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

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