Rainbow Skies for Teachers

• 73. Our Students Are So Much More Than a Test

  NAPLAN or any testing season can bring a mix of emotions for both teachers and students—stress, pressure, and sometimes even frustration. But what if we approached it differently? In this episode, we discuss how to navigate NAPLAN (testing season) in a way that prioritises kindness, resilience, and a love of learning, rather than just test scores.What We Cover in This Episode:The realities of tests and how it impacts teachers and studentsWhy compassion, creativity, and resilience matter just as much as academic performanceSimple ways to balance test preparation with fun and engaging activitiesHow to nurture passion and curiosity in students beyond standardised assessmentsThe importance of character traits, friendships, and life skills that aren’t measured by testsPractical Ideas for Teachers:Show love encouragement to your students with gift tags with and small treats on test dayPlan physical activities, creativity sessions, or passion projects during test weeksHost a "Genius Hour" after testing to let students explore what they love learning aboutNAPLAN doesn’t define a student’s worth or a teacher’s success. Let’s focus on the bigger picture—building confident, capable, and creative learners.Rainbows ahead, Alisha and AshleighResources mentioned in this episode:Test Gift TagsAPPLE PODCAST | SPOTIFYLet's hear from you! Text us!

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• 72. Harmony Week Inspo for the Entire School Community

  Harmony Week is a special time in Australia to celebrate diversity, inclusivity, and connection in our communities. In this episode, we explore some meaningful and engaging ways to bring Harmony Week to life in the classroom and across the whole school.From math activities that encourage data collection to school-wide displays and read-alouds, this episode is packed with practical ideas that will help students develop a deeper appreciation for cultural diversity and embrace the values of inclusivity.In this episode we share 5 whole school initiatives you can put into action this Harmony Week:How to collect and present school-wide data on students' backgrounds, languages, and favourite foodsIdeas for a Harmony Week whole school displays using hands or our Harmony heart freebieHow to set up a whole-school read-aloud event with books by Australian authorsA Harmony Day project where students interview family or community members about their cultural heritageSimple ways to engage parents and the school community in Harmony Week celebrationsJoin us as we share easy-to-implement strategies that make Harmony Week an impactful and meaningful experience for every student.Rainbows ahead, Alisha and AshleighResources mentioned in this episode:FREE Harmony Day lesson ideas eBookFree Harmony HeartsHarmony Hands craftThe Harmony Day ProjectI’m Australian Too Book Study - Grades 1 & 2I’m Australian Too Book Study - Grades 3 & 4Books for Harmony Day blog postAPPLE PODCAST | SPOTIFYLet's hear from you! Text us!

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• 71. The Magic Trick to Develop Number Fluency

  As teachers who've been there, we know that building number fluency is about more than just drilling facts—it’s about creating engaging, confidence-boosting experiences that help students develop essential skills for problem-solving and critical thinking.In this episode, we explore how to make fluency fun, effective, and stress-free for all learners. Alisha shares a personal classroom challenge—her highly competitive Year 2 students—and how a simple Speedy Numbers booklet transformed their motivation and engagement. We also discuss alternative approaches to traditional timed tests, ways to foster autonomy in learning, and how to differentiate fluency activities for all levels.What You'll Learn in This Episode:How to harness competition in a positive way to build number fluencyWhy fluency is essential for higher-order thinking and problem-solvingCreative alternatives to traditional timed testsHow to differentiate fluency activities for struggling learnersThe importance of motivation, inclusion, and celebrating progressWe also explore strategies like personal timers, flexible question goals, peer mentoring, and the “peek and steal” method to help students build their skills while reducing math anxiety. Plus, we share real teacher success stories and practical ways to implement these ideas in your classroom.If you are looking to implement Speedy Numbers into your classroom, the resources are linked below. We’d love to know: How do you build math fluency in your classroom? Share your thoughts with us on Instagram @rainbowskycreations! Rainbows ahead, Alisha and AshleighResources mentioned in this episode:Addition and Subtraction Speedy Number BookletsMultiplication Speedy Number BookletsDivision Speedy Number BookletsI need all of them!APPLE PODCAST | SPOTIFYLet's hear from you! Text us!

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• 70. Your Year-Round Guide to Free Teaching Resources

  As teachers who've been there, we understand the importance of having reliable, ready-to-use resources at your fingertips. In this episode, we walk you through 12 months of free teaching resources that will make your classroom life easier and more engaging.We're sharing our favourite freebies that we've created specifically for primary teachers, breaking them down month by month so you can plan ahead and feel prepared all year round. All 14 freebies are linked below in the resources section. We dive into practical ways to use these resources, share real stories from teachers who've implemented them, and discuss how these freebies can save you precious planning time while keeping your students engaged and learning.What You'll Learn in This Episode:How we create our resources for maximum impact in the classroomA month-by-month breakdown of free teaching resources you can start using right awayCreative ways to implement these resources across different year levelsReal teacher success stories and implementation strategiesWe explore essential classroom resources including place value mats for maths, ANZAC Day activities, growth mindset cards, and festive end-of-year materials. Plus, we share our favourite ways to use these resources.We'd love to know: Which of these free resources will you try first? (They are all linked below).Rainbows ahead, Ashleigh and AlishaResources mentioned in this episode:January: Class Names Find-a-WordFebruary: Place Value MatsMarch: Friends to Ten Spinner Game & Flip-it Multiplication GameApril: ANZAC Day Word SearchMay: Number of the Day June: Growth Mindset in Action CardsJuly: Making $1 Hands-on ActivityAugust: How to be a Bucket FillerSeptember: Roald Dahl Day ActivitiesOctober: Spooky Number of the Day and The History of Halloween Reading taskNovember: Kind Flyers for World Kindness DayDecember: Kindness Kris Kringle & Creative Thinking Christmas Prompts for Grade K-2 or Grade 3-6.APPLE PODCAST | SPOTIFYLet's hear from you! Text us!

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• 69. Making Play-based Learning Work In Your Classroom

  In this inspiring episode, we dive deep into the transformative power of play-based learning with Amy from Planning Playtime. Whether you're new to play-based learning or looking to enhance your current approach, this episode is packed with practical insights and actionable strategies.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Amy's inspiring journey into education and the story behind Planning Playtime The science-backed benefits of play-based learning in early education Common misconceptions about play-based learning and how to overcome them Practical tips for implementing play-based activities in your classroomJoin Amy as she unveils the magic connection between play and effective learning in early education. You'll discover practical, time-saving ways to weave play-based activities into your daily lessons, backed by evidence-based strategies that really work. From managing time constraints to balancing curriculum requirements, Amy shares simple solutions you can implement in your classroom straight away. Get ready to transform your teaching with play-based learning that truly makes a difference! 🌈Resources mentioned in today’s episodeDiscover more about Amy’s Programs on her website: https://PlanningPlaytime.comConnect with Amy on Instagram: https://instagram.com/planningplaytime Connect with Amy on /facebook:https://facebook.com/planningplaytimeAPPLE PODCAST | SPOTIFYLet's hear from you! Text us!

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