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!
Episodes
167 episodes
#167: The ‘boring’ differentiation strategy you need to be using in 2026 to improve low-level behaviours | The Differentiation Series: Part 3
Okay, I'm going to say something that might surprise you.The most powerful differentiation strategy I know is also the most boring one.No fancy tech. No elaborate lesson design. No creating multiple versions of anything. Just one ...
#166: Why telling teachers to ‘just differentiate’ is helping nobody (and what we need to do instead) | The Differentiation Series: Part 2
Let me be real with you for a second, the word "differentiation" has a bit of a reputation problem.For most teachers, hearing it conjures up images of three separate lesson versions, colour-coded ability groups, and a to-do list that nev...
#165: The "brain builder" mindset shift every teacher needs. Jessica Sinarski on dysregulation, teacher burnout, and the neuroscience behind behaviour
Every teacher has been there. The class that makes you want to crawl under your desk. The student who seems hell-bent on dismantling every lesson you've planned. And the horrible, shameful moment when you realise you've snapped, yelled...
#164: Why your students won't do the work (even when it's really doable) | The Differentiation Series: Part 1
When a student pushes a piece of work off their desk, puts their head down, pulls out their phone, or starts cracking jokes, it can feel personal. Like, really personal. Especially when you've poured your heart into that lesson....
#163: What does real inclusion look like in the classroom? Supporting neurodivergent students | Interview with Verity Harvey
What if the biggest shift you could make for your most complex students had nothing to do with behaviour charts, consequences, or reward systems — and everything to do with the way you see them?In this episode, I'm sitting down ...
#162: How to Turn Your Teaching Into a Classroom Management Machine
What if the reason classroom management feels so bloody hard… is because you were never actually taught how to do it in a way that works and aligns with your values?In this episode, I’m giving you a front seat to a live training...
#161: What we get wrong about classroom management, low-level disruption, crafting a strong teaching presence + more
A few weeks ago I had the absolute pleasure of jumping on the Teacher Takeaway podcast for a proper behaviour-nerd chat… and the second we wrapped, I knew I wanted you to hear it too.Because if you’ve ever walked into a lesson feeling li...
#160: The 10 quick community builder activities that will become your classes favourite
What if I told you that you could build connection, boost buy-in, reset the vibe, AND reduce low-level behaviour… in five minutes flat?No prep. Just you, your class, and a little bit of magic. ✨In this episode, I’m giving you a fr...
#159: The 5 routines that are non-negotiable for teachers wanting to reduce low-level disruptions and create a beautiful, calm, safe classroom environment.
In this episode, I’m giving you a front seat to the teaching assistants I’ve had in my classroom for years… except they’re not people. They’re systems. Predictable, powerful routines that quietly run the room so I can actually teach with FAR fe...
#158: How to build the most beautiful, positive, connected class community brick by brick (even the toughest, most disengaged of classes)
What if the class everyone labels “unteachable”… becomes your favourite group of the year?In this episode, I’m giving you a front seat to one of the most formative stories of my teaching career—back when I was fresh out of uni, wildly un...
#157: "What if I just realllly don’t like a student?!" How to teach a kid you find really dang triggering and unlikeable.
Here’s a spicy but honest truth: sometimes, we don’t like every student we teach.And while we’re trauma-informed, values-driven, compassionate educators — we’re also human. And navigating complex behaviour, bullying, defiance, or student...
#156: Why forced icebreakers don’t build trust or community (and what does)
In this episode, I’m giving you a front-row seat to how I break the ice with my classes without forcing kids (or me!) into anything awkward, loud, or fake.Whether you’ve got a class full of students with complex needs, or just w...
#155: The first-week moves that’ll save you months of behaviour work down the track
That quiet calm at the start of the year? Yeah, it won’t last... unless you do this.Welcome back to The Unteachables Podcast. It’s still back-to-school season, and this episode is for every teacher ...
#154: How to build back confidence and credibility after a tough year with behaviour [+ whats coming in 2026]
Feeling like last year’s behaviour battles stole your joy? Let’s change the energy at the door. We kick off the new season with a grounded, practical roadmap to reset expectations, reclaim credibility, and build calm with routines that do the h...
#152: So it's December, and your students won't stop talking... Now what?
In last week’s episode, we talked about what to do when student energy is flat, motivation is MIA, and you're pulling teeth just to get through a lesson. This week, we're flipping the script and tackling the other end of the spectrum, ...
#151: What to do when your class is bringing the 'checked out, apathetic, can't be bothered' vibes at the end of the year
We’ve officially entered the end-of-year zone... You know, the part where students are either bouncing off the walls or slumping over their desks like they’ve pulled three all-nighters in a row. And let’s be honest, we’re righ...
#150: Students pushing your buttons? These 6 one-liners will save you!
This episode is a big warm hug and a practical roadmap for every teacher who’s ever thought: “How the heck am I supposed to stay calm when they’re pushing ALL my buttons?!”I’m diving into a juicy listener Q&A all about what to do in ...
#149: 3 Thanksgiving activities to beat the November behaviour wobbles
Whether you're wrapping up the year in Australia (hi, me too!) or heading into Thanksgiving mode, this one's for the teachers out there who want to keep the vibe high, the connection strong, and the behaviour smooth as the term winds down.<...
#148: If I had a totally unmanageable class, I'd do these 4 things immediately.
This episode, I’m giving you a front seat to one of the most common questions I get from Behaviour Clubbers, and honestly, it’s one we’ve ALL asked at some point: “What do I do with a class that is just... chaotic?”We’re talking cult...
#147: Why your classroom transitions are chaotic (and how to fix them)
The messy middle of a lesson can make or break your classroom calm.You’ve nailed your entry routines. Your exits are solid. But those in-between moments, like shifting from group work to silent writing, that’s where chaos sneaks in.<...
#146: Why classroom compliance isn’t the win you might think it is
Ever found yourself sitting at your desk mid-lesson, staring at the wall while chaos erupts around you… thinking “I cannot teach like this”?Same.In this episode, I’m giving you a front seat to one of the most eye-opening ...
#145: The Halloween classroom management mistakes that turn your class into a horror movie (and what to do instead)
Ah yes, spooky season. The sugar. The chaos. In this episode, I’m giving you a front seat to exactly how to lean into the festive vibes of Halloween (and any holiday season) without your classroom descending into a full-blown ...
#144: How to actually support students with additional needs... in a mainstream classroom... with zero support...
How do you actually manage special needs in a mainstream classroom (when you’re not getting the support you need)?Ever looked around your classroom mid-lesson and thought:“How the heck am I supposed t...
#143: 5 powerful (and doable) ways to support ADHD students. October is ADHD Awareness Month!
October is officially Hectic Month™️ (Black History Month, Mental Health Day, Halloween... all of it), but nestled in the mix is something super important: ADHD Awareness Month.And look, if you’re thinking, “Well, I don’t ha...
#142: My English teacher saved my life (and she will never know it). The episode you need to hear if you've ever doubted your impact.
This episode is personal. Raw. Vulnerable. And honestly… one of the most important stories I’ve ever shared.So if you’re a teacher who’s ever doubted the impact you’re having, especially with those students who seem like they couldn’t ca...