Rainbow Skies for Teachers

Ever wondered about the superpower of an Occupational Therapist or OT? Today, we enjoyed talking to Dave Jereb, a trailblazer as a paediatric occupational therapist in Australia. With over two decades of experience, Dave is an accomplished practitioner and a true visionary in his field. His unwavering passion for delivering transformative solutions for challenging behaviour alongside his holistic...

Math anxiety can be a significant barrier for many students, causing feelings of fear, stress, and avoidance when it comes to math-related tasks.  Children may suffer from math anxiety for various reasons, including past negative experiences, pressure to perform, a lack of confidence in their abilities, or a perception that math is too difficult or uninteresting. This anxiety can impact their acad...

So often, we only touch base with parents when there is a problem, whether it be academic, social, or behavioural. Today, we chat about how could we make time to communicate with parents about what their children are doing well outside the regular parent-teacher interviews and reports. We know teacher life is hectically busy and this may seem like just another thing to fit in! So, keeping this in...

We have an awesome BONUS episode that you will not want to miss! Today, we are talking with Brittany, a teacher who has been in the classroom for two years. Brittany is so open and genuine in sharing her struggles and wins - we think you will relate to many of them, too (we certainly did).  In this episode, we dive into the many struggles of new teachers, how it is absolutely normal to feel that w...

In this episode, Ashleigh chats with Maddi, a teacher who has just finished her first year teaching in a Year 1-2 class. We wanted to ask Maddi how she found her first year, her struggles, and if she had any advice for those who will walk in her shoes as a first-year teacher this year. Maddi shares so many insightful ideas, including her powerful ‘why’ that explains why she became a teacher in the...

The back-to-school season brings teachers an endless list of considerations. If you are like us, you've got lists, ideas, and school things buzzing in your head most of the time! Beyond the classroom setup and all the back-to-school admin,  it is also super important to spend time planning fun and helpful lessons for your students in the first week. Because, as you know, the students are the...

Imposter syndrome is a real thing! But it is time for you to kick that train of thought to the curb because it isn’t doing you any favours. The good news is you are in the right place to do just that! Have you ever felt like you don’t know what you are doing? Do you feel you aren’t qualified or have enough experience for your job? Do you think soon enough my colleagues are going to discover you&ap...

As we head into the new year, an attractive and welcoming classroom environment is often top of mind. But, the thing you have to remember is that it is you, as the teacher, that makes the classroom. For some teachers, it is important to set up their classroom in a certain way at the beginning of the school year.  The urge to go all out in your first few years of teaching may be strong. If that is...

Teaching is an exciting ride, but it comes with its fair share of worries, especially for newcomers. From connecting with students to balancing work and life, these concerns can be daunting. New teachers often grapple with common worries that can impact their confidence in and out of the classroom. But we are here to help that… During the show, we discuss the following new teacher worries (that we...

We know how overwhelming teaching can feel when you’re just getting started. That’s why we’re on a mission to help as many new teachers as possible to conquer all the biggest challenges encountered at the start of the school year. Join our annual New Teacher Workshop !  During the workshop, we will be going live on January 9th, 10th, 11th of January on Instagram and inside our secret Facebook Grou...

There are not many jobs out there where someone who steps out of university is expected to do and achieve exactly the same thing as someone who has been in the industry and role for 40 years.  That is why we need to support each other when teachers are just starting out (even after teaching for over a decade, things can get daunting and hectic at the best of times). Perfection is a unicorn – meani...

The myriad of choices and factors to consider when thinking about setting up your classroom can be overwhelming.  Every teacher shares the common goal of establishing an inviting environment that fosters a sense of welcome and comfort for their students. Additionally, considering the substantial time you'll spend in the classroom throughout the day, it's crucial that the space brings you...

Christmas is a time of giving. Kindness is a wonderful way to give to others without costing a cent. Here are 7 helpful and simple ideas outlining how you can promote Christmas kindness in the classroom: Daily Reminders Dedicating a specific lesson about Kindness Kindness Advent Calendar Make Kindness Baubles Create Kindness Compliment Wreaths Run a Kindness Kris Kringle Kindness Campaign Flyers C...

It's beginning to look a lot like chaos leading to the end of the school year. For us in Australia, the weather is warming up, and summer holidays are on the horizon, but there are assessments to complete, reports to finalise and Christmas activities to organise. Let’s talk about effective activities and strategies to help you make it to the finish line. Teacher strategies Make a master list...

Today, we are sharing the mic with four amazing Aussie teachers to hear some of their secret strategies to help manage their classes 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 nearly as well. Now is the time to mix it up so you can make it to th...

The research about how important it is to develop our students’ social and emotional learning is growing daily. How our students feel in the classroom is a big contributor to their success. We know that when students feel secure and valued: They form a deeper connection with you as their teacher / trusted adult They are more likely to be ready and open to learning Less conflict occurs in the class...

We want to let you in on a little secret – simplicity is your key to success as a teacher. Keeping it simple will save you time, energy and heartache in the long run. In this episode, we talk about how overcomplicated we can make things for ourselves and how to simplify tasks to make teacher life easier! We discuss how to simplify: Classroom jobs All the papers + digital documents Planning lessons...

Have you ever wondered what the secret sauce is to having the most successful first year as a teacher? Today, we are breaking it down with our 5 strategies for teaching success, especially if you are in your first couple of years. The 5 strategies we cover in this episode: Focus on Relationships Be Flexible Hold onto your Money Make Time for You Authenticity Makes You Human Teaching is like no oth...

What habits make great teachers successful? We have thought long and hard and listed 7 habits that we believe highly effective teachers share and engage in. Let’s do this… The 7 Habits of a Highly Effective Teacher: They use their time efficiently They plan ahead and know where they’re heading They are on top of data collection from the get-go Their main focus in the classroom is relationships The...

Are you drowning in everything that is expected of you as a classroom teacher? We are definitely here to say that the struggle is real, but there are a few simple adjustments you can make today so it doesn’t feel so hard. If there’s one thing teachers DON’T have, it’s enough time. So here are 3 things you’ll want to stop doing immediately if you don’t have a minute to waste: Stop comparing yoursel...

Welcome to Rainbow Skies for New Teachers – your go-to destination for transforming those rookie jitters into teaching magic! 🌈 Whether you're on the cusp of your first teaching adventure, navigating your early years in the classroom, or still dreaming about it,  we're here to guide you through it all! Think of us as your trusty teaching buddies, here to help you become the educator you...