This is How We Change the Education System
EMpowered
Are you an educator feeling burnt out, overwhelmed, or like you’re surviving from one school holiday to the next? Wondering how to stay in this profession you love without sacrificing your wellbeing? In this powerful and deeply personal episode, I share from the heart, recording with my newborn snuggled up on my chest, about why emotional intelligence and nervous system regulation are not “nice-to-haves”… but essential tools for educators and school leaders today. We dive into the real root causes of burnout, why so many teachers feel like they're drowning, and how we can begin...
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Behaviour Through the Lens of the Nervous System
EMpowered
In this episode, I’m breaking down how behaviour is actually a nervous system response, not a discipline issue. You’ll learn how to recognise what’s going on underneath the behaviour so you can respond in a way that actually helps your students come back to a calm, connected, ready to learn state. I’ll also share the three nervous system states (based on polyvagal theory), what they look like in real classrooms, and why learning to regulate your own nervous system is one of the most powerful things you can do as an educator. What you’ll learn in this episode: Why some kids “flip...
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The EMpowered Podcast Take Over Series: Mindfulness in the Classroom with Olivia at Mindful Hearts Wellbeing
EMpowered
In this episode, Olivia from Mindful Hearts Wellbeing shares how you can bring mindfulness into your classroom in simple, realistic ways without it feeling like “one more thing” on your to-do list. She’ll walk you through what mindfulness actually is (in teacher language), how it helps both students and teachers, and a four-step method you can use to set the tone for a calm and connected classroom especially in the mornings when things feel rushed or unsettled. You’ll also hear a short guided grounding practice at the end of the episode, so you can experience how calming it feels for...
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Beyond Behaviours Series Episode 7: Whole Class Strategies for Supporting Neurodivergent Learners
EMpowered
In this episode, I’m talking about how to support neurodivergent learners in your classroom without having to create a hundred individual plans. Most classrooms aren’t built with neurodivergence in mind. And when kids can’t meet the expectations, we often fall back on the same old behaviour labels of “lazy,” “disruptive,” “off task.” But what if it’s not about the behaviour? What if it’s about the environment? This episode gives you practical, realistic whole class strategies that help students who find things like noise, transitions, verbal instructions or social stuff...
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EMpowered Podcast Take Over Series Building a Culture of Trust and Collaboration with Amie Fabry
EMpowered
Today, we’re joined by Dr. Amie Fabry, an early childhood educator, academic, researcher, policy consultant, and Director of Early Childhood at The Learning Future. Amie’s work focuses on building the confidence, knowledge, and skills of early childhood educators and leaders to create responsive and trusting cultures where both educators and children can thrive. She is also the author of Lead with Intention, the first leadership framework designed for early years education. Leadership isn’t about titles or power, it’s about developing potential in others. In this episode, Amie shares...
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Beyond Behaviours Series Episode 6: How Does Your Mindset and Belief Systems Impact Your Teaching?
EMpowered
Some student behaviours feel harder to handle than others. Some classroom management strategies don’t sit right with you, even though they’re supposed to “work.” Ever wondered why? Your mindset shapes everything about how you teach, how you see behaviour, how you respond to challenges, and even how you feel at the end of the day. But most of us have never stopped to think about where those beliefs come from. In this episode, I’m talking about → Why certain behaviours get under your skin more than others → How your own school experience shapes the way you teach → How your...
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EMpowered Podcast Take Over Series: Supporting Highly Sensitive Children in the Classroom with Jacquie Ward
EMpowered
On the EMpowered Podcast Takeover Series, psychologist Jacquie Ward joins us to talk about something every teacher needs to know. How to support highly sensitive children in the classroom. Some children feel things more deeply, notice the smallest details, and get overwhelmed more easily. These students aren’t being “too sensitive” or “overdramatic”. They’re wired this way. Up to 20% of kids are highly sensitive, and when we understand them, we can support them in ways that actually work. Jacquie Ward is a Psychologist who works with Children, Adolescents & their Families. It...
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EMpowered Podcast Take Over Series: The Connection Curriculum with Matt Pitman
EMpowered
If you’ve ever felt like something is missing in your school community, whether it’s student engagement, teacher retention, or just a general sense of belonging, this episode is for you. Guest host Matt Pittman is talking about one of the most overlooked solutions in education. Instead of sticking with bandaid fixes for disengagement, behaviour, or burnout, Matt shares how prioritising connection can shift your entire school culture and actually make teaching feel good again. Matt is the Head of Senior School at Catholic Regional College Caroline Springs, a Catholic secondary school in the...
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Beyond Behaviours Series Episode 5: What does ‘Meeting Children’s Needs’ in the Classroom Mean?
EMpowered
Behaviour is communication and children act out when their needs aren’t met. But what does that actually mean? And how do we meet their needs in the classroom in a way that helps them feel safe, connected, and engaged? In this episode, I’m talking about what it really means to meet children’s needs (beyond the buzzwords) so you can shift from reacting to behaviour to understanding what’s underneath it. If you’ve ever wondered why certain students seem to be in constant meltdown mode, why some avoid tasks or disrupt lessons, or why connection is such a big deal, this episode will give...
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EMpowered Podcast Take Over Series: Using Boundaries as a Tool to Support Behaviour with Danica See
EMpowered
Boundaries are often misunderstood, but when done right, they create safety, structure, and predictability. The key ingredients for a classroom where children feel secure and engaged. If you’ve ever struggled with feeling like kids are walking all over you or wondered how to hold firm boundaries without resorting to control or punishment, this episode is for you. This episode is part of the EMpowered Podcast Take Over Series, where incredible educators take the mic to share their expertise on creating conscious and connected classrooms. Danica is an early childhood educator, university...
info_outlineIn this episode, I sit down with the incredible Michelle Mitchell, who’s spent years working with teens, tweens, and their families.
Supporting kids at this stage can feel overwhelming, especially when it seems like they’ve got that wall up and are shutting you out. There is so much more going on beneath the surface.
Michelle Mitchell is a former teacher turned tween and teenage expert, with years of experience running youth programs, mentoring young people, and supporting families.
She’s all about helping adults to see what’s really going on in the hearts and minds of tweens and teens and helping them build the kind of connections that truly make a difference.
We talk about how we can really see and support teens and tweens in this phase of their development. It’s not about being cool or getting it right all the time.
What you’ll learn from Michelle:
- Why what you see on the surface isn’t the full story when it comes to teenagers.
- The importance of connection and how teens are wired to crave it, even when they push you away.
- How play can help upper primary and secondary students regulate their emotions (and why we should never cut it out too soon)
- The differences between tweens and teens, and why treating them the same is a massive mistake.
- How to work with social media, not against it, and create a school environment where teens feel safe to unplug and actually be present. There are smart, compassionate ways to help teens balance their online and offline worlds, with boundaries that actually feel good to them.
- Why the shift from primary to secondary school is huge and why this transition needs more attention.
Michelle’s no stranger to the challenges of this developmental phase and she’s here to help you navigate them with compassion and clarity.
No matter how tough your teen or tween acts, what they need most is to feel connected to the adults around them.
Resources for you:
- If you missed the masterclass with Lael Stone and Dr. Billy Garvey, the replay is available. Find out more to see how we’re flipping behaviour support on its head. Here’s the link!
- Learn more about my self paced course, The Emotionally Intelligent Educator, and how it can help you reduce stress, build confidence, and change the way you show up as a parent or teacher.
Connect with Michelle
- Website: michellemitchell.org
- Instagram: @michellemitchell.author
Connect with Em
- Website: emmagentle.com.au
- Instagram: @em_gentle