Coffee and Whiteboard Markers Podcast

Teaching is full of tricky moments that no university course fully prepares you for.

In this episode we unpack some of the most common difficult situations teachers face and how we personally try to handle them in real classrooms.

We discuss:

• Students refusing to work
• Constant low-level disruption
• Defiant behaviour and pushback
• Emotional student blow-ups
• Difficult parent interactions
• What to do when lessons completely fall apart
• Managin...

The emotional labour of teaching is rarely talked about openly, but every teacher feels it.

In this episode we unpack the hidden weight teachers carry every day: managing behaviour while staying calm, supporting students through trauma, absorbing constant emotional pressure, and still being expected to show up positively every lesson.

We talk honestly about:

• Why teaching can feel emotionally exhausting
• The pressure of “holdin...

Years from now, your students won’t remember most of the lessons you taught, but they will remember how you made them feel.

In this episode, we unpack what truly sticks with students long after they leave the classroom. From the small moments of encouragement to the way we respond under pressure, we explore the lasting impact teachers have beyond content, curriculum, and assessment.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why students ...

In every school, there are practices that exist simply because “that’s how it’s always been done.” But in today’s classrooms, it’s worth asking: what still works and what are we holding onto that’s no longer serving students or teachers?

In this episode, we take a balanced look at old school teaching practices, the routines, systems, and habits that have stood the test of time, and the ones ...

Classrooms today are more complex than ever. Many students arrive at school carrying stress, uncertainty, and experiences that affect how they learn, behave, and connect with others. In this episode, we explore trauma-informed practices in teaching and how small shifts in our approach can make a big difference for both students and teachers.

We discuss how trauma can show up in the classroom, why behaviour is often a form of communi...

Teaching is one of the most meaningful professions there is, but it’s also one of the easiest to burn out in if we’re not careful. In this episode, we explore what it really means to build a sustainable career in teaching.

From setting healthy boundaries and letting go of perfectionism to protecting your time and redefining success in the classroom, we unpack practical ways teachers can stay effective, motivated, an...

Early career teacher retention isn’t just a statistic  it’s a warning sign.
In this episode, we unpack why so many new teachers are walking away within their first five years. Is it burnout? Lack of support? Unrealistic expectations? Staffroom culture? Or something deeper within the system?
More importantly, we talk about what schools, leaders, and experienced teachers can actually do to change it.

Thi...

Why do classrooms feel harder than ever?

In this episode, we unpack a question that so many teachers are asking right now: Has student behaviour changed — and why does teaching feel more challenging than it used to?

From rising disengagement and emotional dysregulation to shifting expectations on schools and teachers, this video explores the new classroom reality many educators are facing in 2025.

In this discussion, you’l...

In teaching, “going the extra mile” is often celebrated — but what happens when that extra mile quietly becomes the expectation? In this episode, we unpack the real cost of overdoing it in education: the burnout, the guilt, the resentment, and the slow erosion of our personal lives that no one warns us about.

We dive into:

• Why teachers feel pressured to always say “yes”
• The hidden emotional and physic...

Every teacher has those moments — the lessons that crashed, the behaviour calls that backfired, the emails we wish we’d rewritten, and the days we walked out thinking, “Well… that didn’t go to plan.”

In this episode, we dive into our biggest teaching fails from across our careers. Not to relive the embarrassment, but to unpack the lessons, the growth, and the surprising moments of clarity those f...

Some lessons can’t be found in a syllabus, a PD session, or a university textbook — they come from the classroom itself. In this episode, we dive into the real, human lessons teaching has given us: the moments, mistakes, surprises, and shifts in perspective that only experience can teach.

We unpack:

• How teaching builds patience in ways theory never mentions
• Why relationships matter more than routines
• The emotional resil...

Student misbehaviour can feel like a personal attack — even when we know, logically, it’s usually not about us at all. In this episode, we unpack why certain behaviours sting, how to emotionally distance yourself without disengaging, and what it really means to respond as the calm adult in the room.

We explore:

• Why student behaviour feels personal (and why it usually isn’t)
• What’s really going on beneath th...

Teaching doesn’t just shape students—it shapes us.
In this episode, we reflect on how the classroom has changed the way we see ourselves as people, parents, and professionals.

From learning patience and empathy to finding strength in chaos, we explore the deep personal lessons that come from years in education. These are the things no textbook or PD session could ever teach you—the moments that stay with you lon...

We’ve all been there—the class that just won’t settle, the group where every lesson feels like a battle, the moment when trust between you and your students feels like it’s slipped away. In this episode, we unpack what really happens when a class becomes disruptive and, more importantly, how you can rebuild trust step by step.

From understanding what went wrong, to pressing the reset button, to focusing on co...

Teaching is what we do — but it’s not who we are. In this episode, we unpack why it’s so easy for teachers to tie their identity to the classroom, the cost of living like the job defines you, and the freedom that comes when you realise your worth isn’t measured in lessons, marking, or leadership titles.

💬 Share this with a colleague who needs the reminder, and tag me on Instagram @coffeeandwhiteboardmarkers ...

Seventeen years in the classroom isn’t just about teaching students — it’s about learning who you are, what matters, and how to survive the chaos with your heart still intact. In this episode, I share the biggest lessons teaching has taught me about resilience, boundaries, humour, and the reality of showing up every day for young people.

💬 Share the lessons you’ve learned with me on Instagram @coffeeandwhite...

Teaching can feel overwhelming — and sometimes it sneaks up on you before you even realise it. In this episode, we break down how to spot the early signs of overwhelm, the traps teachers fall into when they try to just “push through,” and what you can do instead to reset and protect your energy.

From snapping at small things to over-scheduling yourself into exhaustion, this is a real talk reminder that you can&rsqu...

Some days, just showing up for class feels like a win. In this episode, we get honest about what it’s like to teach when your mental health is under strain. I’ll talk about the hidden pressure to keep the “teacher mask” on, the surprising lessons I’ve learned from teaching through tough seasons, and practical, gentle strategies to help you get through the day without burning out.

If you’ve ever fo...