The Unteachables Podcast

Claire English
  • 4.8 (46)
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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!

  1. May 25

    #172: Starters CAN be your classroom management superpower (here's how to do them right)

    If you can grab them in the first five minutes, everything feels easier. That's the magic of a great starter activity — and this episode is Claire's full Q&A on how to do them well. Starter tasks are one of Claire's absolute favourite things (her words). Done right, they communicate your expectations before you've said a single word, shift whatever energy students are walking in with, and create the kind of consistency and predictability that makes your classroom feel safe — for your students and for you. In this episode, Claire covers: Why starter activities are classroom management magic — not just a nice-to-haveThe guard dog analogy — why routines are "friends for the amygdala" and what that means for your most dysregulated studentsThe most frequently asked questions about starter tasks: Do they have to relate to the lesson? Claire's honest answerWhat if students don't take them seriously? How to get buy-in by explaining the whyWhat actually makes a quality starter? Claire's criteria — achievable for every student, no extra input from you, pen to paper, three to five minutes, no prior knowledge requiredFive starter activities you can try this week: Resources mentioned: 📦 [Routines Bundle]— entry routines, transitions, exits, early finishes, starters, and more — every routine your classroom needs in one placeHave a question, comment, or just want to say hello? Drop us a text! RESOURCES AND MORE SUPPORT: Shop all resourcesJoin The Behaviour ClubMy book! It’s Never Just About the Behaviour: A holistic approach to classroom behaviour management The Low-Level Behaviour BootcampFree guide: 'Chats that Create Change'Connect with me: Follow on Instagram @the.unteachablesCheck out my website

    22 min

  2. May 18

    #171: If you want students to take REAL accountability for their behaviours, here's the 4 things you need to do.

    Teachers are constantly being told to move away from punitive approaches — but rarely given the actual, practical skills to replace them with. And that gap? It's leaving teachers feeling disempowered, lost, and like restorative practice just doesn't work. This episode is Claire's answer to that. She's breaking down her exact framework for helping students build real accountability after big behaviour moments — in a way that's realistic, respectful, and actually works in a real classroom. In this episode, Claire covers: Why restorative conversations alone aren't enough — and what's actually missingWhat real accountability looks like (hint: it's not a forced apology or a lunchtime detention)Her four-step framework: Regulate, Reflect, Repair, RecordRegulate — why you can't skip this step, and how to support a student's nervous system before any conversation happensReflect — getting students to genuinely understand what happened and why, using scaffolds that don't feel like an interrogationRepair — letting students choose their own pathway forward so there's real buy-in and ownershipRecord — why documentation isn't punitive, it's protective — for you and for themWhy students shut down in behaviour conversations — and how this framework changes thatThe difference between compliance and genuine change over timeResources mentioned: 🛠️ [Reflect & Repair Toolkit] — think sheets, regulation tools, reflection scaffolds, repair notes, and Claire's Classroom Management Digital Hub, all in one placeHave a question, comment, or just want to say hello? Drop us a text! RESOURCES AND MORE SUPPORT: Shop all resourcesJoin The Behaviour ClubMy book! It’s Never Just About the Behaviour: A holistic approach to classroom behaviour management The Low-Level Behaviour BootcampFree guide: 'Chats that Create Change'Connect with me: Follow on Instagram @the.unteachablesCheck out my website

    24 min

  3. May 11

    #170: 5 classroom management moves I am obsessed with (and you can use immediately)

    Classroom management can feel like this big, intangible, confusing beast that no one can seem to nail down. Claire gets it — and this episode is her antidote to that. Five non-negotiable moves. Five things she'd hand you immediately if you came to her tomorrow and said "I'm struggling, what do I do?" No fluff, no theory — just the actual things that are within your control and that you can take into your classroom today. Because here's the thing: you can't control your students' behaviour. You can't control what they're dealing with at home, or how they're showing up. But there is so much you can control — and that's exactly where this episode lives. In this episode, Claire covers: Why classroom management feels so overwhelming — and the one reframe that changes everythingThe five non-negotiable moves Claire comes back to again and again: Ready-to-go scripts — one-liners that keep you regulated when a student pushes every button you haveRoutines — not just toilet passes, but the actual bones and heartbeat of your lessonBuy-in first — why engagement and connection have to come before everything elseCommunity building — dripping in little moments of felt safety and belonging every single lessonCrystal clear expectations — and knowing exactly how you'll respond when behaviour happensWhy leadership telling you to "get your class under control" is the wrong ask entirely — and how to feel proud of what you are doingResources mentioned: 📥 [Calm Scripts PDF] — 20 ready-to-go one-liners for tricky behaviour moments📦 [Routines Bundle] — everything you need to build routines that work the room for youHave a question, comment, or just want to say hello? Drop us a text! RESOURCES AND MORE SUPPORT: Shop all resourcesJoin The Behaviour ClubMy book! It’s Never Just About the Behaviour: A holistic approach to classroom behaviour management The Low-Level Behaviour BootcampFree guide: 'Chats that Create Change'Connect with me: Follow on Instagram @the.unteachablesCheck out my website

    21 min

  4. May 6

    #169: 4 whole-class recall games that will have students begging to learn right up until the summer break

    Mentioned Resource: The Engagement Bundle Engagement slumping? You're not alone. Whether you're in the final push to summer or just hitting that mid-year wall where motivation has quietly packed its bags, this episode is for you. Claire shares four no-prep (or low-prep) whole class games that gamify your lessons, bring back buy-in, and make the last stretch of the year actually fun, for you and your students. And yes, she's also addressing that "hard pass, kids don't need more dopamine" comment she got on Instagram. Spoiler: these aren't video games. In this episode, Claire covers: Why engagement gets so hard towards the end of the year (and why it's not your fault)Why gamification is a great way to boost engagement Why neurodivergent students thrive with novelty — and why what works for them works for everyoneFour whole class games you can use today, no prep required: Have a question, comment, or just want to say hello? Drop us a text! RESOURCES AND MORE SUPPORT: Shop all resourcesJoin The Behaviour ClubMy book! It’s Never Just About the Behaviour: A holistic approach to classroom behaviour management The Low-Level Behaviour BootcampFree guide: 'Chats that Create Change'Connect with me: Follow on Instagram @the.unteachablesCheck out my website

    18 min

  5. Apr 27

    #168: What schools get profoundly wrong — with Andy Hargreaves

    What does it actually mean to be a professional in teaching? Not just "treated like one" — but what does professional knowledge, professional growth, and professional community actually look like in practice? I got to sit down with one of the most cited education scholars alive — the incredible Andy Hargreaves — and honestly, I could have talked to him for hours. Andy is an author or editor of 40 books, an education advisor to governments across multiple countries, and the co-creator of the concept of Professional Capital — a framework that has genuinely changed the way educators and systems think about what it means to invest in teachers. This is one of those episodes that I think is going to hit differently depending on where you are in your career. Whether you're in your first few years wondering if it's all worth it, or you're a seasoned teacher who's lost a bit of your spark, or you're a school leader trying to figure out why your staff keep burning out — Andy has something for you. Here's a taste of what we got into: In this episode, you'll learn: What professional capital actually is — and the three types every teacher already has (and needs to grow)Why staying in teaching longer than three years isn't just "getting expensive" — it's where the real expertise is builtThe chess metaphor that will completely reframe how you see your early career (and honestly, any career stage)What Andy believes schools are profoundly getting wrong about teacher wellbeing right nowWhy "wellbeing add-ons" like yoga and meditation won't fix what's actually causing teacher ill-beingThe three biggest causes of ill-being in schools — including one that hits way too close to home for Australian teachersWhat collective autonomy means and why individual autonomy alone isn't the answerWhy the most powerful thing you can do as a teacher might be to fight for your autonomy together, not aloneWhat Andy will be sharing at EduTech Sydney — including his fascinating "teaching as repair work" frameworkHave a question, comment, or just want to say hello? Drop us a text! RESOURCES AND MORE SUPPORT: Shop all resourcesJoin The Behaviour ClubMy book! It’s Never Just About the Behaviour: A holistic approach to classroom behaviour management The Low-Level Behaviour BootcampFree guide: 'Chats that Create Change'Connect with me: Follow on Instagram @the.unteachablesCheck out my website

    56 min

  6. Apr 20

    #167: The ‘boring’ differentiation strategy you need to be using in 2026 to improve low-level behaviours | The Differentiation Series: Part 3

    Okay, I'm going to say something that might surprise you. The most powerful differentiation strategy I know is also the most boring one. No fancy tech. No elaborate lesson design. No creating multiple versions of anything. Just one simple, evidence-backed approach that, when you actually use it, has the power to dramatically reduce the low-level disruptions, work refusal, and off-task behaviour that's making your days harder. Welcome to Part 3 of the differentiation series, and today I'm giving you a front seat to scaffolding, what it actually is, when to use it, and the dead-simple framework I use to implement it in any lesson, in any subject, with any group of students. Let's roll the tape on the I-We-You model, because once you get this, you're not going to be able to unsee it. If you haven't listened to Parts 1 and 2 yet, I'd really encourage you to start there, this episode builds on both of them and will make a lot more sense with that context in place. In this episode, you'll learn: Why scaffolding is the "boring" strategy that's actually classroom management magicWhat scaffolding actually is, and the stepping stones analogy that makes it clickWhen to use scaffolds and what they can look like across different subjects and tasksThe I-We-You model: the three-phase teaching framework that builds student skills and confidence before they ever work independentlyWhy assumptions about what students "should" be able to do are quietly making your classroom harder to manageHow the I-We-You model reduces the constant stream of "what do I do?" questions during independent work timeWhy this isn't extra work, it's just really good teachingHow to access Claire's full Differentiation Toolbox and 50+ Canva scaffold templates inside the Behaviour ClubResources mentioned: The Behaviour Club — full differentiation training + 50+ Canva scaffold templates: https://www.theunteachables.com.au/tbcHave a question, comment, or just want to say hello? Drop us a text! RESOURCES AND MORE SUPPORT: Shop all resourcesJoin The Behaviour ClubMy book! It’s Never Just About the Behaviour: A holistic approach to classroom behaviour management The Low-Level Behaviour BootcampFree guide: 'Chats that Create Change'Connect with me: Follow on Instagram @the.unteachablesCheck out my website

    16 min

  7. Apr 13

    #166: Why telling teachers to ‘just differentiate’ is helping nobody (and what we need to do instead) | The Differentiation Series: Part 2

    Let me be real with you for a second, the word "differentiation" has a bit of a reputation problem. For most teachers, hearing it conjures up images of three separate lesson versions, colour-coded ability groups, and a to-do list that never ends. No wonder it sends a shudder up your spine. But here's the thing: that version of differentiation? It's not what I'm talking about. And it's not what's actually going to help your students, or you. This is Part 2 of my differentiation series, and today I'm giving you a front seat to what differentiation actually looks like when it's done in a way that's realistic, sustainable, and genuinely effective. We're busting the biggest myths, reframing the whole concept, and I'm walking you through my Differentiation Toolbox, the strategies I actually use to embed adaptive learning into lessons, not on top of them. If you haven't listened to Part 1 yet, I'd recommend starting there, because it sets up the whole behaviour-learning link that makes this episode make sense. But if you're ready to stop feeling guilty about differentiation and start actually doing it? You're in exactly the right place. In this episode, you'll learn: Why the way we've been taught to differentiate is setting us up to fail — and what to do insteadThe biggest misconceptions teachers have about differentiation (and why they're holding us back)What "true differentiation" — or adaptive teaching — actually looks like in practiceWhy differentiation needs to be hardwired into your lesson design, not added on afterwardsThe ladder analogy that reframes scaffolding in the most practical way possibleThe tools inside Claire's Differentiation Toolbox: scaffolding, success criteria, learning maps, starter activities, visible learning, and moreHow one lesson can meet every student at their level — without creating multiple versions of anythingWhat's coming up in Part 3 of the series (spoiler: it's all about scaffolding and modelling in detail)Resources mentioned: The Behaviour Club — differentiation training + 50+ Canva scaffold templates: https://www.theunteachables.com.au/tbcHave a question, comment, or just want to say hello? Drop us a text! RESOURCES AND MORE SUPPORT: Shop all resourcesJoin The Behaviour ClubMy book! It’s Never Just About the Behaviour: A holistic approach to classroom behaviour management The Low-Level Behaviour BootcampFree guide: 'Chats that Create Change'Connect with me: Follow on Instagram @the.unteachablesCheck out my website

    19 min

  8. Apr 6

    #165: The "brain builder" mindset shift every teacher needs. Jessica Sinarski on dysregulation, teacher burnout, and the neuroscience behind behaviour

    Every teacher has been there. The class that makes you want to crawl under your desk. The student who seems hell-bent on dismantling every lesson you've planned. And the horrible, shameful moment when you realise you've snapped, yelled, or just completely lost the plot… and it didn't help at all. Here's the thing: it's not because you're a bad teacher. It's because you're a human with a brain, and that brain is doing exactly what it's designed to do under stress. This week, I'm joined by the incredible Jessica Sinarski, award-winning author, innovative educator, and founder of Brave Brains, who has spent more than 20 years translating complex neuroscience into practical, I can actually do this strategies for educators and child welfare organisations around the world. Jess is one of those rare humans who can take the most brain-melting research and make it feel completely accessible. And honestly? This conversation gave me goosebumps more than once. We get into why chaotic classrooms aren't a discipline problem (and what they actually are), the surprising sensory input that could completely change your most challenging class, and the mindset shift that will help you stop taking student behaviour personally, even when it feels very personal. This one is a must-listen, friends. What you'll learn in this episode: Why YOUR brain goes on autopilot when students kick off, and why that's completely normal (not a character flaw)What's actually going on neurologically in a class that feels constantly dysregulated and chaoticThe "pack leader" concept and why calm authority is your most powerful classroom toolHow to shift your internal narrative from "this kid is out to get me" to something that actually helps you respond wellThe anchor phrases that will help you stay regulated when students push every button you haveWhat proprioception is, why it's the hidden classroom management tool you didn't know you needed, and how to use it todayA super simple movement break that works even with secondary students (yes, really)Why connection between students, not just between you and your students, changes classroom behaviourThe "brain builder" mindset shift that will transform how you see your most challenging studentsWhere to find more from Jess: Free Teacher's Guide to ProprioceptionLight Up the Learning Brain (also available at all major online retailers)Behavior Rewired Have a question, comment, or just want to say hello? Drop us a text! RESOURCES AND MORE SUPPORT: Shop all resourcesJoin The Behaviour ClubMy book! It’s Never Just About the Behaviour: A holistic approach to classroom behaviour management The Low-Level Behaviour BootcampFree guide: 'Chats that Create Change'Connect with me: Follow on Instagram @the.unteachablesCheck out my website

    44 min
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About

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!

Information

  • Creator
    Claire English
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    172
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Unteachables Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Unteachables Podcast

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