#114: Quick Win Challenge! Use this technique for smooth, stress-free, and energy-saving transitions.
03/13/25 • 4 min
In today’s episode, I’m sharing a simple yet powerful transition technique that can help you regain student attention without raising your voice or using unnecessary energy.
Transitions can be one of the trickiest parts of classroom management. Picture this: students are engaged in a group task, there’s movement, chatter, and productive chaos, but now you need to bring them back to whole-class instruction. Rather than calling for attention repeatedly, try this:
- Play transition music—a predetermined song that signals to students it’s time to shift back.
- Project your laptop screen onto the board and type your instructions in big, bold font for students to follow.
This method is non-verbal, calm, direct, and engaging. It saves your voice, adds a bit of novelty, and helps students smoothly transition without unnecessary disruption. Listen in for tips on making this work effectively in your classroom.
Have a question, comment, or just want to say hello? Drop us a text!
Enrolments for The Classroom Management Lab are now OPEN... but not for long! Join the 2025 cohort before doors close on May 11th.
JOIN MY FREE LIVE TRAINING: TURN YOUR TEACHING INTO A CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT MACHINE
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 today’s episode, I’m sharing a simple yet powerful transition technique that can help you regain student attention without raising your voice or using unnecessary energy.
Transitions can be one of the trickiest parts of classroom management. Picture this: students are engaged in a group task, there’s movement, chatter, and productive chaos, but now you need to bring them back to whole-class instruction. Rather than calling for attention repeatedly, try this:
- Play transition music—a predetermined song that signals to students it’s time to shift back.
- Project your laptop screen onto the board and type your instructions in big, bold font for students to follow.
This method is non-verbal, calm, direct, and engaging. It saves your voice, adds a bit of novelty, and helps students smoothly transition without unnecessary disruption. Listen in for tips on making this work effectively in your classroom.
Have a question, comment, or just want to say hello? Drop us a text!
Enrolments for The Classroom Management Lab are now OPEN... but not for long! Join the 2025 cohort before doors close on May 11th.
JOIN MY FREE LIVE TRAINING: TURN YOUR TEACHING INTO A CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT MACHINE
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
Previous Episode
#113: 1 powerful shift to make in your behaviour chats to create more change
One of the most powerful shifts we can make when addressing student behaviour is to stop lecturing and start leading. Instead of telling students what they did wrong, we need to ask the right questions to guide them toward reflection, accountability, and change.
Lecturing rarely leads to buy-in. It is one of William Glasser’s seven disconnecting habits, and without realising it, we often fall into this trap—especially in the heat of the moment. The result? Students tune out, nod along without truly listening, or push back entirely.
In this episode, I explore how shifting from lecture mode to guide mode creates a more productive and effective approach to behaviour chats. I provide real-world examples of common classroom scenarios and show you exactly how to replace lecturing with guiding questions that encourage self-reflection and responsibility.
Listen in as I discuss:
- Why lecturing does not create real behaviour change. The importance of student buy-in.
- How to shift from telling to questioning. Using questions to encourage reflection and accountability.
- Practical examples of guiding language. What to say instead of lecturing in common behaviour situations.
Mentioned resources:
MASTERCLASS: REAL CONSEQUENCES, REAL CHANGE
Have a question, comment, or just want to say hello? Drop us a text!
Enrolments for The Classroom Management Lab are now OPEN... but not for long! Join the 2025 cohort before doors close on May 11th.
JOIN MY FREE LIVE TRAINING: TURN YOUR TEACHING INTO A CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT MACHINE
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
Next Episode
#115: Brain breaks are my secret sauce for student engagement. Here are my 3 I can't live without!
Check out my Brain Break Bundle!
As a secondary English teacher, I used to struggle with the idea of brain breaks. The pressure to get through content and prepare students for exams felt too overwhelming to justify stopping for “games.”
But my classroom culture was suffering. Students were stressed, disengaged, and burnt out—especially during heavy writing sessions leading up to exams. So I decided to try something different.
When I started embedding brain breaks into my lessons, I immediately saw positive shifts.
- Students focused better and produced stronger writing.
- Transitions became smoother because I could use movement-based games instead of battling student resistance.
- Apathy decreased, and energy in the room improved.
- Rapport and community strengthened as brain breaks became a consistent, positive routine.
The result? Better engagement, improved learning, and a classroom that felt lighter, happier, and more productive.
Listen in as I discuss:
- Why brain breaks matter in secondary classrooms. Overcoming the pressure to “just keep going.”
- Three types of brain breaks you can use today. Upregulation, downregulation, and movement-based games.
- How brain breaks improve engagement, learning, and classroom culture. Small shifts that make a big impact.
Have a question, comment, or just want to say hello? Drop us a text!
Enrolments for The Classroom Management Lab are now OPEN... but not for long! Join the 2025 cohort before doors close on May 11th.
JOIN MY FREE LIVE TRAINING: TURN YOUR TEACHING INTO A CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT MACHINE
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
The Unteachables Podcast - #114: Quick Win Challenge! Use this technique for smooth, stress-free, and energy-saving transitions.
Transcript
Welcome to your weekly Classroom Management Quick Win Challenge . True classroom management is not how we address behavior when it pops up . Instead , it is a compounding effect of many , many micro decisions we make in our teaching practice before the behavior even pops up . In these Quick Win episodes , I'm handing over one actionable , small but mighty tool to help you move the ne
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