#161: What we get wrong about classroom management, low-level disruption, crafting a strong teaching presence + more

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