What To Do About the Chaos In Our Classrooms?

This isn’t news to Australian teachers. Behaviour in Australian schools is in crisis — and it’s wearing many of us down. It was the single biggest challenge in the schools I have worked in.

It has been a problem in the making for decades, but especially since Covid. We are seeing more disruption, more disengagement, and more students struggling with wellbeing than ever before. It’s harder to teach, harder to connect, and harder to get through the day.

And the data backs it up:

• Australia ranks 69th out of 76 countries for classroom disciplinary climate, according to the OECD

• 43% of Australian students say there’s noise and disorder in most or every lesson — well above the global average

• A 2022 survey from Monash University found that 24.5% of teachers report feeling unsafe at work

It’s no wonder nearly half of all teachers are thinking of leaving the profession.

So what do we do? We can’t fix every systemic issue overnight. But we can take charge of our own planning for our classes — and that makes a bigger difference than you might think.

Dr Bill Rogers was always my favourite expert in behaviour management. He reminds us that consistency, clarity, and connection are key. Good planning supports all three. It gives you structure, confidence, and the breathing space to respond (not react) when things go off track.

Five Ways Planning Can Calm the Chaos

1. Clear structure = less chaos
When lessons are focused and purposeful, students settle faster. You’re less reactive, more proactive.

2. Routines that run themselves
Planning ahead makes it easier to build the kind of weekly rhythm that students rely on — especially those who struggle with regulation.

3. Differentiation that works
Knowing what you are going to deliver and how to cater it perfectly for your students needs makes all the difference in the classroom.

4. Engagement is built in
Students act out less when they’re genuinely interested. A great lesson will always ensure that you have them eating out of the palm of your hand.

5. You’re calm, they’re calm
When you walk into class with a clear plan, you are less stressed. And students feel that. A calm teacher sets the tone for a calm classroom.

Planuva Helps You Plan for This

Planuva makes it easy to plan great lessons fast — so you can spend less time fighting fires, and more time actually teaching.

Because the best classroom management tool isn’t losing your cool or the threat of detention. It’s an incredible lesson.

If you are interested, sign up to our waitlist at https://planuva.com

Let’s bring some calm back into the classroom — together.