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 dysregulate
• Why calm-down demands and consequences don’t work in those moments
• How 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 person

It’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 situation
• What “flipping your lid” means, and why it explains so much about student behaviour
• How 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 culture
• What it looks like to lead with emotional safety first - not compliance

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

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 students
• The structure I follow across my first 3 lessons—exactly what I teach, when, and why
• How I sneak SEL, regulation, and wellbeing into the mix without it feeling like another PD script
• What 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

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 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 classroom
• Why 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 mattered
• What emotional literacy and co-regulation actually look like in a regular, chaotic school day
• How 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 out

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

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 you can do is say nothing at all.

Instead, I'm walking you through 3 of my favourite nonverbal classroom tools:
 ✅ Choice Cards
 ✅ Post-it Prompts
 ✅ Movement Tasks

Each one is designed to help you preserve your calm, keep your credibility intact, and create safety — for your nervous system and theirs.

These tools are gold. They’ve saved my sanity. And I want them to do the same for you.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why “shutting your mouth” can sometimes be the best classroom strategy
• How to give students ownership without surrendering the boundary
• The psychological reason these tools reduce defiance (spoiler: it’s about safety)
• Exactly what to write on post-it notes to de-escalate without saying a word
• How a simple movement prompt can act as a nervous system reset
• What to do when you want to build rapport without people-pleasing

Resources Mentioned:

• Join the Waitlist for The Behaviour Club: https://www.the-unteachables.com/tbc

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

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 moment
• Why “just staying calm” isn’t always realistic (and what to do instead)
• The #1 way to de-escalate student defiance without losing face
• 20 word-for-word calm scripts you can start using tomorrow
• How to practise these in low-stakes moments before things go off the rails
• Why protecting the nervous system is the secret sauce to credible classroom leadership

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

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 teaching
• Why feeling confused by curriculum or acronyms doesn’t make you incompetent
• How 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 tools
• The difference between good and crap leadership when you’re struggling
• How to stop measuring your worth by how quiet your classroom looks

Resources Mentioned:

• The Pedagogy of Poverty episode 
• Join The Behaviour Club: https://www.the-unteachables.com/tbc

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

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 — literally
• The empowering reminder that things like your entry routine are literally changing lives
• Why “just good teaching” is more than enough

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

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 possible

This 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

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 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 [email protected] 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

 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 students
• Why “keep going” is sometimes the most powerful advice
• What we can control – and what we have to let go of

So if you’re in that place right now – doing all the right things and still feeling stuck – I hope this episode gives you a bit of clarity and reassurance. You are making an impact, even if you can’t see it yet. Keep showing up, keep connecting, and be kind to yourself along the way. 

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