Rainbow Skies for Teachers

This episode is an important one. We sit down with Amy, a renowned expert on teacher wellbeing, to debunk myths and provide actionable insights into how educators can improve their wellbeing.  Amy shares wisdom from her book Teacher Wellbeing: A Real Conversation for Teachers and Leaders. She discusses the deeper aspects of well-being and common mistakes schools make in addressing this crucial iss...

Have you ever been that teacher who has complained or been frustrated by the fact that your students don’t know their times tables? As Grade 3 and 4 teachers, we feel you! Building up your students’ times table fluency is so critical in helping develop their numeracy skills. In today’s episode, we are going to share 10 fun ways to engage your students in learning their multiplication facts which i...

Let’s talk about classroom management to help facilitate calm and compassionate classrooms.  Today our guest, Claire English from The Unteachables, shares how she believes education is a powerful cycle breaker.  Claire is a classroom management expert who is working to shift perceptions about behaviour. She helps teachers all over the world empower themselves by learning about regulation and how o...

As a new teacher, hitting the midpoint of the school year can feel like hitting a solid brick wall. The initial excitement and energy that carried you through the first few months may start to wane, leaving you feeling fatigued and overwhelmed. But don't worry, this is totally normal!  In this episode, we share five effective strategies to help you overcome teacher fatigue, regain your enthus...

Catering for all your student’s needs when teaching Maths is a daunting job! It can feel like you need a clone (or two) of yourself to make it all happen. In this episode, we dive into one of the most common challenges teachers face: effectively differentiating math lessons to meet the diverse needs of their students.  The good news is we have the best solution!  Math groups, also known as math ce...

In this episode, we enjoyed talking to Kailey from The Balanced Educator Podcast. She is a breath of fresh air when it comes to learning and understanding the vital role that co-regulation plays in teaching and student learning.  If you’ve ever wondered how to start effectively co-regulating with your students, you will want to listen to what Kailey has to share.  We unpack: What does co-regulatio...

Have you ever been sitting around the staffroom table and caught yourself saying, ‘There just isn’t enough time'?  It is no secret that teachers are time-poor.  Today, we are discussing time-saving tips, tricks, and hacks that have worked for us over the years. Some of them have been in our toolkit for a long time, and others are totally new discoveries.  One of the keys to being effective at...

You don’t want to miss this episode. Our guests today are making waves in the Aussie teacher space. They are wholeheartedly dedicated to making teachers' lives better and achieving greater outcomes for students. They are change-makers, innovators, teacher empaths, cheerleaders and A-listers for Aussie teachers online.    Welcome to Mr and Mrs Learning Bee, otherwise known as Tam and Jez, the...

We all know what it is like to run reading groups in a primary classroom… hectic, to say the least! It is a time when we get to sit down and work closely with our students, but at the same time, we are managing the remainder of the class that is supposed to be working ‘independently’. Over the years, we have found some activities for the groups working independently that are better than others and...

In this insightful episode, we are joined by Lesley, a passionate advocate for integrating First Nations perspectives in education. Lesley shares her expertise on how educators can move beyond the fear of being 'tokenistic' and truly become allies.  We delve into practical advice for teachers who are nervous or uneducated about First Nations cultures and discuss the powerful impact teach...

There are loads of fun and cute ideas out there for the early years in primary school, but how can we keep our upper primary students engaged in their learning? Today we are joined by Jess Stedman, otherwise known as The Sydney Teacher online, and she shares her teaching philosophy with us. She takes a deep dive into how we can create hands-on, open-ended and engaging classrooms for learners in Gr...

Here at Rainbow Sky Creations, we are all about turning everyday stuff into cool lessons. Enter UNO cards - our hands-down favourite resource for Maths ever! The possibilities are endless for UNO cards to spark curiosity and excitement in learners of all levels.  We share these helpful lessons ideas for all age groups in today’s episode:  Preschool / First Year of School  Colour sorting Identifyin...

Are you a teacher who sometimes feels like everything at school is just too much? Well, guess what? That's totally normal!   We're here to let you know that you're not alone in feeling overwhelmed with all the things teachers have to do. But just because it's common doesn't mean it's good to stay stressed out all the time. We know that being overwhelmed isn't fun...

This is a conversation every educator needs to hear! Today, we dive deep into advocacy for neurodiverse learners in the classroom with Lydia.  Lydia was formally in the medical field and is now a teacher. She is also a mother of 3 children. Her son has a diagnosis of Tourette Syndrome, OCD and ADHD and one daughter has a diagnosis of ADHD.  Lydia shares how she has advocated for her children over...

Schools can be super inspiring and fun or they can be a total downer (trust us, we have seen it all in our teaching careers). It is so important that teachers come to work every day feeling happy and supported because it is crucial for the well-being and overall vibe of the staff.  When your team at work feel appreciated and enjoys being part of the staff team, that energy reflects in the amazing...

What is the best way to teach reading? Today, literacy specialist Malia Hollowell talks to us about best literacy practise.  Malia firmly believes that you don’t need to be a reading specialist to be an exceptional reading teacher. In this episode, she shares tools and strategies that will help all teachers (and therefore students) achieve success.  During our chat, we talk about: Why is the Scien...

Ok, we admit it: Report Writing isn’t the most interesting topic in the world of teaching… but we can promise you that once you have listened to this episode, you will be armed with the best productivity hacks that will see your reports being written and completed in record speed! Managing your time and working productively is the key to writing your reports in less time. Today we are going to tal...

What is the key to success as a beginning teacher? Today we are talking with Vanessa, and she strongly feels that asking for help will propel you forward to become a confident first year teacher (and we agree). It isn’t always easy asking for help but as Vanessa says, progress is the goal and getting the support we need is a much quicker way to get closer to that goal. Vanessa sees any challenge s...

The benefits of music in education have been scientifically proven. Today, we will talk about the practical ways to use this research to create a bigger impact in your classroom.  Ricky from Amplify Music Education joins us and talks us through all the ways Music is beneficial to the students sitting in your classroom as well as some practical ways we can implement it. We talk about: How does prio...

We are dropping this episode a little early to help you get organised - What are some fun ways I can start the new school term on that first day after the holidays?  The first day back after a school break can be challenging for everyone – teachers and students! We are, more likely than not, in holiday mode. The first day is the perfect time to reconnect with your class, find out about their holid...

Classroom routines and procedures can be the magic link that can help your classroom run smoothly. They not only help build your class community and get your students working as a team, but they can save you so much time in your day when done well. Today, we chat with Heidi and Emily from the Teacher Approved Podcast. They are passionate about helping teachers set up classroom routines and procedu...

As teachers, we know engaging our students is key to enriching their learning experiences. That's why we're here to lend a helping hand with five practical strategies for revving up your classroom vibe: Incorporating student choice Inviting a little friendly competition Connecting to the real world (life outside the classroom) Utilising technology Using open-ended questions and activitie...

Harmony Week (previously known as Harmony Day) is celebrated in Australia during March. It is about celebrating cultural diversity, tolerance and inclusiveness of all Australians. The main message of Harmony Week is, everyone belongs in our Australian society. The message of Harmony Week is such an important one to teach the next generation, and it is no surprise that teachers all over Australia a...

Have you heard people online, around the staffroom, in teacher friend circles talking about the Science of Reading? It is a hot topic right now and for good reason. Today, we are joined by literacy specialist Sara Marye from the Stellar Teaching Company. Sara dives into the Science of Reading and what makes it relevant in our classrooms in 2024.  We discuss:  What is the Science of Reading The 5 p...

How can you fit everything into the school day? Time is the one thing ALL teachers battle, but we are here to help you make the most out of the hours in your teaching day. Let’s talk about changing our “Time Mindset” and how less is often more with our 7 strategies: Managing your expectations Being flexible and open to making adjustments Utilising small groups as a teaching method Identifying even...