Rainbow Skies for Teachers

What do your students remember most about their time in your classroom?
It's probably not the math lesson or the spelling test. It's how you made them feel.
This week, Ashleigh sits down with James to explore one of the most powerful aspects of teaching: building genuine relationships that help every student feel seen, valued and connected.
From creative morning roll calls and fun call-and-response routines to greeting every child at the classroom door, James shares the simple strategies that have transformed the culture of his classroom. Together, Ashleigh and James unpack why the smallest moments often have the biggest impact, and how making time for connection doesn't mean sacrificing learning.
They also dive into leadership, discussing how school leaders can encourage fun and creativity without adding pressure, and why giving teachers permission to build relationships in ways that suit their own style is so important.

In this episode, we chat about:
Why students remember how you made them feel long after they've forgotten the learning
Creative ways to transform routines into a relationship-building opportunities
Simple greeting rituals
How listening to students' interests can completely change engagement, behaviour and confidence.
Practical classroom ideas 
Why teachers need permission to have fun without feeling like they're creating extra work for everyone else
Relationships aren't something you fit in around the curriculum, they're the foundation that makes great learning possible. If you've ever wondered whether those little conversations, silly moments or personalised gestures really matter, this episode is your reminder that they absolutely do.
Rainbows ahead,
Alisha and Ashleigh

Resources mentioned in this episode: 
Listen to our previous episode with James about brain breaks here.

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About Today’s Guest
James is an innovative educator and passionate primary teacher with over 12 years of experience in education, including 6 years in senior leadership. Throughout his career, he has specialised in curriculum implementation, coaching, innovation, creative arts, and wellbeing—always striving to inspire and engage both students and teachers through creative and out-of-the-box approaches. 
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Book Week is one of the most exciting events on the school calendar, but let's be honest, it can also feel like one more thing to organise!
In this episode, we share a collection of fun, low-prep, and creative Book Week ideas that will have your students excited about reading without adding unnecessary stress to your week.
From engaging classroom challenges and hands-on crafts to whole-school activities that build a love of books, you'll leave this episode with plenty of inspiration to make Book Week memorable for everyone.

In this episode, we chat about:

What Book Week is and why we love it
The Book Detectives challenge that gets students exploring books 
Creative ways to use your school library to encourage curiosity and conversation
A fun book swap that builds excitement around reading 
Turning cereal boxes into impressive 3D book displays 
Emoji-inspired reading response activities 
A global reading challenge that introduces students to stories from around the world
Book tastings that help students discover new authors or stories
A whole-school Where's Wally treasure hunt 
Book Week doesn't have to be elaborate to be memorable.
The most successful celebrations are the ones where teachers and students genuinely share their excitement for books and stories. When we create opportunities for curiosity, conversation and creativity, we're helping students build a lifelong love of reading, and that's what Book Week is all about.
Rainbows ahead,
Alisha and Ashleigh

Resources mentioned

Book Week costume inspiration
Costume inspiration using your Where’s Wally Striped shirt
Our Book Week classroom activity collection
The Book Detectives activity for Grades K-2 and Grades 3-6
Cereal box book covers - Learn how here 
3D Book Week craft
The FREE Where's Wally treasure
Our blog packed with even more Book Week ideas
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Want to help your students become faster, more confident mathematicians?
In this episode, we dive into one of the most powerful number skills you can teach in the early years: doubles and halving. These foundational strategies help students move beyond counting, build number fluency and free up valuable brainpower for more complex mathematical thinking.
Best of all? Learning doesn't have to feel like drill and practice.We're sharing our favourite hands-on activities, low-prep games and engaging classroom ideas that make doubles and halving fun, memorable and meaningful for students in Grades 1–3. 
In this episode, we chat about:
Why doubles and halving are high-impact skills for developing number fluency
How these strategies support stronger mathematical thinking
Fun classroom games like Spot the Number and Flip It and Doubling with Dice
Ways to adapt activities for independent work, partner tasks or small-group challenges
Simple ideas for sending math games home to reinforce learning with families
When students know their doubles and halves automatically, they're free to focus on solving bigger mathematical problems instead of using all their energy to count.
By making practice hands-on, playful and engaging, you're building strong number sense while helping students develop confidence that lasts well beyond the primary years.
Rainbows ahead,
Alisha and Ashleigh

Resources mentioned in this episode: 
FREE Doubles Speedy Number booklet
Doubles Ladybug CraftDoubles 
Spot the Number game
Flip It - Doubles and Halves
Doubling and halving chatterboxes
Guess Who game
Doubling card and dice games
Digital Doubling games
Find more doubling lesson inspo on our blog

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Have you ever felt guilty for switching off after school hours? Like being a “good teacher” means always being available, always saying yes, and always putting yourself last?
In this honest and empowering episode, we sit down with veteran educator and author Erin Sponaugle to unpack the reality of teacher burnout, boundary setting, and why protecting your wellbeing is essential, not selfish.
Drawing on 23 years of classroom experience and insights from her book Teachaholic, Erin shares practical mindset shifts that help teachers step away from the martyr mentality and create healthier, more sustainable teaching habits.
In this episode, we chat about:
Why teachers struggle to set boundaries without guilt
The pressure of being seen as the “good teacher”
The hidden costs of constantly overworking
The “martyr mentality” and superhero syndrome in education
Erin’s 7-day mindset shift framework from Teachaholic
The importance of sustainable teaching practices
Practical ways to be “closed for the day” after work hours
How boundaries actually make teachers more effective
Why self-care is necessary for career longevity
This conversation is a powerful reminder that you can be an incredible teacher without sacrificing yourself in the process.
Because together, we grow, and that includes protecting our peace, too.
Rainbows ahead,
Alisha and Ashleigh

Resources mentioned in this episode: 
Connect with Erin on Instagram, Facebook or YouTube
Erin’s website https://www.erinsponaugle.com
Watch Erin’s TEDx talk

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About Today’s Guest
Dr. Erin Sponaugle has taught grades 3-5 for the past 23 years and currently teaches visual art to students at Tomahawk Intermediate School in Hedgesville, West Virginia, USA. She is a former state teacher of the year and a National Board Certified teacher. 
Erin recently gave a TEDx talk on teacher resilience and the global teacher shortage. She is the author of two children's books and recently published her first book for teachers, Teachaholic: The 7-Day MindSET Shift to Conquer Burnout, Build Life-Changing Boundaries, and Reignite Your Love for Teaching. 
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Looking for simple ways to get your students moving while reinforcing important math concepts?
In this episode of Rainbow Skies for Teachers, we're taking maths learning outdoors with one of our favourite classroom resources: UNO cards!
After the incredible response to our outdoor learning episode, we wanted to share practical ways to combine movement, fresh air, and meaningful math practice. Inspired by a conference presentation we recently delivered, this episode is packed with easy-to-implement games that require minimal preparation and can be adapted across a range of year levels.
In this episode, we discuss:
Why movement and outdoor learning can improve engagement and participation
How to use UNO cards to create meaningful maths games
Simple ways to adapt classroom activities for outdoor spaces
Lots of game ideas covering: Addition, subtraction, odd and even numbers, comparing numbers using greater than, less than and equal to symbols, rounding numbers, multiplication fluency and prime and composite numbers
Brain break ideas that reinforce maths concepts while keeping students active
Outdoor learning doesn't need to be complicated.
Sometimes the most effective lessons come from taking a familiar classroom activity and giving it a fresh twist outside. By combining movement, collaboration, and hands-on learning, students can build confidence while developing important mathematical understanding.
The best part? Most of these activities require little more than a deck of UNO cards, some chalk, and a willingness to get outside.
There are rainbows ahead,
Alisha and Ashleigh
Resources mentioned in this episode: 
FREE UNO games to try 
UNO Brain Break cards + presentation
Check out our other UNO card resources here. 
Listen to Episode 88: Outdoor Classrooms

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