Rainbow Skies for Teachers

In this inspiring episode, we dive deep into the transformative power of play-based learning with Amy from Planning Playtime. Whether you're new to play-based learning or looking to enhance your current approach, this episode is packed with practical insights and actionable strategies. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Amy's inspiring journey into education and the story behind Planning...

Is organising reading groups at the start of the school year stressing you out? We get it. This episode is all about making your back-to-school prep for Reading Group setup smooth, efficient, and effective. We share practical shortcuts, time-saving tips, and proven strategies to help you set up reading groups that work for you and your students. From gathering the right materials to ensuring group...

Are you looking for ways to bring more creativity and joy into your teaching? In this episode, we sit down with Rianna, the educator behind the popular Instagram account, @creationsineducation. Rianna shares her unique approach to blending curriculum goals with fun, hands-on activities that ignite excitement in her students and foster a love for learning.  Rianna kicks off the conversation by shar...

In this episode we’re keeping it real and sharing 5 things we would not be doing if we were teaching in the classroom this year. With years of experience in teaching and supporting educators, we’re reflecting on what really matters, what teachers can let go of, and how to approach the school year with more purpose and less stress. We talk about setting boundaries, prioritising student learning, si...

Starting a new school year can be exciting and a little nerve-wracking for both students and teachers. In this episode, we share 5 simple and engaging icebreaker games that will help you build connections, break the awkward first-day silence, and create a positive classroom culture from day one. These games are perfect for primary classrooms, require minimal preparation, and will get your students...

What sets successful educators apart? We’re diving deep to uncover the secrets behind the habits that drive highly effective teachers! Join us as we explore the core practices we believe shape exceptional teaching, helping students thrive and teachers flourish. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teachers: They use their time efficiently – Prioritising and managing time effectively is essential for a...

We know that as a teacher, time is one of your most valuable resources. That’s why, in this episode, we’re diving into practical strategies to help you reclaim your time so you can focus on what really matters: teaching and connecting with your students. From organisation hacks to simple routines, we’re sharing tips to keep you one step ahead in your teaching life! We break down 7 time management...

We are so excited to share this special replay episode of Ashleigh’s interview on The Teacher Approved Podcast with Emily and Heidi! We had a great conversation about supporting new teachers and how veteran educators can play a key role in helping them thrive.  In this conversation we dive deep into the challenges of teaching, from managing imposter syndrome to finding a healthy work-life balance,...

The holiday season is here, and there’s no better time to embrace the spirit of giving! This episode is all about ways to encourage kindness in the classroom, showing students how small acts can make a big difference.  Kindness doesn’t cost a thing, yet it holds the power to brighten someone’s day—especially during Christmas! Here are 7 easy, heartwarming ideas for incorporating kindness into your...

This week we chat with Jo Edgar, a veteran teacher and the creative mind behind the beloved educational brand, Mrs Edgar. Jo shares her journey into entrepreneurship, fueled by a passion for creating resources that bring both joy and practicality to classrooms.  We dive into the magical moments that make teaching so rewarding and explore the core values that guide Mrs Edgar's beautifully craf...

In this episode, we chat with Kate, a passionate educator and author who writes decodable readers. We dive into the importance of reading as a life skill and explore how it acts as a 'ticket' to broader opportunities. Kate shares her non-negotiables when teaching literacy and walks us through the process of writing engaging decodable books. We also discuss the debate between digital text...

Today we are sharing the mic with some amazing Aussie teachers to hear some of their secret strategies to help manage their class as the year comes to an end. By the time December rolls around, everyone is tired and often our tried and true classroom management strategies that we have been using all year long aren’t working as well. Now is the time to mix it up! Today, we are sharing 9 different s...

Introducing the “Basketball classroom" - Ash is a teacher of 11 years who focuses on not only academic success, but also importantly personal and social success!   Ash aka @mrcurmisclassroom on TikTok is passionate about embedding real-life experiences into his lessons, such as using the Olympics to teach decimals or incorporating Wordle into language activities. He discusses why this approac...

We’ve hit a huge milestone! This episode is extra special as we’re celebrating our one-year anniversary of podcasting! Over the past year, we’ve shared tips, inspiration, and conversations with passionate educators like you. But the journey doesn’t stop here—big changes are coming! We’re excited to announce that our podcast is getting a new name—Rainbow Skies for Teachers—to reflect our mission of...

If you have been sitting on the fence when it comes to incorporating Yoga in the classroom but wasn’t sure how, or you’ve started but need some fresh ideas, then Giselle from Kids Yoga Stories in your gal.  Giselle has taken her passion for yoga, mindfulness and education to created books and resources with the intention of sharing the benefits of yoga for children  everywhere. Not only will your...

“Help! How do I differentiate?”—It’s the number one question we hear from teachers time and time again. Gone are the days when teaching was a one-size-fits-all approach with students simply following along. Now, we understand so much more about how the brain works and how students learn in their own unique ways. That's why differentiation is absolutely essential in today’s classroom. It’s all...

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Kelsey Sorenson, a teacher, homeschool mama, certified life coach and author, to dive deep into the issue of teacher burnout. With educators leaving the profession at an alarming rate, we explore what's driving this exodus and how teachers can protect their well-being. A recent Gallup panel shared that 44% of teachers said they are “always” or “almos...

You have probably heard the saying, “It takes a village to raise a child” but what if we applied this to teaching? Kylie Altier has explored this exact idea of it taking a “village” to educate a child and what she discovered was career changing! Throughout today’s episode Kylie shares how she has gone about this transformation of building a village outside the four walls of her classroom and sprin...

It is often comforting knowing that someone has walked in your shoes before you. Today’s guest, Bridget, has been teaching for 18 months and is here to share all the truths about the good times, the not so great times and what has helped her survive and thrive in the first year of teaching - and Bridget is in fact thriving.  Bridget aka Miss Inclusivity on Instagram, is not only a new teacher but...

Looking for ways to mark student work faster and in a more effective way? You have come to the right place! Marking or grading work can be extremely time consuming and let’s face it, as teachers we can often feel very time poor. At the end of the day, marking/grading is all about giving students adequate feedback about their learning and for you as the teacher to monitor their progress. Too often...

We have fallen victim to these common reading group traps many times! Today we wanted to share the downfalls we have made and share how you can avoid them in your classroom. Reading groups can feel like juggling a million balls. But even though it can be difficult, they are a crucial part of the school day. Run your reading groups more efficiently and calmly by avoiding these common mistakes: Mist...

One of the toughest jobs as educators is working with a class of people who are still learning how to self-regulate. You’re doing your best to get them all onboard with the lesson you want to teach them. In this episode, we chat with Dr Jessica Werner who is extremely passionate and motivated to help schools support and retain amazing teachers! As a global educator and professor of education, she...

Today’s episode has 2 parts, the first is 5 essential tips for preservice teachers embarking on a prac and want to make the best impression from the get-go. The second is for mentor teachers and our advice to help you give your preservice teacher the most valuable learning experience. 5 Essential Tips for Preservice Teachers: Manners aren’t just for kids First impressions are a thing Get involved...

Today our guest is Caley Rose, a pop singer and songwriter who is on a mission to change the narrative of self-confidence with her Music with a Message Program.   In this episode, we talk about: How music is a powerful tool that we’re probably underutilising in the classroom.  What teachers will notice when they start using music as a teaching tool. How transformational music can be to our soul +...

Dennis Matthew is a Speech Pathologist by trade, but he doesn’t only work alongside teachers in schools, he is also an author, songwriter, poet and musician with purpose! Dennis travels around to schools all over USA sharing his passion for the underdog to feel seen and heard.  We talk about a lot in the episode, including: What an in-school speech pathologist does and how do they support students...