#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 free-for-all.This episode is packed with practical ways to keep your routines, keep your calm, all while adding just the right sprinkle of spooky magic to make it fun and functional.From Halloween-themed SEL check-ins to brain breaks that actually regulate, I’m sharing the exact routines I don’t ditch (and how I just theme them instead). You’ll walk away with fresh ideas and feel-good strategies that will keep your students engaged without sacrificing your classroom management game.So if you’ve ever asked yourself, “How do I do something fun for Halloween without losing control of my room?” - this one’s for you.Let’s roll the tape. 👻What you’ll learn in this episode:Why festive behaviour spirals are so common (and how to avoid them)The biggest mistake teachers make when planning fun holiday lessonsHow to add novelty without losing structureExactly what to swap and what to keep during spooky seasonHalloween-themed routines and brain breaks that workHow your non-verbals are sending louder messages than your instructionsResources Mentioned:🎃 Grab the Halloween Mega 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
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#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 to meet 30 different needs all at once?”Yeah. Me too.This week, I’m kicking off a new mini-series answering your most-asked questions, starting with one I get all the time: “How do I support students with special needs in my mainstream classroom? There has to be more help out there.”Spoiler alert: There should be more help. But in the meantime, I’m walking you through what you can actually control, without burning yourself out or playing superhero.I’ll give you a front seat to:The real talk I wish I got at uni about inclusionWhy “just differentiate” is the most unhelpful advice everThe classroom systems and routines that actually make a differenceAnd the role your own nervous system plays in it allThis one’s not about perfection. It’s about doing what’s possible—in a way that’s human, sustainable, and actually helps kids thrive (including you).Let’s dive in.What You’ll Learn:Why you can’t meet every need, and why that’s not failureThe power of systems over individualised strategiesWhat real inclusion looks and feels likeThe two biggest game-changers: routine + regulationHow to support neurodiverse and neurotypical students at the same timeHave 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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#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 have any diagnosed ADHD students,” think again. Not only is it likely that you do (diagnosed or not), but what helps ADHD students thrive is actually just good teaching for everyone.In this episode, I’m giving you a front seat to 5 simple, powerful shifts you can make today to better support your neurodivergent students.These are the real-deal takeaways from ADHD coach and teacher Andy Hayes’ masterclass inside The Behaviour Club, and they’re already making waves in classrooms across the club.What you’ll learn:Why ADHD students hear 10,000 more negative messages than their peers, and how to change the storyWhat task initiation actually looks like (and how to scaffold it without overhauling your lesson plans)Why novelty isn’t fluff, it’s fuel for the ADHD brainHow visual routines support executive functioning and make your classroom calmerThe high-impact way to celebrate strengths over struggles (no tokenism, no fluff)Mentioned in this episode:111 Printable Sticky Note TemplatesCelebration CardsHave 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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#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 care less? This one’s for you.Today, I’m taking you back to my own high school days. Not the shiny, well-behaved student success story, but the version of me who was skipping class, stinking like cigarettes, and seriously thinking about dropping out altogether.And then… there was Miss Povey. My English teacher.The one who saw me. Who actually saw me.I’ve shared little bits of this before, but never like this.Inside the episode, I’ll walk you through:What was really going on for me during those high school yearsThe moment I nearly dropped out and the one thing she said that changed everythingThe ripple effect of her belief in me (spoiler alert: it’s why this whole Unteachables thing even exists)This is for every teacher who's ever wondered if that one sentence you wrote on a kid’s paper, or that 30-second conversation you had, really mattered.I’m here to tell you, it freaking does.What you’ll learn:Why one teacher’s belief can be enough to change a lifeThe impact of seeing a student beyond their behaviourHow academic disengagement is often masking something deeperA powerful reminder that your presence, your consistent, persistent presence, is more impactful than any program or policyHave 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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#141: Tired of blank stares and the same 5 hands up? Here's how to get whole-class engagement (WITHOUT relying on cold-calling)
This tiny tweak could change your whole classroom vibe.If you’ve ever found yourself gripping onto those five students who always put their hands up while the rest of the class stares blankly out the window—or worse, starts low-key mutinies—you are NOT alone.In this episode, I’m giving you a front seat to a game-changing shift I made in how I asked students to engage. It's a small upgrade that completely changed the energy in my classroom. And no, it's not a paddle pop stick in sight.I’ll take you back to the chaos I experienced when cold calling backfired, why the same students always put their hands up, and what I realised was actually the goal when it comes to whole-class engagement (hint: it's not just getting more mouths moving).You’ll hear practical ways to upgrade your questioning on the spot, why “write it on your sticky note and slap it on your forehead” can be pedagogical GOLD, and how micro tweaks like this can be low-effort but high-impact.If your class is giving “two kids do all the work and everyone else is coasting,” this episode is your roadmap out of it.Let’s roll the tape!What you’ll learn:Why cold calling, name pickers, and paddle pop sticks might not be helping you build engagement (and what might work better)How to shift from passive invitations to explicit, all-in instructionsFour easy ways to upgrade classic questions like “Who can find the simile?” and “What’s the main message?”Why shout-outs, whiteboards, and sticky notes beat raised hands any day of the weekThe sneaky ways we accidentally teach students it’s OK to opt out—and how to change thatHow to engage quiet processors and anxious students without triggering defiance or freeze responsesOne surprising tool for building rapport while building engagementResources & Links:👉 Join the $1 Kickstart: https://www.the-unteachables.com/kickstart 👉 Waitlist for 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
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 LabMarie 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 authorAnd 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!
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