The Unteachables Podcast

Claire English
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Jul 28, 2025 • 18min

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

Discover how to truly define bullying with a focus on power imbalance and intent to harm. Learn the difference between conflict, meanness, and bullying, which often confuses kids. Hear personal stories that highlight the importance of empathy in addressing this issue. Explore effective strategies like the 'High Five' technique to empower students to respond safely. This engaging discussion offers practical tools that can be applied year-round, fostering understanding and compassion in the classroom.
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Jul 22, 2025 • 18min

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

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 dysregulateWhy calm-down demands and consequences don’t work in those momentsHow 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 personIt’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 situationWhat “flipping your lid” means, and why it explains so much about student behaviourHow 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 cultureWhat it looks like to lead with emotional safety first - not complianceHave a question, comment, or just want to say hello? Drop us a text!RESOURCES AND MORE SUPPORT: Shop all resources Join The Behaviour Club My book! It’s Never Just About the Behaviour: A holistic approach to classroom behaviour management The Low-Level Behaviour Bootcamp Free guide: 'Chats that Create Change' Connect with me: Follow on Instagram @the.unteachables Check out my website
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Jul 15, 2025 • 25min

#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.

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 studentsThe structure I follow across my first 3 lessons—exactly what I teach, when, and whyHow I sneak SEL, regulation, and wellbeing into the mix without it feeling like another PD scriptWhat 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: Shop all resources Join The Behaviour Club My book! It’s Never Just About the Behaviour: A holistic approach to classroom behaviour management The Low-Level Behaviour Bootcamp Free guide: 'Chats that Create Change' Connect with me: Follow on Instagram @the.unteachables Check out my website
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Jul 7, 2025 • 27min

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

TW: Mention of self-harm and suicideEver 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 classroomWhy 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 matteredWhat emotional literacy and co-regulation actually look like in a regular, chaotic school dayHow 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 outHave a question, comment, or just want to say hello? Drop us a text!RESOURCES AND MORE SUPPORT: Shop all resources Join The Behaviour Club My book! It’s Never Just About the Behaviour: A holistic approach to classroom behaviour management The Low-Level Behaviour Bootcamp Free guide: 'Chats that Create Change' Connect with me: Follow on Instagram @the.unteachables Check out my website
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Jul 1, 2025 • 15min

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

Discover the power of nonverbal communication in tackling classroom defiance. Learn about three transformative strategies: choice cards for giving students ownership, post-it prompts to de-escalate tension, and movement tasks that help reset nervous systems. Sometimes, saying nothing at all is the key to maintaining authority and creating a safe learning environment. These game-changing tools can preserve calm, promote positive relationships, and of course, save your sanity in the process!
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Jun 23, 2025 • 18min

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

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 momentWhy “just staying calm” isn’t always realistic (and what to do instead)The #1 way to de-escalate student defiance without losing face20 word-for-word calm scripts you can start using tomorrowHow to practise these in low-stakes moments before things go off the railsWhy protecting the nervous system is the secret sauce to credible classroom leadershipHave a question, comment, or just want to say hello? Drop us a text!RESOURCES AND MORE SUPPORT: Shop all resources Join The Behaviour Club My book! It’s Never Just About the Behaviour: A holistic approach to classroom behaviour management The Low-Level Behaviour Bootcamp Free guide: 'Chats that Create Change' Connect with me: Follow on Instagram @the.unteachables Check out my website
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Jun 17, 2025 • 20min

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

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 teachingWhy feeling confused by curriculum or acronyms doesn’t make you incompetentHow 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 toolsThe difference between good and crap leadership when you’re strugglingHow to stop measuring your worth by how quiet your classroom looksResources Mentioned:The Pedagogy of Poverty episode Join The Behaviour Club: https://www.the-unteachables.com/tbcHave a question, comment, or just want to say hello? Drop us a text!RESOURCES AND MORE SUPPORT: Shop all resources Join The Behaviour Club My book! It’s Never Just About the Behaviour: A holistic approach to classroom behaviour management The Low-Level Behaviour Bootcamp Free guide: 'Chats that Create Change' Connect with me: Follow on Instagram @the.unteachables Check out my website
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Jun 10, 2025 • 17min

#127: I met the King, and he asked me a question about the work I do with classroom management I was NOT expecting

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 shiny. It wasn’t new. It wasn’t revolutionary.It was real.The simple, human-first, practical work we do in our classrooms every day — the stuff that doesn’t come with buzzwords or fancy acronyms — THAT is what got me standing in front of the actual King. And I want to tell you why that matters. Because this episode is for you.If you’ve ever doubted whether your small routines make a difference… If you’ve ever wondered whether this values-led way of teaching is actually working… If you’ve ever felt like what you’re doing is “just good teaching” and not enough to be noticed…Let me tell you: It’s radical. It’s rare. And it’s working.So, shall we roll the tape?What You’ll Learn:The wild story of how I got invited to Buckingham Palace 🏰What I said to King Charles (and the curveball question he asked)Why actionable classroom practice IS innovative (even if it doesn’t feel like it)How teaching with clarity, consistency, and compassion is changing lives — literallyThe empowering reminder that things like your entry routine are literally changing livesWhy “just good teaching” is more than enoughHave a question, comment, or just want to say hello? Drop us a text!RESOURCES AND MORE SUPPORT: Shop all resources Join The Behaviour Club My book! It’s Never Just About the Behaviour: A holistic approach to classroom behaviour management The Low-Level Behaviour Bootcamp Free guide: 'Chats that Create Change' Connect with me: Follow on Instagram @the.unteachables Check out my website
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Jun 2, 2025 • 16min

#126: How to support staff mindset shifts around behaviour approaches

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 resistanceHow to lead culture change without lecturing or pushingWhy the most resistant staff are often just burnt outWhat actually helps shift mindsets: stories, modelling, and showing what’s possibleThis work doesn’t start with policy. It starts with presence.You don’t need to change everyone’s mind overnight. You just need to hold your ground, model what’s possible, and lead with calm consistency. That quiet modelling? That’s what creates the ripple effect.Have a question, comment, or just want to say hello? Drop us a text!RESOURCES AND MORE SUPPORT: Shop all resources Join The Behaviour Club My book! It’s Never Just About the Behaviour: A holistic approach to classroom behaviour management The Low-Level Behaviour Bootcamp Free guide: 'Chats that Create Change' Connect with me: Follow on Instagram @the.unteachables Check out my website
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May 26, 2025 • 21min

#125: Q&A: Dealing with the class clown, when students gang up on you, and motivating unmotivated learners.

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 roomThese aren’t fluffy hypotheticals – they’re the actual struggles you’re navigating day to day, and I’m so excited to support you through them. And don’t worry, these are just the beginning – if you love this format, I’ll keep them coming!Drop any questions to claire@the-unteachables.com or over on Instagram!Have a question, comment, or just want to say hello? Drop us a text!RESOURCES AND MORE SUPPORT: Shop all resources Join The Behaviour Club My book! It’s Never Just About the Behaviour: A holistic approach to classroom behaviour management The Low-Level Behaviour Bootcamp Free guide: 'Chats that Create Change' Connect with me: Follow on Instagram @the.unteachables Check out my website

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