating instructions? The 3 barriers to students just getting on with it (minus the off-task chatter, blank stares, and million questions)
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Sep 03, 2024 |
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#77: 3 common pieces of behaviour advice teachers get that do more harm than good
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Aug 27, 2024 |
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#76: What to ACTUALLY say to calm students down. 4 steps to resolving bubbling behaviours quickly, so you can get back to teaching.
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Aug 20, 2024 |
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#75: My top 4 classroom management tips for a strong start to the school year (and beyond!)
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Aug 13, 2024 |
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#74: The start of school ice breaker activities that need to get in the bin, and what to do instead to build a positive, thriving, class community (no matter what time it is!)
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Aug 06, 2024 |
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#73: No space for a calm corner in your classroom? 4 practical tips for student self-regulation on the go!
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Jul 30, 2024 |
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#72: Let’s have a heart to heart… How are you going? Plus, big news on how The Unteachables is changing.
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Jul 23, 2024 |
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#71: Kids don’t learn off people they don’t like… but getting them to like you is sometimes easier said than done! How to reach and teach students with big behaviours.
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Jul 16, 2024 |
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#70: I truly didn't believe all of my students could succeed. Why this was diabolical for behaviour and engagement, and what I had to change.
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Jul 09, 2024 |
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#69: How to give instructions that students get (and follow!!). Avoiding classroom confusion and chaos by using the 'Get Ready, Get Set, Go!' strategy.
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Jul 02, 2024 |
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#68: Turning your classroom into an island of safety for every single student (oh, and for yourself as the teacher, of course)
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Jun 25, 2024 |
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#67: So you want to move away from punitive discipline? Here’s where to start.
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Jun 18, 2024 |
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#66: Are you caught in the vicious cycle of reactive classroom management?
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Jun 11, 2024 |
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#65: Redefining a strong approach to classroom management: It's about so much more than just the behaviour.
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Jun 04, 2024 |
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#64: Conquering the colossal to do-list, embracing imperfection, and being "more like Kerrie". Swimming, surviving, and thriving, with Ashley from Rainbow Sky Creations
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May 28, 2024 |
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#63: Blame my brain! What's behind those big, bad, bold, and downright bloody baffling behaviours.
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May 21, 2024 |
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#62. 'Apathetic' teenagers, post-pandemic classrooms, and finding all the glimmers with Dr Lori Desautels
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May 14, 2024 |
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#61. “Make me a sandwich”. How we can address the alarming misogyny present in our classrooms.
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May 07, 2024 |
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#60. Students not taking accountability for their behaviours? Here's what to do.
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Apr 30, 2024 |
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#59: Struggle with boundaries as a teacher? This one sentence will change absolutely everything about how you see them, and hold them.
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Apr 23, 2024 |
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#58: Do your students take you seriously? How to balance being warm, friendly, and approachable, with holding crucial behaviour boundaries.
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Apr 16, 2024 |
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#57: “You'll NOT act a fool in my classroom and go unchecked!” What it really looks like to have solid classroom expectations and boundaries (HINT: It's not that)
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Apr 09, 2024 |
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#56: TEACHER PEP TALK! Feeling powerless in the classroom? Disempowered? Disrespected? Like you have no control? This is for you.
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Apr 02, 2024 |
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#55: Q&A. Help! I get ZERO support, advice, or mentorship from my leaders around the challenging behaviours in my class. [A SNEAK PEAK INTO THE PRIVATE PODCAST]
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Mar 28, 2024 |
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#54: So if punishment is OFF the table, what is ON it when it comes to behaviour? 3 tangible takeaways to implementing a non-punitive classroom management approach.
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Mar 19, 2024 |
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#53: If your classroom management doesn't include these 3 things, it won't work. A walk through of my entire classroom management approach.
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Mar 11, 2024 |
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#52: I had a strong why, but I was still a weak teacher. What it really took to develop my classroom management practice.
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Mar 05, 2024 |
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#51: How to become a 'Disruptive Educator', and make the move from high-control to compassion-driven classrooms with Bobby Morgan of The Liberation Lab
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Feb 26, 2024 |
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#50: Teachers with few behaviour issues have the following 5 things in common... Or do they?
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Feb 19, 2024 |
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#49: No homework, no mandatory testing, AND shorter school days? The observations of an Australian teacher exploring Finland's world-class education system.
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Feb 06, 2024 |
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#48: Should we be ‘letting things slide’ as teachers? Or should we be holding students accountable for every little challenging behaviour?
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Jan 30, 2024 |
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#47: How teachers are set up to fail, what SHOULD be included in teacher training, and what a trauma-informed approach looks like in action. A discussion with Em Gentle, founder of The Grad Guide
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Jan 23, 2024 |
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#46: What it really takes to change behaviour with the hardest to teach (and why it can take so damn long)!
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Jan 16, 2024 |
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#45: Are you classroom managing like a fist, or a palm? A game-changing metaphor that will shape the way you approach behaviour in the heat of the moment
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Jan 09, 2024 |
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#44: The one thing you need to do during the holidays to improve your classroom management in 2024.
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Dec 19, 2023 |
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#43: 2023: The year I became a mother, a wife, and an author. Reflections, regrets, and lessons learnt.
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Dec 12, 2023 |
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#42: Want to do some laid-back learning at the end of the year, and STILL maintain a calm and controlled environment? This is what you need to know.
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Dec 05, 2023 |
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#41: What Is the Conscious Competence Ladder, and Why You Need to Know About It for Learning, Behavior, and Your Own Professional Development.
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Nov 26, 2023 |
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#40: Want a Calm Lesson? You Need a Calm Start! The 3 Proactive Classroom Management Strategies Every Teacher Should Know!
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Nov 21, 2023 |
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#39: Four Steps to Better Parent-Teacher Relationships: Tackling those Tough Conversations
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Nov 14, 2023 |
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#38: A Candid Conversation About Returning from Maternity Leave, Mum Guilt, and the Pressure to Be 'Good Enough' at Everything.
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Nov 07, 2023 |
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#37: What Good Classroom Management Can't Exist Without: A Chat with Marie Gentles on Teacher Capacity, Perception, and Felt Safety.
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Oct 31, 2023 |
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#36: Are You Confusing The Hell Out of Your Students? Strategies for Clearer Instruction, Better Engagement, and Less Challenging Behaviours
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Sep 05, 2023 |
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#35: Increasing Felt Safety (and Reducing Challenging Behaviours) Through Consistency and Predictability. A Deep Dive Into the Humble Seating Plan.
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Aug 29, 2023 |
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#34: Co-Regulation Explained: The Core of Calm and Effective Classroom Management
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Aug 22, 2023 |
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#33: Teachers, protect your peace this school year with these 5 crucial reminders
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Aug 15, 2023 |
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#32: Teaching Kids with 'Big Baffling Behaviours': The Science of Opposition with Robyn Gobbel.
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Aug 08, 2023 |
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#31: The 'Why' That Drives Our Behaviour (The 'Good', the 'Bad', and the 'Ugly'): The 5 Basic Needs
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Aug 01, 2023 |
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#30: We don't teach our subjects! We teach students, and there is one hell of a difference between the two
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Jul 18, 2023 |
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#29: Dropping the ball on things at work? Don't worry, that's what they were designed for! A reframe around teacher time management.
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Jul 11, 2023 |
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#28: Are You Setting Your Students Up for Success, or Failure (Without Even Realising It)?
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Jul 03, 2023 |
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#27: Addressing Misogyny (and Other Damaging Comments) in the Classroom: Your Step-by-Step Guide"
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Jun 27, 2023 |
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#26: Sorry, Not Sorry: How Apologies Can Be a 'Get Out of Jail Free Card' for Students (and What to Do Instead)
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Jun 20, 2023 |
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#25: Rethinking discipline: Why consequences are only a small piece of the pie
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Jun 13, 2023 |
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#24: A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Set Expectations, and (More Importantly) Make Them an Effective Part of Your Day-to-Day Classroom Management.
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Jun 06, 2023 |
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#23: Mindfulness: 'Airy-fairy' or a crucial classroom management tool? With Laura from The Kindness Curriculum
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May 23, 2023 |
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#22: Why Your Students Might Be Rewarding (or Punishing) You with Their Behaviour: A Discussion on the Insidious Pedagogy of Poverty.
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May 16, 2023 |
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#21: When students say... NO! What to do, and how to avoid getting too triggered, with Danica from Little Bloom Consultancy
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May 09, 2023 |
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#20: How to nail classroom management whilst leaving a legacy of kindness and compassion with every single student. An open house tour of That'll Teach 'Em
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Apr 25, 2023 |
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#19: The behaviour management trap that is keeping teachers stuck in survival mode
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Apr 18, 2023 |
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#18: Miss Honey: beloved teacher role model or a misleading representation of the job of teaching?
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Apr 11, 2023 |
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#17: Are we just excusing ‘bad behaviour’? What teachers need to know about the ‘why’ behind challenging student behaviour
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Apr 04, 2023 |
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#16: Do you feel like you’re constantly repeating yourself? How to minimise the dreaded question “what are we doing?!”
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Mar 28, 2023 |
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#15: What does a good teacher look like anyway?? A powerful discussion around teacher guilt and wellbeing, and your permission slip to just do your best and forget the rest!
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Mar 21, 2023 |
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#14: A very honest chat about my teaching journey: How burn out, a break, and skipping the country led me to my passion and purpose.
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Mar 14, 2023 |
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#13: 2022 all wrapped up. What you need to leave behind this year and move towards in 2023.
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Dec 13, 2022 |
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#12: The things I would go back and tell my first year teacher self. Tips, encouragement, and home truths.
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Dec 06, 2022 |
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#11: A teachers survival guide to navigating those tough last weeks of term.
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Nov 29, 2022 |
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#10: Cruel to be kind? Striking the balance between addressing behaviours and maintaining relationships
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Nov 22, 2022 |
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#09: The most common teaching mistakes we make with classroom management, and the very quick and easy fixes that can transform behaviour.
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Nov 15, 2022 |
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#08: Low Level Behaviours, Big Level Frustrations! How to start to shift the low level disruptions that are stopping you from getting on with teaching.
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Nov 08, 2022 |
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#07: The cover lesson survival guide: How to calm the chaos and get through the day in one piece.
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Nov 01, 2022 |
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#06: Don’t take it personally? The teaching advice that is much easier said than done.
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Oct 25, 2022 |
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#05: What will it really take to have TRUE teacher wellbeing? A chat with Jodi from The Busy Teachers Club
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Oct 18, 2022 |
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#04: Owning your teaching personality. Yes, even as a quiet, awkward or introverted teacher!
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Oct 11, 2022 |
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#03: Classroom carnage: How to engage even the most disengaged and challenging classes. A chat with one of my teacher besties!
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Oct 06, 2022 |
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#02: The Teaching Advice That Grinds My Gears (and What to Do Instead).
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Oct 04, 2022 |
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#01: Humans first, teachers second. Navigating all of the human moments in the classroom.
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Oct 02, 2022 |
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Coming Soon Teaser: The Unteachables Podcast
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Sep 19, 2022 |