Rainbow Skies for Teachers

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 the years and how important it is for schools and parents to work together as a team. 

We also chat about the diverse needs in her own classroom, how tears are okay during your first year (in fact they are normal) and we also touch on the power of having a cheerleader who wholeheartedly believes in you. 

Save this conversation and then share it with a friend because it is gold.

You can access more teacher strategies, classroom inspiration and a wealth of resources by visiting our website  www.rainbowskycreations.com.

Rainbows ahead,

Ashleigh and Alisha

Resources mentioned in this episode

Connect with Lydia and learn more about supporting students with Tourette’s Syndrome through https://www.tourette.org.au/

Learn more about supporting students with ADHD:

https://www.adhdaustralia.org.au/

https://www.adhdwa.org/

Get support during your first years as a teacher inside Transform your First Years

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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 experiences we create for our students.

Today, we share some of our favourite ways to show teachers and colleagues that you care. We chat about:

• Providing surprise coffees for staff
• Leaving amenities baskets in the bathrooms
• Playing ‘secret agent’
• Leaving positive notes
• Setting up a team fitness morning
• Organising a coffee van
• Winter soup roster
• Providing fresh flowers for the staffroom table
• Teachers dressing in theme
• 15-minute massages
• Random raffles for staff prizes
• Bonus idea: Host a random acts of kindness week

Building a school culture that values each other and teacher well-being is a key to success. Not only will teachers feel supported and valued, but the culture will also rub off on the students in our care.

Before you head off, please share this episode with another teacher. Implementing these ideas is always so much more fun when you have a partner in crime. 

Rainbows ahead,

Ashleigh and Alisha

Resources mentioned in this episode

Free Random Acts of Kindness Flyers

Ready-to-print Teacher Morale templates (find a soup roster, positive notes and staff shoutout wall inside this package). 

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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 Science of Reading something teachers need to be paying attention to
• How SOR doesn’t mean we need to throw everything away and start fresh - it is all about the tweaks!
• Small changes teachers can make to make their literacy instruction more SOR aligned 
• What reading lessons look like in classrooms from Kindergarten all the way through to Grade 6.  

We also touch on some of the literacy trends as well as things teachers have been doing for decades and ask Malia if we need to keep them or ditch them all together!

This is a fun episode that will provide you with inspiration, confidence and best practice strategies when teaching reading. 

Before you head off, please share this episode with another teacher because sharing is caring!

Rainbows ahead,

Ashleigh and Alisha

Resources mentioned in this episode

Connect with Malia on Instagram

Sound Mapping Freebie

Grab the Science of Reading Quickstart Bundle

Get a copy of our FREE guide: How to Efficiently Run Reading Groups

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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 talk about these 12 strategies that have helped (and still help) us get those reports written and handed into leadership:

• Eliminate all distractions
• Work at a time when you are at your most energetic
• Prepare your workspace and have everything ready before you begin
• Try batching
• Keep checklists
• Try an hour of Power
• Use positive self-talk (the brain is powerful)
• Remember to refuel your body
• Take breaks 
• Use generic comment banks or AI to help you
• Work smarter
• Be intentional and set mini goals

When it comes to reports, procrastination isn’t your friend. Take these tips and get stuck into those reports - it will be over before you know it!

If you know someone who would benefit from this episode, please share it - we are all about teachers helping teachers here at Rainbow Sky. 

You can access more report writing strategies and tips by visiting our website  www.rainbowskycreations.com.

Rainbows ahead,

Ashleigh and Alisha

Resources mentioned in today’s episode

Join Transform your First Years

The Report Companion

Hour of Power template

Join our Podcast Facebook Group

This episode is sponsored by Transform your First Years – A membership for new teachers that will fast-track your expertise + confidence  – because teacher life is a team sport!

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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 she has faced so far in her teaching degree as an adventure, and we love this mindset. She talks about how the beginning of her career was memorable, rewarding, and eye-opening, how she developed relationships with her students, and how she dealt with behaviour as a casual teacher PLUS some of her favourite go-to resources (they are all linked below).  

If you are a new teacher, a casual teacher or just a teacher who is looking for a little confidence, don’t skip past this episode. 

If you know a teacher that’s relief or casual teaching, share this episode with them.

Rainbows ahead,

Ashleigh and Alisha

Resources mentioned in this episode

Connect with Vanessa on Instagram - @vanessavaccarella

Grab a free copy of Number of the Day

Get our ‘Get Organised’ checklist

A freebie for Casual Teachers

Get support during your first years as a teacher inside Transform Your First Years

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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 prior experience in Music (for the teacher) impact teaching and learning in the classroom?
• What is the importance of teaching Music in the primary classroom?
• How can a mainstream teacher use Music in their classrooms outside of 'music lessons'?
• Some practical ways to implement more Music in your classroom.
• A deep dive into the music platform Ricky and his team have created at Amplify Music Education.

Ricky’s passion and energy is contagious! We hope you love this episode as much as we loved recording it.

Before you head off, please share this episode with another teacher (or even your principal) and help spread the word about how beneficial music can be for our students' brains.

Rainbows ahead,

Ashleigh and Alisha

Resources mentioned in this episode

Enjoy a free trial at Amplify Music Education

Connect with Ricky via his website, on Twitter or through Instagram 

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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 holidays, reestablish the expectations of learning/working habits, and have a bit of fun together.

In today’s episode, we brainstorm some ideas that have worked for us that you may like to use in your classroom too:

• Icebreaker games such as 2 Truths and a Lie
• Ways to refresh your students about how to work together as a team
• Getting your students writing/drawing beyond the typical holiday recount
• Play holiday bingo
• Create a 3D display for the classroom
• Make it a theme day eg, Growth Mindset or Kindness

These are some favourites we have used in our classroom over the years. We hope your students enjoy them, too!

If you are finding Rainbow Skies for New Teachers helpful, we would love it you could share the pod with a teacher friend or two.

You can access more teacher strategies, classroom inspiration and a wealth of resources by visiting our website  www.rainbowskycreations.com.

Rainbows ahead,

Ashleigh and Alisha

Resources mentioned in this episode

• Classroom detectives freebie
• Growth Mindset 3D display
• Growth Mindset Yeti’s
• Lighting up the Year 3D display
• Recount templates

Learn how to save time with our ebook: 8 Secrets to Help Save Time in your Teacher Week. 

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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 procedures to help with classroom management success.

In this episode we talk about:

• How can teachers design effective and efficient procedures?
• How can teachers clearly communicate their expectations when it comes to routines? 
• The 4 T’s when it comes to explicitly teaching your students about these routines. 
• Why is it worth investing time to teach procedures when there is so much academic curriculum to cover?
• If teachers didn’t explicitly teach their procedures at the start of the school year, is it too late to do it mid-year? 
• What can teachers do when students start to get sloppy with the procedures they’re expected to follow?
• The role feedback and reflection play in improving classroom procedures and routines.

Setting up classroom routines can make your teacher life so much easier - and this episode will help you do that!

If you found this episode helpful, please share it with a teacher friend!

You can access more teacher strategies, classroom inspiration and a wealth of resources by visiting our website  www.rainbowskycreations.com.

Rainbows ahead,

Ashleigh and Alisha

Resources mentioned in this episode

• Teacher Approved Podcast
• Hallway Procedures freebie
• Connect wit Heidi and Emily via their website or instagram
• Check out the Teacher Approved Facebook group here

Get more support with classroom procedures and routines with our masterclasses and checklists inside Transform your First Years.

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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:

1. Incorporating student choice
2. Inviting a little friendly competition
3. Connecting to the real world (life outside the classroom)
4. Utilising technology
5. Using open-ended questions and activities

Incorporating these five strategies into your teaching toolkit can increase student engagement and cultivate an involved learning community. 

Remember, every classroom is unique, so don't hesitate to adapt these ideas to suit your students' interests and learning styles. Together, let's empower our young learners to thrive and succeed!

If you loved or could relate to this episode, follow and review our pod to stay updated with the latest content. And send us a post on social media so we can say a personal thank you!

You can access more teacher strategies, classroom inspiration and a wealth of resources by visiting our website  www.rainbowskycreations.com.

Rainbows ahead,

Ashleigh and Alisha

Resources mentioned in today’s episode

• 8 Taylor Swift inspired lessons for your classroom

This episode is sponsored by Transform your First Years – A membership for new teachers that will fast-track your expertise + confidence  – because teacher life is a team sport!

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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 are looking for ways to implement lessons about this message in their classrooms. 

Need more help planning Harmony Day / Harmony Week celebrations? We have got you covered. This free guide is for teachers and lists a range of simple yet effective activities to teach your students about the core meaning and values of Harmony Week in Australia.

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a teacher friend. 

Rainbows ahead,

Ashleigh and Alisha

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• FREE Harmony Day lesson ideas eBook
• Free Harmony Mini Hearts
• Harmony Day Flipbook
• The Harmony Day Project
• I’m Australian Too Book Study - Grades 1 & 2
• I’m Australian Too Book Study - Grades 3 & 4
• Books for Harmony Day blog post

Start your free trial at Amplify Music Education

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