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What if challenging student behavior is not always simply a discipline problem—but sometimes a sign of overwhelm, anxiety, or disconnection?

In Episode 202 of Growing With Proficiency: The Podcast, I’m joined by French teacher and teacher educator Hélène Colinet to explore classroom management through the lens of nervous system regulation.

This conversation is not about excusing behavior or removing boundaries. Instead, Hélène invites us to pause before assigning motives, consider what a behavior may be communicating, and respond in ways that protect both the student’s dignity and the learning environment.

We discuss practical ways to create the conditions students need to engage and acquire language—including connection, comprehensible input, predictable routines, movement, and teacher self-regulation.

Key Takeaways

• Observe behavior before assigning a motive.
• Safety and clear boundaries can coexist.
• Slow down and check for comprehension.
• Use predictable routines to reduce uncertainty.
• Include both brain breaks and body breaks.
• Address difficult behavior calmly and privately.
• Notice and support your own regulation.
• Remember that our state can influence the class.

Resources Mentioned

• Read the companion blog post
• Learn more from Hélène Colinet
• Follow Hélène on Instagram
• Creating a Powerful First Day of Language Class
• Save Time and Reduce Stress With Classroom Routines
• The Science Behind the Power of Storytelling
• Brain Breaks, Map Talk, and Storytelling
• Growing With Proficiency: The Spanish Teacher Academy

If this episode gives you a different way to think about classroom behavior, share it with a teacher who may need it. Then come find me on Instagram at @claudiamelliott and tell me: What is one small practice that helps you feel more regulated during the school day?