Rainbow Skies for Teachers

Ask a room full of grade 3 and 4 teachers what their students are stuck on, and times tables come up every single time. It’s one of the most requested topics from our listener surveys, so we knew it was time to sit down and talk about it (again!).
In this episode we’re sharing the simple, low-prep games we actually love for building multiplication fact fluency, the kind you can slot into ten minutes a day without piling more onto your plate. We also get honest about our own tricky facts (sevens were Ash’s nemesis, and eight times eight still trips Alisha up), because fluency was never about being perfect. It’s about practice that sticks. If your students freeze the second they have to recall a fact, this one’s for you.
In this episode, we cover:
Why ten minutes of daily practice beats the occasional big push, and how habit stacking makes it stick
Flip It and Times It, our card game for targeting specific times tables
Spin and Multiply, a game that differentiates in seconds so every student practises at their own level
Dots and Boxes, a strategy favourite that builds mathematical thinking, sportsmanship and social skills
Chatterbox / fortune tellers that are self-correcting, fun to make, and easy to send home
Speedy Numbers, a timed activity for building automaticity and tracking personal progress
A little sneak peek at what’s coming next (hello, division)
Don't forget this is just the beginning… We are working on our multiplication and division fluency pathway. Join the waitlist if you want a hassle-free, done-for-you programme that will get your students automatic in their multiplication and division recall.
Rainbows ahead,
Alisha and Ashleigh
Enjoying the Podcast?
If you’re loving Rainbow Skies for Teachers, we’d be so grateful if you could subscribe, leave a review and share this episode with a teacher friend. Your support helps us reach more educators and continue inspiring teachers around the world.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Flip It and Times It, free version is linked here 
Spin and Multiply 
Dots and Boxes 
Multiplication Chatterboxes
Speedy Numbers - Multiplication
Our new multiplication fluency program - JOIN THE WAITLIST HERE
About Rainbow Sky Creations
Ashleigh Smith and Alisha Hughes are experienced primary educators and the co-founders of Rainbow Sky Creations. With more than 30 years of combined classroom experience teaching in Australia and internationally, they create practical, engaging resources that help primary teachers save time and make learning meaningful and fun. Together, they also host the Rainbow Skies for Teachers podcast, sharing classroom ideas, teacher tips and real-world strategies with educators around the world. Connect with us on Instagram or LinkedIn.
Let's hear from you! Text us!

What do our students really think about the way we teach?
We spend so much time planning lessons, building relationships and trying to create classrooms where every child can thrive. But sometimes, the best thing we can do is simply ask a kid what they think. So, that’s exactly what we did!
In this episode, we’re handing the mic to 11-year-old Monte to get his completely unfiltered take on what makes a great teacher, what makes learning actually fun and what teachers might not realise about the students sitting in front of them each day.
And let’s just say… he has thoughts!
Monte shares why trust matters so much, why some kids won’t ask for help even when they’re completely stuck, and the simple things teachers can do from day one to help students feel safe, liked and believed in.
We also chat about what makes a lesson memorable (spoiler: worksheets aren’t high on Monte’s list), why kids need opportunities to move, play and learn outside, and how the timing of different types of lessons can make a difference to how students engage.
Then, we put Monte through a rapid-fire round covering everything from partner work and reading aloud to maths games, choosing seats, hard questions and what teachers should STOP and START doing in their classrooms.
This episode is a fun reminder that while we’re busy thinking about curriculum, assessment and everything else on our never-ending teacher to-do lists, our students are experiencing school from a completely different perspective.
And sometimes, their insights are exactly what we need to hear.
In this episode, we chat about:
What an 11-year-old thinks makes a truly great teacher
Why feeling liked, trusted and believed in matters to students
What makes lessons genuinely fun and engaging
Why some students don’t ask for help when they’re struggling
The classroom activities kids would choose over worksheets
Monte’s rapid-fire classroom likes, dislikes and teacher recommendations
If there’s one takeaway from this conversation, it’s that relationships matter. When our students know we like them, believe in them and are there to support them when things get hard, we’re creating the conditions they need to take risks and learn.
And perhaps we can throw in a few more maths games while we’re at it!
Rainbows ahead,
Alisha and Ashleigh
Enjoying the Podcast?
If you’re loving Rainbow Skies for Teachers, we’d be so grateful if you could subscribe, leave a review and share this episode with a teacher friend. Your support helps us reach more educators and continue inspiring teachers around the world.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Check out Monte’s favourite UNO Math Games
Find Halloween Inspired Math Resources here
Listen to our Episode about Outdoor Learning here
About Today’s Guest
Monte is a Grade 5 student, sports lover and maths fan who, like many kids his age, has his ups and downs when it comes to loving school!
As the eldest of three children and the only boy in the family, Monte loves surfing, bike riding, sport and pretty much anything that gets him outdoors. He also has a special connection to Rainbow Sky Creations because it all began when his mum was on maternity leave with him, making Monte the little inspiration behind where it all started.
Over the years, Monte has been an unofficial Rainbow Sky product tester, trying out countless games, sharing his ideas and suggesting clever tweaks to maths activities to make them even better for students in classrooms around the world.
About the Podcaster: Ashleigh Smith
Ashleigh Smith is an experienced primary educator, former school leader and Co-Founder of Rainbow Sky Creations. With almost 20 years in education, Ashleigh has taught in Australia and internationally in Dubai, UAE. Today, she draws on her classroom and leadership experience to create practical, engaging resources that save teachers time and make learning meaningful and fun. A passionate cheerleader for teachers, Ashleigh is all about helping educators work smarter, not harder. She also co-hosts the Rainbow Skies for Teachers podcast, sharing practical ideas, strategies and encouragement with primary teachers around the world. Connect with her on Instagram or LinkedIn.

APPLE PODCAST | SPOTIFY | AMAZON
Let's hear from you! Text us!

Ever handed out a “math game” that was really just a worksheet with a dice on top? You’re not alone, and this episode will change how you choose games from now on.
This week Ashleigh sits down with James Russo, a maths education researcher from Monash who spends his days in real primary classrooms testing what actually works. James unpacks the difference between a genuine math game and a gamified worksheet, why the maths has to be baked into the game rather than bolted on top, and the small teacher moves that turn a bit of fun into real mathematical thinking. If you love a good classroom game but sometimes wonder whether your students are actually learning from it, this one’s for you. 
In this episode, we cover:
What separates a real math game from a gamified worksheet, and why it matters
3 things every good math game needs
How to pause a game for a quick mathematical investigation
Using “beat the teacher” and pair play to harness competition without the chaos
Why your energy as the teacher is the secret ingredient to engagement
What’s the one math game your class begs to play? Come tell us over on Instagram, we’re always hunting for new favourites to try.
Rainbows ahead,
Alisha and Ashleigh
Enjoying the Podcast?
If you’re loving Rainbow Skies for Teachers, we’d be so grateful if you could subscribe, leave a review and share this episode with a teacher friend. Your support helps us reach more educators and continue inspiring teachers around the world.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
James’s free math games: surfmaths.com/games
Email James: james.russo@monash.edu
Rainbow Sky Creations UNO Math games
About Today’s Guest
James Russo is a mathematics education researcher and teacher educator with a strong interest in how mathematical games support meaningful learning in classrooms. He’s a Senior Lecturer in Mathematics Education at Monash University and spends a lot of time in primary classrooms working alongside teachers, trying out ideas, tinkering with tasks and games, and exploring how small design choices shape students’ mathematical thinking. James has written extensively for teacher audiences and is a former editor of Australian Primary Mathematics Classroom and Prime Number. He’s known for hands-on, classroom-focused presentations drawn straight from everyday teaching practice.
About the Podcaster: Ashleigh Smith
Ashleigh Smith is an experienced primary educator, former school leader and Co-Founder of Rainbow Sky Creations. With almost 20 years in education, Ashleigh has taught in Australia and internationally in Dubai, UAE. Today, she draws on her classroom and leadership experience to create practical, engaging resources that save teachers time and make learning meaningful and fun. A passionate cheerleader for teachers, Ashleigh is all about helping educators work smarter, not harder. She also co-hosts the Rainbow Skies for Teachers podcast, sharing practical ideas, strategies and encouragement with primary teachers around the world. Connect with her on Instagram or LinkedIn.

APPLE PODCAST | SPOTIFY | AMAZON
Let's hear from you! Text us!

A positive school culture doesn't happen by chance, it grows through the little moments we create every day.
In this episode, Ashleigh and Alisha share a simple but powerful five-day staff morale challenge designed to bring more connection, kindness and joy into your school. Whether you're a classroom teacher, team leader or school administrator, these easy-to-implement ideas will help create a workplace where everyone feels seen, valued and supported.
We'll also chat about why our brains naturally focus on the negatives, why intentionally creating positive moments matters, and how even the smallest gestures can have a ripple effect across your whole school community.
In this episode, we cover:
Why staff morale matters more than ever.
The science behind why we naturally notice the negatives.
Our simple five-day staff morale challenge.
How gratitude can strengthen workplace relationships.
Fun whole-school activities that build connection.
Extra ideas to keep positive school culture growing all year long.
Free printable Staff Morale Challenge resources (linked below).
Our popular Staff Morale blog post.
Rainbow Sky Creations teaching resources.
Have you tried any of these staff morale ideas at your school? Come and share your favourite ways to spread kindness and build a positive school culture. We'd love to celebrate your ideas with our teaching community.
Rainbows ahead,
Alisha and Ashleigh

Enjoying the Podcast?
If you're loving Rainbow Skies for Teachers, we'd be so grateful if you could subscribe, leave a review and share this episode with a teacher friend. Your support helps us reach more educators and continue inspiring teachers around the world.

Resources mentioned in this episode: 
Free printable Staff Morale Challenge
Our popular Staff Morale blog post
Where’s Wally free printables

About Rainbow Sky Creations
Ashleigh Smith and Alisha Hughes are experienced primary educators and the co-founders of Rainbow Sky Creations. With more than 30 years of combined classroom experience teaching in Australia and internationally, they create practical, engaging resources that help primary teachers save time and make learning meaningful and fun. Together, they also host the Rainbow Skies for Teachers podcast, sharing classroom ideas, teacher tips and real-world strategies with educators around the world. Connect with us on Instagram or LinkedIn.

APPLE PODCAST | SPOTIFY  | AMAZON
Let's hear from you! Text us!

Sometimes, the best thing you can do for your students (and yourself) is press the reset button!
In this episode, we share their favourite classroom and teacher reset strategies to help you bring calm, focus and fun back into the school day. Whether your class is feeling restless or you're running on empty, these simple ideas will help everyone recharge and return ready to learn.
We'll explore why taking a reset isn't wasted time, it's actually one of the best ways to improve focus, wellbeing and productivity. From quick classroom activities to simple self-care ideas for teachers, you'll walk away with practical strategies you can use straight away.
In this episode, we cover:
Why classroom and teacher resets are so important.
Quick activities to help students refocus and re-engage.
Creative reset ideas including drawing, origami and games.
Fun ways to lift the mood when your class needs a fresh start.
Simple self-care strategies teachers can use after a busy day.
Have a favourite classroom reset or self-care strategy? We'd love to hear it! Come and share your go-to ideas with our teaching community and help inspire other educators.
Rainbows ahead,
Alisha and Ashleigh
Enjoying the Podcast?
If you're loving Rainbow Skies for Teachers, we'd be so grateful if you could subscribe, leave a review and share this episode with a teacher friend. Your support helps us reach more educators and continue inspiring teachers around the world.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Art for Kids Hub
Origami resources
Listen to previous episodes on brain breaks - Episode 147 and Episode 80
APPLE PODCAST | SPOTIFY  | AMAZON

About Rainbow Sky Creations
Ashleigh Smith and Alisha Hughes are experienced primary educators and the co-founders of Rainbow Sky Creations. With more than 30 years of combined classroom experience teaching in Australia and internationally, they create practical, engaging resources that help primary teachers save time and make learning meaningful and fun. Together, they also host the Rainbow Skies for Teachers podcast, sharing classroom ideas, teacher tips and real-world strategies with educators around the world. Connect with us on Instagram or LinkedIn.
Let's hear from you! Text us!