Stop trying to “fix” behavior, and co-regulate instead.

Too often, teachers are made to feel responsible for “fixing” student behavior.

We’re told to dig into root causes, play trauma detective, or document an endless list of interventions that are impossible to manage on top of attending to the needs of everyone else.

But as Claire English explains, true classroom management starts with focusing on what you can control—NOT on trying to fix everything.

You might know Claire from her prolific presence on Instagram under the account The Unteachables. Claire is an experienced Australian secondary English teacher and senior leader, specializing in supporting students with complex social, emotional, and mental health needs. She’s worked in schools across the United Kingdom and Australia, and is dedicated to transforming volatile, challenging, and chaotic learning environments into places of safety, support, and learning.

Claire later founded The Unteachables Academy, which includes courses such as The Behaviour Club, The Low-Level Behavior Boot Camp, and That'll Teach 'Em, which I'm proud to be an affiliate of.

She's also the author of the book It's Never Just About the Behaviour.

In our conversation, Claire shares a refreshing, sustainable approach that emphasizes:

Guiding behavior instead of controlling it
Using self-regulation as a tool to de-escalate stress in the classroom
Focusing on co-regulation—modeling calm, steady energy to help students regulate themselves

Here are some of the most powerful ideas Claire shared in our discussion ...

Behavior change is a long process. Claire describes it as helping students build new neural pathways. “They’ve been speeding down the same behavioral highway for years. Your role is to show them a different path and gently guide them down it—over and over—until it becomes a new habit. It won’t happen overnight.”
Stop trying to fix everything. Claire emphasizes, “You can’t control behavior. You can only influence it by creating a safe, supportive environment. Every moment of connection, every time you model kindness and calm, is reshaping their brains—even if you don’t see the results immediately.”
Focus on co-regulation. Rather than trying to teach self-regulation in a big, formal way, Claire recommends teaching it through micro-moments: “When a student is struggling, kneel beside them, speak calmly, and offer gentle guidance. Regulation is learned through being regulated by others.”
Create your own island of safety. If you feel unsupported by leadership or left to handle tough behaviors alone, Claire advises reclaiming your space: “You can’t control what your administration does, but you can control the tone and systems in your classroom. Focus on making your classroom an island of safety for yourself and your students.”

This article + podcast episode is packed with insights and practical strategies to help you let go of what’s out of your control, manage behavior sustainably, and feel more empowered in your teaching.

Read or listen to the article

You don’t have to fix everything. You don’t have to carry the weight of behavior management alone. Focus on what you can control, and watch how it transforms your classroom.

Wishing you calm, clarity, and confidence this week,
Angela

P.S. The second unit of Finding Flow Solutions for gr. 3-5 is ready now, called Train Your Brain. These are quick mini-lessons, warm-ups, centers/station activities, and more to introduce kids to neuroscience and metacognition so they can train their brains for learning.

Try out the first unit here for free! If you like it, get the growing bundle for all 6 upper elementary units for just $29 this week. The price will increase as the remaining units are needed.

P.P.S. The middle school and high school units are already completed, and you can purchase those bundles at a reduced rate.