A few weeks ago I had the absolute pleasure of jumping on the Teacher Takeaway podcast for a proper behaviour-nerd chat… and the second we wrapped, I knew I wanted you to hear it too.

Because if you’ve ever walked into a lesson feeling like you’re doing crowd control (and then gone home thinking, “Why am I like this?!”)… this one is for you.

In this conversation, Aaron and I unpack the biggest misconceptions teachers have about “behaviour management” (spoiler: it’s rarely about the behaviour), why so many of us feel wildly unprepared for the classroom management side of the job, and what actually makes the biggest difference when you’re dealing with that constant drip-drip-drip of low-level disruption.

We also get really practical, teaching presence, routines, attention signals, resetting a class mid-year (YES, you can), and why your nervous system is basically the hidden curriculum in your classroom.

Let’s roll the tape. 🎙️

What you’ll learn

• Why “behaviour management” isn’t actually about behaviour (and how that misunderstanding keeps teachers stuck in whack-a-mole mode)
• The proactive stuff that matters most before anything goes pear-shaped
• How to build a strong teaching presence without being “strict”, cold, or shouty
• The credible vs approachable sweet spot (and why frantic energy accidentally invites chaos)
• What to do when the “grace period” ends in Week 5 😅
• How to reset a class at any point in the year (even if you feel like you’ve missed the window)
• Why low-level disruption is the real big behaviour — and how to reduce it at the mitigation stage
• Practical attention-getting moves: attention spot, stillness, consistent cues, and not teaching over the noise
• Why some off-task behaviour is actually a learning need (hello, task anxiety + chronic failure)
• The reminder you might need today: it’s not your fault… and you’re not stuck

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

What if I told you that you could build connection, boost buy-in, reset the vibe, AND reduce low-level behaviour… in five minutes flat?

No prep. Just you, your class, and a little bit of magic. ✨

In this episode, I’m giving you a front seat to 10 of my favourite grab-and-go community builders, the ones that get students laughing, talking, connecting, and (without even realising it) building the kind of classroom culture that makes behaviour easier.

A couple of episodes ago, we talked about the foundations of community, routines, predictability, felt safety, clarity, differentiation. All the behind-the-scenes cogs that make your classroom feel like a home.

Today?

We’re getting tangible (and fun as heck).

Because here’s the thing… Community building isn’t just a “start of the year” gimmick.

It’s how you:

• Reset a tense class
• Fill five minutes of dangerous dead-air time
• Reconnect when you’re feeling resentful
• Help students feel safe enough to share
• Invest in their emotional piggy bank (so you can make withdrawals later)

And yes — it also helps you fall back in love with your class when things feel a bit… blah.

So if you’ve ever thought:
“They don’t deserve fun right now.”
“They should just come in and learn.”
“I don’t have time for this fluff.”

This episode might lovingly challenge that. 💛

Because connection isn’t fluffy. It’s proactive classroom management.

Inside This Episode:

Here are the 10 no-prep community builders I walk you through:

1. Transformer Triangles – Turn a simple triangle into something creative in 2 minutes. Gallery walk optional. Laughter guaranteed.
2. The Stare Down – Face off, no touching, no breaking eye contact. First to laugh loses. (Use your professional judgment with this one!)
3. Teacher Portrait – Students draw you. Risky? Yes. Hilarious? Also yes. (PS: Only if you’re not sensitive about your ears like I was.)
4. Class Debate – Throw out a juicy “Would You Rather” or controversial question and let them argue it out.
5. Racing Rhymes – Fast-paced rhyming battle in a circle. If you can’t rhyme, you’re out. Chaos in the best way.
6. Coin Toss Battle – Heads or tails showdown. Whole-class energy. No gambling involved, promise.
7. Sticky Slam – Interview your partner for 1 minute, then write down everything you remember. Fact-check. Compete. Connect.
8. Count to 20 – Whole-class challenge: count to 20, but only one person speaks at a time. Two at once? Back to one. Frustrating. Brilliant.
9. What’s Changed? – One student leaves, something in the room changes, they guess what it is.
10. Apple Pie – Guess who said the mystery word in a disguised voice. Year 11s LOVE this one.

RESOURCES MENTIONED

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 seat to the teaching assistants I’ve had in my classroom for years… except they’re not people. They’re systems. Predictable, powerful routines that quietly run the room so I can actually teach with FAR fewer low-level disruptions.

I’m walking you through the non-negotiable routines that have transformed my classroom from chaotic to calm, and how you can start implementing them immediately.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why routines are the purest form of proactive classroom management (you'll hear me nerd out about this A LOT)
• How a tight entry routine sets the tone before you say a word
• What makes a starter task actually reduce low-level disruption (and how to do it right)
• The early finisher routine that stops you from needing to be split into 10 different humans just to respond to the needs popping up
• How to fix the messy middle with visual transition slides
• Why exit tasks are more than reflection, they’re behaviour gold
• How “turn-it-in trays” help you triage learning without drowning in marking
• The exit routine that prevents the Black Friday stampede

🎉Looking for the link to my Routines Mega Bundle? You can find it here!

👂Have your ear on just ONE of the routines from today's episode? Check them out in my shop.

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