Rainbow Skies for Teachers

In this special episode, we’re celebrating 10 years of Rainbow Sky Creations with a fun behind-the-scenes conversation about how it all began and how the business runs today. To mark the occasion, our incredible Online Business Manager, Jarka, turns the tables and interviews us about our journey, our partnership, and what the last decade has looked like behind the scenes.
Recorded together in beautiful Jervis Bay, this episode reflects on where it all started, from teaching in Dubai and the idea to create resources for teachers, to building a business that supports educators around the world.
We also chat about the realities of running a creative online business, including the tools we rely on, the products we love most in our store, and the team who helps everything run behind the scenes. Along the way, we reflect on the challenges, the growth, and the mindset shifts that have shaped the last decade.
Whether you’ve been with us from the beginning or are new to Rainbow Sky Creations, we’re so grateful you’re here celebrating this milestone with us.
What We Cover in This Episode:
How Rainbow Sky Creations first began and the moment the idea was born
Why choosing the right business partner makes all the difference
The strengths we each bring to the business
The “North Star” that guides every decision we make
The incredible team who supports Rainbow Sky Creations behind the scenes
Our favourite resources in the store (including one of our most popular maths routines)
The digital tools and platforms that keep the business running smoothly
The challenges we’ve faced along the way and the conversations that helped us grow
How we’ve built a business that allows flexibility for family life
And most importantly, we reflect on the teachers who have supported us along the way. This journey wouldn’t exist without you.
Rainbows ahead,
Alisha and Ashleigh
Resources Mentioned in this episode: 
Free Number of the Day (2-digit and 3-digit versions)
Free Uno Games - Volume Conversions and Place Value
Find our Dots and Boxes games here
Check out our website here. 
Find our online shopify store here.
Listen to Jarka’s podcast: Soulful Nomad Life on Apple podcasts or Spotify. 
APPLE PODCAST | SPOTIFY  | AMAZON
Let's hear from you! Text us!

We’ve got something special to share… and trust us, you’re going to want to hear this!
To celebrate 10 incredible years of Rainbow Sky Creations, we’re saying a HUGE thank you to our amazing teacher community with something a little extra exciting.
Yes, we’ve got a 20% off storewide sale running from May 10 to May 13—but that’s just the beginning.
The real magic? Rainbow Coins have officially landed!
In this episode, we’re giving you a quick and simple rundown of how Rainbow Coins work and how you can start earning rewards straight away. Think of it as a little “thank you” every time you engage with our resources.
Here’s the fun part:
You earn Rainbow Coins every time you make a purchase
You can turn those coins into real credit to use on future orders
And the best bit? Leaving a review earns you a generous boost of coins
That means sharing your thoughts doesn’t just help other teachers, it helps you too!
And because we love a good surprise, we’re also including a gift with purchase during the sale. Spend over $15 and you’ll receive a taster of our much-loved Math Code Crackers - perfect if you’ve been curious to try them out.
This episode is your go-to guide for making the most of the sale, understanding how Rainbow Coins work, and getting rewarded while you do what you already love.
Rainbows ahead,
Alisha and Ashleigh
Resources Mentioned in this episode: 
Shop and earn Rainbow Coins Here
Learn more about Rainbow Coins Here 
Let's hear from you! Text us!

What if leaving at 4 PM actually made you a better teacher?
In this empowering episode of Rainbow Skies for Teachers, we sit down with educator and curriculum creator Shelly Rees to talk about meaningful teaching, strong student relationships, and, most importantly, creating boundaries that protect your personal life.
Shelly shares the moment she realised something had to change. Teaching had become all-consuming, and her family life was feeling the strain. So she made a bold decision: arrive at 7:45 AM, leave at 4 PM. No exceptions. And guess what? Her teaching didn’t suffer. It improved.
Shelly also shares her 4 go-to routines to make her teacher life more smooth, efficient and practical.
Key Takeaways from this episode:
Boundaries make you a better teacher, not a worse one.
Relationships matter more than rigid rules.
Small daily routines prevent overwhelm.
Positive parent communication changes everything.
Teacher intuition is more powerful than trends.
Self-care is a professional responsibility.
If you’re craving balance, clarity and practical strategies that actually work, this episode is your permission slip to do things differently. 
Rainbows ahead,
Alisha and Ashleigh
Resources mentioned in this episode: 
Shelly’s Website: https://appletasticlearning.com/
Shelly’s TpT store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/shelly-rees 
Connect with Shelly on Instagram
APPLE PODCAST | SPOTIFY  | AMAZON
About Today’s Guest
Shelly Rees has over 23 years of experience teaching students in the upper elementary grades. She has a love for learning and believes in providing instruction that is hands-on, fun, and engaging. Shelly is passionate about helping other teachers by creating and providing educational resources that will help reduce their stress-load and deliver great academic results. She is also a mom of 4 grown boys and now 4 bonus daughters, grammy to the cutest granddaughter ever, and lives in rural Wyoming with her husband, Aric. In her free time, she enjoys cookie baking, home projects, and riding in her side by side in the mountains.
Let's hear from you! Text us!

Today, we are diving into how to keep students motivated in math and why engagement is the key to deeper learning and long term success.
Teaching math can sometimes feel like a constant push to keep students focused and on task. Today, we move away from heavy book work and share simple, effective ways to make maths lessons more engaging, meaningful, and enjoyable.
We are sharing practical strategies that help students build confidence, stay motivated, and feel successful in math. By focusing on choice, connection, and capability, these ideas support students to take ownership of their learning while actually enjoying the process.
And the best part? These strategies are easy to implement and can fit seamlessly into your existing maths block.
What We Cover in This Episode:
How autonomy, competence, and relatedness create a powerful foundation for student motivation
Simple ways to give students more choice without overwhelming your classroom
How Code Crackers turn maths into an exciting, story-based challenge
Using chatterboxes to build fluency through quick wins and immediate feedback
How Dots and Boxes supports strategy, problem solving, and engagement
Why Uno cards are a flexible and effective tool for practising maths concepts
Ways to reduce book work while still strengthening understanding and retention
How student progress tracking builds confidence, ownership, and motivation
If you are looking for ways to boost engagement and create a math classroom where students feel confident, connected, and excited to learn, this episode is packed with ideas you can try straight away.
Rainbows ahead,
Alisha and Ashleigh
Resources mentioned in this episode: 
Grab a FREE Christmas code cracker for Grades 1-2 here and Grades 3-6 here.
Explore our Code Cracker collection
Explore our Chatterbox collection
Explore our Dots and Boxes collection
Explore our Speedy Numbers collection
Explore our UNO card resources
Learn more about UNO cards and grab some free games to try here.
APPLE PODCAST | SPOTIFY  | AMAZON
Let's hear from you! Text us!

What does the Science of Reading actually look like in a real classroom?
In this powerful and practical episode, we’re joined by Jen Jones from Hello Literacy, who breaks down the research into clear, doable steps teachers can implement straight away.
If you’ve ever felt unsure about guided reading, running records, sight word lists, or online readers - this episode is your permission slip to rethink, refine, and reset.
What We Cover in This Episode:
Why grouping by skill (not reading level) changes everything
The simple assessment shift that gives you clearer data in minutes
How to use decodable texts without making literacy feel robotic
A smarter way to teach sight words that actually sticks
The permission teachers need when shifting to Science of Reading practices
Key Takeaways:
Teach the skill, not the level
Align your literacy block with decoding research
Progress over perfection when making changes
Use a phonics scope and sequence as your instructional roadmap
Create small group folders organised by phonics skill
This conversation is honest, empowering, and packed with actionable strategies. And perhaps most importantly? Jen reminds us that growth requires experimentation and imperfection is part of the process.
Rainbows ahead,
Alisha and Ashleigh
Resources mentioned in this episode: 
Check our Jen’s website: Hello Literacy
Hello Decodables website 
Jen’s Free Phonics Assessment and Quick Placement Assessment 
Connect with Jen Jones on Instagram
Purple Project Video mentioned
Book mentioned: The ABCs and All Their Trick By Margaret Bishop
APPLE PODCAST | SPOTIFY  | AMAZON
About Today’s Guest
Jen Jones is a veteran educator, literacy consultant, and the founder of Hello Literacy and Hello Decodables. With over 30 years of experience as a classroom teacher and literacy coach, Jen specializes in translating the Science of Reading research into practical, classroom-ready instruction. She is the author of a comprehensive phonics scope and sequence and has created a full library of decodable books and small-group lessons used in schools across the country. Jen is passionate about helping teachers move from confusion to clarity so students can become confident, skilled readers.

Let's hear from you! Text us!