145. Unlocking the Root Causes of Classroom Dysregulation with Polina Shkadron

May 13, 2025

Have you ever wondered if that student’s outburst is really just misbehavior—or a sign of something deeper? If you're a teacher facing challenging classroom behaviors and are feeling unsure about how to support students who seem to be struggling as well, this episode is a must listen. I am so excited to have Polina Shkadron to share some key insights that will help you not only understand what’s going on in your classroom, but also why it’s happening—and how you can foster an environment where every student can succeed.

Polina Shkadron is a trauma-certified speech language pathologist who specializes in supporting autistic and ADHD students. In this episode, she dives into the differences between misbehavior and dysregulation, how burnout affects both students and teachers, and why shifting our perspective is key to building healthier classroom relationships. We also discuss practical, brain-based strategies for supporting executive functioning, fostering self-advocacy, and responding to anger and emotional overwhelm in ways that nurture trust and connection. 

CONNECT WITH POLINA:

  • Website: https://playtolearnconsulting.com/

RELATED RESOURCES:

  • This episode is sponsored by: Prodigy Math

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    Sign up for free today at teachingmindbodyandsoul.com/prodigy and bring the magic of math to your classroom!

  • Take the FREE Teacher Burnout Roadmap to Burnout Recovery Quiz - Take this short, fun, and informative quiz to discover what you need to sustain your teaching career and begin burnout recovery. This quiz will help you understand what support systems you need, how to prioritize your mental health to live a fulfilling and energized life as a teacher, and what drives your self-care.

 

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MORE ABOUT THE RESILIENT TEACHER PODCAST:

The Resilient Teacher Podcast is the show that will give overwhelmed educators the support, tools, and mindset to reduce teacher burnout and keep teaching sustainable. Each week, Brittany Blackwell, M.Ed. & her guests will share inspiration and actionable steps to avoid or recover from the dreaded teacher burnout. You'll be inspired to individualize self-care and learn to prioritize your well-being and mental health, all while making a bigger impact on your classrooms and community.

 

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW ON ITUNES:

Are you subscribed to the podcast?  If not, I encourage you to do that NOW so you never miss another episode!  New episodes are added every Tuesday, and if you're not subscribed there's a good chance you might miss out on notifications that a new episode has gone live.  Click here to subscribe on iTunes!

And if you are feeling extra amazing, I would be super grateful if you would leave a review on iTunes, too!  Those reviews help other educators who are burned out and needing support find the podcast, and I love shouting you out on the Community Reviewer of the Week Segment!  Just click here to review, select "Ratings & Reviews" and "Write a Review" and share what you are loving about the podcast!  

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