The Unteachables Podcast
Welcome to 'The Unteachables Podcast'! I’m your host Claire English, a passionate secondary teacher and leader turned teacher mentor and author of the book 'It's Never Just About the Behaviour: A holistic approach to classroom behaviour management'. I am here because I am on a mission to transform classroom management and teacher support.
Why I do this? It doesn’t feel that long ago that I was completely overwhelmed and out of my depth with behaviour (particularly low level disruptions), trying to swim, rather than sink. It took me spending thousands of hours in the classroom, with all of the inevitable ups and downs, to make me the teacher I am today; confident, capable, and empowered in my ability to teach all students, yes even the ones who are the toughest to reach. And now, I am dedicated to supporting teachers like you to do the same.
I created The Unteachables Podcast to give you the simple and actionable classroom management strategies and support that you need to run your room with confidence, compassion, and calm.
On the Podcast you will hear from incredible guests such as:
-Bobby Morgan of the Liberation Lab
-Marie Gentles, the behaviour expert behind the BBC documentaries 'Don't Exclude Me' and 'Helping Our Teens', and author of the book Gentles Guidance: How to Understand, Inspire and Empower your kids.
-Robyn Gobbel, author of Raising Kids with Big Baffling Behaviours
-Dr Lori Desautels, assistant professor and published author
-Ceri Sandford of Wine with Teacher Podcast / Embrace your ADHD Chaos
-Danica of Little Bloom
Think of them as your behaviour besties (and there are many more to come!).
So whether you’re in early years, primary or secondary. A beginning teacher, an early career teacher, a teacher in training, a teaching assistant, an experienced teacher, a leader in teaching, and you’re wanting to feel happy and empowered and enjoy being in the classroom, whilst also making an impact with every single one of your students, then you’re definitely in the right place.
Don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode!
Episodes
90 episodes
#89: BEHAVIOUR BITE: On average, teachers pause for... (🤚 Guilty)
Today’s Behaviour Bite is all about a simple yet powerful practice: asking and pausing—for much longer than you (probably) already do.IN THIS EPISODE, I DISCUSS:The common tendency among teachers to rush through que...
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Season 5
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Episode 89
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5:20
#88: How to nail the first 5 minutes of every lesson by controlling what you CAN control!
Are you struggling with having a settled start to the lesson? Battling dysregulation and high energy?In today’s episode, we’re exploring the importance of the First 5—those critical first five minutes of each lesson.
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Season 5
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Episode 88
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19:23
#87: Struggling to have some students even START their work? Here’s what to know (and do)
In today’s episode, we’re diving into how building a growth mindset culture can be transformative in our classrooms. We’ll look at how fixed mindsets hold students back, especially when past experiences or fears of failure keep them from fully ...
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Season 5
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Episode 87
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20:15
#86: BEHAVIOUR BITE: Avoid locking horns.... at ALL costs. Here's how.
Welcome to the second Behaviour Bite! Every Thursday (in addition to my main-course episode on Tuesday) I’ll be delivering one quick tip that you can put into action immediately to help you crush your classroom management!TODAY'...
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Season 5
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Episode 86
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5:38
#85: Teach students THIS about behaviour to help them reflect, take accountability, and feel empowered to make lasting positive change.
You’ve probably heard the phrase, "Behaviours are students meeting a need." In this episode, I’m diving into what that actually really means for your classroom and how understanding the needs behind student behaviour can transform your manageme...
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Season 5
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Episode 85
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19:41
#84: BEHAVIOUR BITE: Students will always follow our example, before they follow our instructions.
Welcome to the inaugural episode of Behaviour Bites! Every Thursday (in addition to my main-course episode on Tuesday) I’ll be delivering one quick tip each week that you can put into action immediately to help you crush your classroom...
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Season 5
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Episode 84
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3:54
#83: How to craft a strong teaching presence that transforms those constant low-level disruptions (almost like flipping a switch, no exaggeration!)
In this episode, I’m diving into one of THE most transformative strategies for managing low-level disruptions—almost like flipping a switch. I'll explore how your teaching presence, especially through non-verbal communication, can significantly...
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Season 5
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Episode 83
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20:45
#82: Discover your teacher type! AND find out what this means for your classroom management.
Take the quiz! What's your teacher type?! Ever wondered why some classroom management strategies work wonders for others but fall flat for you? In today’s episode, we’re delving deep i...
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Season 5
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Episode 82
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18:47
#81: 3 common mistakes that fuel low-level disruptions, and the immediate fixes that transform behaviour!
Take the quiz - What's your teacher type?! (Putting this right up top because I know that's why you came to the description)In today's episode I’ll be walking you throug...
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Season 5
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Episode 81
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19:43
#80: The low-down on low-level behaviours: Why they are so tricky and why the advice around them sucks!
In today’s episode, I’m diving deep into the frustration of low-level behaviours in the classroom—why they are so tricky to handle and why the advice out there often falls flat. This is episode 1 of a big focus on low-level behavio...
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Season 5
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Episode 80
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18:56
#79: 1 simple tool to tackle low-level behaviours, increase engagement, and bust dysregulation.
BY POPULAR DEMAND: You can grab the task card template here!Classroom management is more than just the behaviour, and dealing with low-level disruptive behaviours NEEDS to be...
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Season 5
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Episode 79
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19:26
#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)
Click here to access your free session on the barriers to giving a task that students get (and get on with)In today’s episode, I’m unpacking why students might not be...
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Season 5
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Episode 78
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21:45
#77: 3 common pieces of behaviour advice teachers get that do more harm than good
In this episode, I’m diving into three common pieces of behaviour and classroom management advice that teachers are often given and why we need to stop offering them—at least in the way they’re typically presented.These bits of advice a...
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Season 5
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Episode 77
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18:07
#76: What to ACTUALLY say to calm students down. 4 steps to resolving bubbling behaviours quickly, so you can get back to teaching.
In this episode, I dive into one of the toughest challenges we face as teachers—how to manage a classroom full of students when dysregulated behaviours start bubbling up and escalating. I talk about the key things to remember when students are ...
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Season 5
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Episode 76
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18:04
#75: My top 4 classroom management tips for a strong start to the school year (and beyond!)
The start of a new school year is always a mix of excitement and nerves (the Sunday scaries multiplied times over!!). As teachers, we’re not just thinking about lesson plans and curriculum—we’re setting the stage for a whole year of learning, g...
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Season 5
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Episode 75
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24:24
#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!)
How can you set the tone for an amazing school year without resorting to icebreakers that have your students eyes rolling?In this episode, you will learn how to foster genuine connections, and create a positive classroom environment tha...
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Season 5
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Episode 74
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18:11
#73: No space for a calm corner in your classroom? 4 practical tips for student self-regulation on the go!
Let’s talk calm corners.They are all the rage, and for good reason.When done right, they teach regulation skills and embed these as part of the classroom culture and shared language.When students understand more abo...
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Season 5
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Episode 73
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17:14
#72: Let’s have a heart to heart… How are you going? Plus, big news on how The Unteachables is changing.
Let me ask you a question, teacher friend...How are you, really?I have thought long and hard about how I view teacher wellbeing, what it is, how we get it, and there are so many factors that we need to consider:
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Season 5
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Episode 72
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23:15
#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.
Welcome back to another episode of The Unteachables Podcast, teacher friends! Today I delve into the final chapter of my book, It's Never Just About the Behaviour. If you want to listen to this series from the start, head back to episode 65!
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Season 5
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Episode 71
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15:54
#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.
Today, I dive into a strategy from Pillar 6 from my newly released book, 'It's Never Just About the Behaviour' which explores the essential connection between quality teaching, learning, and managing challenging classroom behaviours.In ...
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Season 5
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Episode 70
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22:39
#69: How to give instructions that students get (and follow!!). Avoiding classroom confusion and chaos by using the 'Get Ready, Get Set, Go!' strategy.
This week, I dive into Pillar 5 of "It's Never Just About the Behavior." In this episode, I emphasize the importance of clarity in your holistic classroom management approach, and provide practical strategies to ensure students understand and m...
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Season 5
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Episode 69
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19:31
#68: Turning your classroom into an island of safety for every single student (oh, and for yourself as the teacher, of course)
Consistency in classroom management is more than just a routine; it’s a pathway to creating an "island of safety" for your students. From the moment students walk into the classroom to the way lessons are structured, consistency can significant...
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Season 5
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Episode 68
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18:06
#67: So you want to move away from punitive discipline? Here’s where to start.
Welcome to today's episode where I dive deep into Pillar 3 of my upcoming book, "It's Never Just About the Behaviour." This pillar focuses on the importance of compassion in classroom management, but not in the way you might expect...
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Season 5
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Episode 67
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25:13
#66: Are you caught in the vicious cycle of reactive classroom management?
Welcome to this week’s episode! If you missed last week, head back and catch up, because this is week 2 of digging into pillars from my new book, It’s Never Just About the Behaviour, which is available for pre-order and will be release...
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Season 5
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Episode 66
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13:49
#65: Redefining a strong approach to classroom management: It's about so much more than just the behaviour.
Welp… it’s happening.The past 670 days have led to me being able to say this next sentence….NEXT MONTH MY BOOK, 'IT’S NEVER JUST ABOUT THE BEHAVIOUR’, IS FINALLY HITTING THE SHELVES!!It feels like a lifetime ago since I ...
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Season 5
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Episode 65
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15:40