In this episode, I reflect as Mr. Funky Teacher, Nicholas Kleve on the truth that kids are always watching us, and that our students learn as much from how we live as from what we teach.
I share a few personal moments that grounded me, including a calm, beautiful evening watching my youngest son play football, the importance of micro breaks, and gratitude that my voice is finally coming back after feeling sick.
I connect this to classroom life by emphasizing that students watch how we react when things go wrong, how we treat struggling learners, and how we interact with other staff. I share why being the calm in the chaos matters, and how our steady presence helps students learn self-regulation, emotional management, and resilience.
I close by encouraging educators to model joy, curiosity, and grit through real stories, reflection, and the way we respond when lessons flop, technology fails, or life gets messy. Kids are watching how to do life, and our example can become the kind of leadership they carry with them.
Show Notes
• I share gratitude for calm, beautiful evenings, including watching my youngest son play football in the perfect weather.
• I reflect on the value of micro breaks and how three to five minutes can help teachers reset and return stronger.
• I talk about being thankful that my voice is coming back after a week of struggling to speak.
• I emphasize that kids don’t just listen to instructions, they watch how we respond, react, and treat others.
• I explain why being the calm in the chaos matters and how it models self-regulation, emotional control, and safety through presence.
• I encourage teachers to model joy, curiosity, and grit, not just teach growth mindset.
• I share examples from outdoor adventures and how I use challenges, setbacks, and small wins to model resilience for students.
• I reflect on technology problems and lesson pivots as real-time teachable moments for modeling calm and perseverance.
Key Takeaways
• Students learn from how we act, not just from what we say.
• Being the calm in the chaos models self-regulation, resilience, and emotional safety.
• Modeling joy, curiosity, and grit helps students learn how to handle challenges and setbacks.
• Reflecting with students after a tough moment can become a powerful learning experience.
• Classrooms are full of teachable moments that come from real life, not perfect lesson plans.
Transcripts
unky Teacher (Nicholas Kleve):
This is Mr. Funky Teacher with BeAFunkyTeacher.com. I’m coming to you with another Be a Funky Teacher podcast. Welcome back, everyone. I’m so excited to have all of you here with me today.
Today’s episode is focusing on Kids are watching. Modeling the kind of grownups you want them to become. That’s what we’re focusing on.
But before we get into it, let’s talk about the three things I’m thankful for.
First, calm, beautiful evenings. Last night I was out watching my youngest son play football, and it was such a beautiful night. It was peaceful and grounding. You didn’t need a jacket, but you weren’t sweating either. It was just perfect out. I was so thankful to be there, watching my son, and being in the moment.
Second, micro breaks. Those little three to five minute moments to take a breath and reset so you can come back stronger. If you can snag a micro break from time to time, it can be really helpful, especially if you’re overwhelmed or dealing with tough behavior. Sometimes a paraprofessional, administrator, or someone else can cover your class for a moment. Micro breaks can be what you need, whether you’re in a school setting or even busy at home. Sometimes you just need that pause.
Third, my voice is coming back. For the last week, my voice hasn’t been very strong. It still feels a little squeaky, but it’s coming back. I feel like it’s stronger. I’m not straining as much to talk. I don’t think it’s a hundred percent yet, but it’s getting better, and I’m thankful for that.
All right, now let’s get into the topic. Kids are watching. Modeling the kind of grownups you want them to be.
Think about it. What kind of grownups do we want our students to become? We need to model that.
First big idea. Kids don’t just listen, they watch. Our students may not always follow our instructions. We know that. But they are watching our behaviors. They see how we react when something goes wrong. They watch how we talk to students who are struggling. They notice how we interact with other staff.
Every moment in the classroom is a lesson, spoken or unspoken. If we want students to grow up respectful, responsible, and resilient, we have to model what that looks like. They are watching how we conduct ourselves.
So I challenge you. Are you modeling those traits every day, in how you talk to students, how you talk to staff, and how you respond when things don’t go according to plan?
Second big idea. Be the calm in the chaos. Write that down. It’s going to be in a test. Be the calm in the chaos.
Classrooms get loud. Schedules get flipped. Behaviors get wild. When chaos happens, how do we respond? We have to be the anchor in the room. When we stay calm in the storm, we teach students what self-regulation looks like. We teach them emotions are manageable. We teach them safety starts with presence, not perfection.
Even with great systems and procedures, school days can still be messy. Being the calm in the chaos helps students see that you are the anchor, and it teaches them how to become an anchor in their own lives. Even when we feel frustrated, we can take a breath, pause, and show control. You’re not just managing behaviors. You’re modeling resilience.
I’ve seen teachers who escalate chaos instead of calming it. That doesn’t serve kids. It doesn’t model what we want students to learn as adults.
Third big idea. Model joy, curiosity, and grit.
It’s easy to teach growth mindset, but are you showing growth mindset? Students need to see curiosity, joy, and grit. They need to see us try something new, admit it’s hard, celebrate small wins, ask curious questions, and laugh at ourselves when things go sideways.
I do this with students through outdoor adventures. I’m pushing myself to be a skilled river stand up paddler and river surfer in whitewater, and it is hard. I talk to students about challenges I face and admit it’s hard. Sometimes I tell them I got up on a wave for thirty seconds, and I’ll even show them videos. I ask curious questions like what I could do differently, like moving my foot on the board. Students laugh with me when I get wiped out. We’re laughing together.
I’ve also shared about a century bike ride I couldn’t finish. I hit the wall around mile seventy and couldn’t finish. I celebrated what I did accomplish, asked what I could have done differently, and I told students how I started puking and couldn’t stop. We laughed about it, and I shared how hungry I was for pizza afterward because I had puked up all my food for the day.
And the point is this. Just because I fail doesn’t make me a failure. That matters for students to hear, because they face setbacks too.
I also talk about technology. Technology can be buggy and not work. I’ve had lessons where I couldn’t finish because I was relying on certain tools, and I had to pivot on the spot. It’s important to stay calm in that chaos, keep a joyful spirit, ask questions like what setting might be causing the issue, and have grit to keep moving forward instead of getting flustered.
I’ve gotten flustered before, and afterward I reflect and realize it was a missed opportunity. Sometimes I even come back the next day and tell students I didn’t like how I handled it, and explain how I should have responded instead. That models reflection and introspection.
Life is not flawless. We are going to face messiness. As educators, we have to look for teachable moments in real time, not just in lesson plans.
So here are the reminders. Kids are watching. You are their model, not just for math or reading, but for how to do life. Show them grownups can stay calm, keep trying, that joy matters, and that mistakes aren’t the end, they are part of the path.
Lead by example. Live what you want them to learn. And keep being that funky teacher they’ll never forget.
Well, that brings our episode to an end. Funky teachers, remember to inspire greatness in young people. And don’t forget to be a funky teacher. Bye now.
