The Unteachables Podcast

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 underqualified, and somehow ended up turning the “low class” into the class that changed everything for me.

This episode is a big one. It gets to the heart of how community is actually built in classrooms (and how it’s usually not).

I’m taking you back to my first couple of years in the classroom, when I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, but somehow stumbled into building a connected, joyful, motivated classroom culture… completely by accident. And then had crushing imposter syndrome because I didn’t know how or why it worked.

We’re unpacking:

• Why community isn’t built through one-off icebreakers or belonging programs
• How tiny, everyday moments quietly create belonging
• And what I was actually doing in that Year 7 class that transformed everything

If you’ve ever thought:

• “I care so much, but this class just isn’t clicking”
• “I want calm and connection, but I don’t want to be fake or cringe”
• “Surely community shouldn’t feel this hard…”

…this episode is for you.

Let’s go back to the Wayback Machine and unpack what really builds classroom community.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Why community isn’t built in one big moment, but in micro-moments
• The foundation every classroom needs before community can grow
• How predictable routines create felt safety (even when you’re new)
• The accidental strategies that changed my toughest class
• Why in-jokes, rituals, and shared experiences matter more than programs
• How to build belonging without losing authority
• What to try this week with a class you’re struggling with

Resources & Things Mentioned:

• The Behaviour Club
• The Invisible Backpack Lesson
• Cup Fillers: 20 whole class activities
• All community resources

Your Next Steps:

• Reflect on what makes you feel like you belong
• Pick one small thing from this episode to try this week
• If you’re a Behaviour Club member, head to this month’s resource drop
• If not, join us here

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

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 students who constantly derail your lessons? It takes a toll.

In this episode, I’m opening up the very real conversation about what to do when you find a student… unlikable. (Gasp!) I’m giving you the validation, language, and mindset shifts to acknowledge that feeling without acting from it. You’ll learn how to stay professional, regulated, and credible — while still honouring your experience.

Because let’s be clear: you can not like a student and still be a bloody great teacher to them.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why it’s normal (and not shameful) to feel disconnected from certain students
• How your personal triggers affect classroom dynamics
• What to do when you lose objectivity or patience with “that” student
• The quiet ways your feelings show up — and what to do about them
• Mindset shifts to stay regulated, empathetic, and in control
• Strategies to slowly build bridges (even when it feels impossible)

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

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 want something low-stakes and actually useful — this is the episode for you. I’m walking you through the exact back-to-school icebreakers I’ve used for years with huge success. These are tried-and-tested with mainstream AND complex classrooms — and they do more than just "get to know you." They start building classroom culture from day one.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why traditional icebreakers often flop, and what to do instead
• How to balance fun, structure, and behaviour foundations from lesson one
• My 3 go-to first-day activities (that double as classroom management tools)
• What I do instead of “stand up and introduce yourself” 😬
• How to make a class playlist that builds community (and teaches expectations!)
• The icebreaker games I use with students who are not here for your card sort

Resources mentioned:

• The Back to School Bootcamp: https://www.the-unteachables.com/backtoschoolbootcamp
• Join the Behaviour Club: https://www.the-unteachables.com/tbc
• The Back to School Mega Bundle: https://www.the-unteachables.com/offers/WC32PseW/checkout

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

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 who wants to avoid the classic Week 7 spiral when behaviours suddenly spike and everything feels a bit… cooked.

I’m giving you a front seat to the real reason that early-term magic fades—and what to do right now (yes, even this week) to avoid the whiplash of your “angel class” suddenly turning into chaos gremlins.

If you’ve ever thought, “What happened to my lovely class?” or found yourself pleading with the room to just start packing up already, you need this.

We’re talking about:

• What the grace period actually is and why it ends
• The difference between setting expectations vs reinforcing them
• The boring-but-brilliant routines that will carry your class through the term

What you’ll learn:

• What “grace period” behaviour is—and why it isn't lasting!
• The routines that do the behaviour management for you
• How to create buy-in for expectations so students actually follow them
• What to do when (not if) kids start testing boundaries
• How to balance warmth and structure without being “too soft” or “too strict”
• Easy wins for your starter, transition, and exit routines

Resources mentioned:

• The Back to School Bootcamp: https://www.the-unteachables.com/backtoschoolbootcamp
• Join the Behaviour Club: https://www.the-unteachables.com/tbc
• The Back to School Mega Bundle: https://www.the-unteachables.com/offers/WC32PseW/checkout

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

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 heavy lifting—even if you’re returning to the same challenging group.

In this episode, I’m giving you a front seat to:

• What to do when you’re dreading going back to school after a chaotic year
• Why co-disregulation is real—and how to avoid it
• How to reset your credibility and teaching presence with students who’ve seen you struggle
• The difference between being approachable vs credible (and why it matters)
• Why routines do the heavy lifting for classroom management
• How to press "reset" without shame or defensiveness—yes, even mid-year!

Resources mentioned:

• The Back to School Bootcamp: https://www.the-unteachables.com/backtoschoolbootcamp
• Join the Behaviour Club: https://www.the-unteachables.com/tbc
• Listen to past episode on Credible vs Approachable teacher presence 

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

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, those wild, chatty, off-task end-of-year vibes that have you asking:

🫠 “Why is everyone shouting?”
🫠 “Why can’t we sit down for longer than 2 minutes?”
🫠 “Is it me? Am I the drama?”

This high-energy chaos is totally normal (and very human), but it doesn’t mean you have to just white-knuckle your way through it. In this episode, I’m walking you through exactly what to do when your students are dysregulated, off-task, and bursting with excitement as the holidays approach.

We’re talking clear routines, calm teacher energy, classroom games that actually work as brain breaks, and how to keep your lesson bones strong while still leaning into festive fun. Let’s do this.

What you’ll learn:

• Why student energy spikes in December (and why it’s not a behaviour “problem”)
• The brain science behind high arousal and dysregulation
• How to stay consistent and calm, even when students are bouncing off the walls
• The exact classroom games and mindfulness activities I use to channel energy without chaos
• The real reason some students act out before the holidays
• How to reset your teaching presence when you’re just plain tired

Resources Mentioned:

• 🎁 Free Game Download: 13 no-prep classroom games you can use anytime
   https://www.the-unteachables.com/freedownloadgames

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

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 right there with them.

In this week’s episode, I’m unpacking a common (and deeply exhausting) classroom vibe: student apathy. That “ugh, why are we even here?” energy that rolls in hard during December. Whether your students are dragging their feet into class, doing the bare minimum (if anything), or slurping down Red Bulls the size of their heads — I’ve got you.

We’ll chat about:

• Why apathetic behaviours spike at the end of the year (spoiler: it’s not just because they’re lazy)
• How arousal states impact student engagement
• And most importantly? Some super practical strategies to upregulate energy in a way that doesn’t leave you more drained than they are.

What you’ll learn:

• Why students are checked out in Term 4 (and why it’s NOT a reflection of your teaching)
• The difference between low, optimal, and high arousal states — and how to use them
• My favourite “shake it up” tricks for getting student energy back
• Fun, fast ways to use novelty, movement, and talk-time to re-engage your class
• How to maintain routines without making things boring
• How your energy sets the tone — and what to do when you’re the one running on fumes

Resources + Mentions:

• 🎁 Free Whole-Class Games! Grab them here
• 🎉 Brain Break Bundle!Grab it here
• 🧠 The Regulation Rooms Resource (exclusive to Behaviour Club members): Not for sale yet, but might be soon!

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 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 those real-deal, fight-flight-freeze moments in the classroom. And spoiler alert: it’s not about becoming a Zen monk who never reacts. It’s about having scripts, self-awareness, and a bit of self-compassion ready to roll.

In this episode, I walk you through:

• My own messy moments (because YES, I’m a very imperfect human too)
• The neuroscience behind your snapping point (hello, barking guard dog 🐶)
• What emotional regulation really looks like for teachers
• And my top 6 behaviour one-liners that will save you from spiralling.

So whether you’re already consciously incompetent 😬 or just starting to build awareness, this episode will meet you where you’re at, with practical tools to make it all a bit easier.

What you’ll learn:

• The difference between reacting and responding
• 6 calm one-liners you can keep in your back pocket for the trickiest moments
• Why having scripts matters when your thinking brain goes offline
• How to redirect defiance without getting sucked into a power struggle
• Language that sets boundaries without shame
• Why saying “I’m not here to argue with you” is low-key magic

Resources & Mentions:

• 📥 Grab the FREE Calm Scripts Guide here: https://www.the-unteachables.com/calmscripts
• Need extra support? The Behaviour Club has your back: 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

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.

In this episode, I’m giving you a front seat to the actual gratitude-based activities I use with my own students when things start taking an energetic nosedive! 

We’re talking:

🧠 sneaky SEL

💬 beautiful conversations

✍️ creative, calming brain breaks

🎨 and some genuinely lovely wall displays if you’re into that

Whether you're in it for the dopamine hit, the classroom calm, or the end-of-year buy-in, these gratitude strategies are your new best friend.


What you’ll learn:

• Why gratitude-based tasks are GOLD for classroom management
• 10 deeper-than-usual conversation starters to use right away
• How to use these prompts for starters, journaling, or brain breaks
• 6 mini-tasks that build regulation and community
• My go-to activity when the class energy is off and I need a circuit-breaker
• How these “fun” tasks are actually classroom structure in disguise
• Why gratitude is secretly one of the best proactive behaviour tools you’ve got

Resources Mentioned:

• Gratitude Conversation Cards
• The Thanksgiving Mega Resource Bundle
• Free Gratitude Plate Activity

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, 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 cultural chaos. The kind of class that leaves you emotionally wrung out, standing at the board yelling instructions to a sea of disengaged students while your nervous system quietly screams.

In this episode, I’m not going to throw another vague strategy at you or tell you to “build relationships” (you’re already doing that). Instead, I’m breaking down exactly what I would do if I had that class and had to make changes immediately.

This one’s especially for you if you’re:

• Constantly waiting for quiet
• Feeling frazzled by the end of every lesson
• Dreading certain classes
• Questioning whether you’re even cut out for teaching anymore

We’re stripping it all back and starting with what actually shifts classroom culture: ROUTINES.

What You’ll Learn:

•  The first thing I’d do if I had a chaotic, chatty, unmanageable class
•  Why teacher regulation trumps any routine or strategy
•  The 4 core routines you NEED in place to turn the chaos around
•  The sneaky behaviour triggers you might be missing
•  How to get your students started before the lesson even begins
•  My go-to early finisher system that doesn’t rely on “busy work”
•  What to do in the last five minutes of class that’ll save your sanity

Resources Mentioned:

🎁 The $1 Behaviour Club Kickstart:
https://www.the-unteachables.com/kickstart

🧠 Early Finisher Task Bundle:
https://the-unteachables.shop/products/early-finishers-activity-bundle-choice-board-packet-worksheets-reflection?_pos=1&_sid=f45b530cb&_ss=r

🪄 Exit Doors Routine (the viral one):
https://the-unteachables.shop/products/exit-task-bundle

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