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 this episode, I explore two key reasons why teaching and learning is inextricably linked with classroom management.I dig into how the beliefs and expectations we have about our students can become self-fulfilling prophecies, shaping student behaviour and their ...

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 meet expectations.Today I discuss:The Importance of Clarity in Expectations:Why clear communication is crucial for student successHow assumptions about student knowledge can lead to misunderstandings and a whole bunch of chaosGet Ready, Get Set, Go Strat...

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 significantly reduce anxiety and foster a supportive learning environment.In this episode, I delve into the fourth pillar from my book, It's Never Just About the Behaviour, focusing on proactive classroom management through increased predictability and consistency...

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.I will explore actionable, compassionate pedagogy that moves beyond traditional exclusionary practices.In this episode, I cover:How my challenging school experience shaped my teaching philosophy and the struggle of becoming the teacher I didn’t want to be and ...

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 released at the end of June/start of July. In this episode, I'll be focusing on Pillar 2: Be Calm. One of the most impactful tools in our classroom management arsenal is maintaining a sense of stillness and calm, even in a chaotic environment. A strong teaching pr...

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 signed the contract above the title ‘author’. The imposter syndrome was real. Author? Me? How the hell am I going to pull this off? Especially because the person who signed on that line was a very pregnant Claire about to head into the chaotic unknown of parenthood for the fir...

In this episode of The Unteachables Podcast, I sit down with Ashley, a seasoned teacher with 18 years of experience and half of the wonderful Rainbow Sky Creation crew, to discuss practical strategies for managing the demands of teaching. Ashley shares invaluable tips that every teacher, especially those in their early years, can benefit from. From finding mentors and effective time management to self-care and flexibility in the classroom, Ashley's insights are designed to inspire and support...

In today's episode, we're diving deep into understanding behaviours driven by the stress response. This foundational knowledge is crucial for any teacher looking to transform their classroom into an island of safety for their students which nurtures connection, reduces anxiety, and promotes growth.In this episode, I discuss:1/ The stress response and behaviours: Gain insights into how the amygdala processes information and triggers fight, flight, freeze, or fawn responses. Understanding this ...

On today's episode I speak to the brilliant Dr Lori Desautels to answer one of the big behaviour questions I am often asked...What's going on with apathetic teenage behaviour?!As well as this, we speak about:Neuroplasticity and why it is crucial for teachers to have an understanding around.How we can transform the experiences and education of our students in the smallest of moments, in the day to day 'touch points'. How you can foster a classroom environment where students feel a sense o...

Download the guide: Addressing misogyny in the classroomIn the wake of recent events sparking renewed conversations about gender-based violence, the imperative for educators to address misogyny in the classroom has never been more pressing. Samantha Schulz's article, "Make me a sandwich," sheds light on a disturbing reality: the behaviors and language male students exhibit that perpetuate sexist and abusive attitudes towards their female teachers.In planning for this podcast and the guide tha...

Click here to download all 71 behaviour response prompts!Tell me if this sounds familiar, teacher friend...You have struggled to get through even a minute of teacher-led instruction because of one student who is cutting you off at every turn.It has a knock on effect, causing other students to become disengaged and dysregulated. You become increasingly frustrated, you address him, and you get a very loud response...“Why are you talking to ME?!”“Other students are talking too!”“Go talk to them!...

Struggle with boundaries as a teacher?Safe to say you're not alone on that one.These stats are scary:(NASUWT survey Nov 2023)87% of teachers say their workload has increased in the past year.Teachers are working 54 hours a week on average (you just know some are working 40, and some are working 70!!)83% of teachers believe their job has adversely affected their mental health over the past yearSo why don't we just say no more? Push back?Say that we simply won't work on the weekend because...

Is it possible that being too friendly is harming your classroom management efforts? No. Okay, maybe a little, but not in the way you think. Does the below resonate? You feel like you have a really great relationship with your students, but when it is time to get to the business side of things and get some serious work done, the energy is high, they aren’t really listening to you, they might be calling out and having a chit chat during instruction? Maybe this is leaving you feeling a little...

What comes to mind when I say that as teachers we need... STRONG expectations and FIRM, CONSISTENT boundaries. Does it sound like: "You as a student are not going to act a fool in my classroom and go UNCHECKED. You are not going to be rude and disrespectful UNCHECKED. And yes go tell your parent I said it! Standards and boundaries from DAY 1!" OR does it sound like: "Welcome, Year 8, Come on in!" Spoiler alert: It's the latter.  Because behind the scenes of that sentence, are all of...

Classroom management can, oftentimes, leave teachers grappling with feelings of inadequacy, self-doubt, failure, and powerlessness.  You might feel walked all over, that you can't do anything about behaviour, that your students simply don't care about what you're teaching. This can be an incredibly disempowering place to be in as a human being, and if this is you at all, if you have ever ever felt like this, any of these things, this teacher pep talk is definitely for you.  Never forget:...

A very special bonus episode coming to you from the That'll Teach 'Em Private Podcast! On today's episode I answer Michelle's 'question' (well - I respond to her comment). "This can’t start quick enough - I wouldn’t even call myself a new teacher but I am drowning in behaviour and whenever I reach out for help, and I'm not shy in doing so I’m so keen to learn and improve, my head of department always umms and ahhs, makes excuses, and has never actively observed me, supported me, or really...

Watch the full replay here: Turn Your Teaching into a Classroom Management Machine What does it really take to confidently classroom manage? A little bit of everything. Yes. Everything!   Every single thing we do in our teaching practice works towards effectively and sustainably mitigating and addressing challenging classroom behaviours. In this replay of the free live webinar, 'Turn Your Teaching into a Classroom Management Machine', I guide you through my tried and true 3-step roadmap to...

So the research shows that punishment doesn’t change behaviour? So then what do we actually do as teachers?  What’s on the table when other things feel like they are off it? In today's episode: I give you a few ins and outs of the impact of punitive punishmentWhy sometimes it seems to really work3 really tangible takeaways you can immediately apply in your classrooms  Speaking of research, want to have a read? Here are some good places to start: Jean-Richard-Dit-Bressel P, Killcross S,...

It is so easy to get lost in the noise in teaching. ‘Best practices’ are pretty dependant on who you speak to. Some will advocate for a trauma informed approach, some talk about restorative practice like it is the holy grail. Some will call it different names entirely. Some still stand by the use of extrinsic rewards and detentions, there is PBL, PBIS, tiers, intervention after intervention, a million pieces of the big old puzzle that is classroom management. So what do we do? What is good...

We are often told to go back to our 'why' as teachers when things get tough.   My goodness is it important for us to have a strong purpose in a job like teaching, yet it certainly is no classroom management magic bullet. Why, oh why, is a why not enough? Because it takes FAR more to have a strong, compassionate, and calm approach to teaching.  In this episode of The Unteachables Podcast, I take you through my own journey to demonstrate how even with the strongest why, without the proper...

On today's podcast episode I interview probably THE most quotable guest I have had on the show. Bobby Morgan, the founder of The Liberation Lab, is a spearhead for disruptive education practices that break away from the confining norms of high-control teaching. We unravel the threads of deficit ideologies and reimagine a classroom where culturally responsive teaching and social justice aren't just concepts but are interwoven into the fabric of learning. Right at the very heart of our...

There are absolutely no absolutes when it comes to behaviour. So when somebody makes a sweeping generalisation that if you do X, Y, and Z you will have very few behavioural issues in your class, they are misleading you, big time.  In this podcast episode I talk about a very misleading teaching post I stumbled upon on social media. It was divisive. It was shame-inducing. And it went VIRAL! Which means there were a hell of a lot of teachers who saw it, engaged with it, and may have felt like...

On today’s episode I talk to Jess Steadman who is an experienced Australian primary educator. You might know her as @thesydneyteacher on Instagram where she develops resources for teachers, but I brought her on the podcast today because she recently went on a study tour of Finland!  Finland routinely tops rankings for education, yet what we know is that there is very little homework, mandatory testing and less time actually spent in a traditional classroom setting. But when Aussie teacher...

Classroom management is nothing if not confusing. One of the things I have been told along the way is that we need to be picking our battles with behaviour. Another thing I have ALSO been told along the way is that we shouldn't be letting things slide. I have also given both of these pieces of advice at different times in my career.  So what do we do? Where do I stand? Well the reality is that it is far more complicated than this.  Are you surprised? As I always say, classroom management...

Today I am joined on the podcast with Em Gentle, a graduate teacher mentor, fellow edu-podcaster, and founder of the grad guide where she supports new teachers adopt a trauma informed approach to teaching.  In today’s episode we go on all the rants including: What teachers should be taught in teacher preparation programs before entering the professionOur 'inherited' classroom management and teacher guilt around itWhat a trauma informed approach looks like in actionWhat we see new teachers...