Beyond Behaviours Series Episode 6: How Does Your Mindset and Belief Systems Impact Your Teaching?
Release Date: 03/12/2025
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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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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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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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...
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Trauma affects how children learn in the classroom. When children don’t feel safe, they cannot access the part of the brain required for learning. If you've ever wondered why some students seem constantly dysregulated, reactive, or withdrawn, this episode will give you the missing piece. What you’ll learn in this episode: Why trauma leaves a lasting impact on a child’s behaviour, emotions, and ability to learn. The difference between simple, complex, and developmental trauma and why it matters. How trauma keeps children stuck in fight, flight, freeze, or fawn states. Why traditional...
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Rewards and punishments might seem like an easy way to manage behaviour, but do they actually work? In this episode of the Beyond Behaviours series, I’m talking about why extrinsic rewards and punitive consequences don’t create long term behaviour change, and what to do instead. If you’ve ever relied on sticker charts, prize boxes, or detentions but found they don’t really shift behaviour, this episode will give you a new way to think about it. What you’ll learn in this episode: Why rewards and punishments control behaviour in the short term but don’t teach long-term skills. How...
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In this episode, I’m focusing on how you can set up your classroom and learning environment for 2025. It’s not about Pinterest-perfect displays but creating a purposeful, functional space where children feel emotionally, physically, and mentally safe. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to balance aesthetics with practicality or you’re unsure how your classroom setup impacts behaviour and learning, this episode is for you. Here’s what you’ll learn: How to avoid overstimulating classrooms that overwhelm neurodivergent learners. Why clutter impacts focus and behaviour and how to...
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Welcome to the first episode of the Beyond Behaviours series, where I’m sharing quick and actionable steps to help you create a conscious classroom that feels safe, structured, and supportive from day one. This episode is all about routines and expectations—the essential building blocks for a classroom where children feel secure and ready to learn. If you’ve ever struggled with behaviours spiralling out of control or felt like your classroom just wasn’t flowing, this is where you need to start. Here’s what you’ll take away from this episode: Why routines and expectations are the...
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In this episode, you will learn how to set up your classroom this year to have a learning environment that’s safe and nurturing, where students can thrive both academically and socially. If you’ve ever wondered how to move away from punitive measures and into a more responsive, emotionally aware teaching approach, this episode is for you. Here’s what you’ll learn: How emotional intelligence, connection, and responsiveness can transform your classroom into a supportive space. Why self-awareness around your teaching beliefs and practices is the foundation for lasting change. How old...
info_outlineSome 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 subconscious beliefs might be keeping you stuck in outdated classroom management approaches
→ Simple shifts that can change the way you respond in the classroom
The way you see behaviour shapes how you deal with it. When you start noticing the beliefs behind your reactions, you can handle things with more confidence and less stress.
Shifting how you see student behaviour changes everything. When you move from control and compliance to curiosity and connection, your whole classroom dynamic shifts.
If you’re ready to go further, The Emotionally Intelligent Educator gives you the tools to break old patterns and feel more in control. Find out more HERE