Episodes

In this episode of The Education Connection , Robin reflects on her early teaching years and the powerful shift that happened when she truly understood the importance of phonics and phonemic awareness. But more importantly — ...

Are you getting ready to launch literacy centers in your classroom? In this episode of The Education Connection , I’m sharing exactly how I introduce literacy centers during the first weeks of school. I walk you through the f...

Planning for a substitute teacher can feel overwhelming, but with the right sub plans, your classroom can run smoothly even when you’re out. In this episode of The Education Connection , I share practical tips for writing eff...

In this episode of The Education Connection , Robin Wilson shares practical, everyday ways teachers can use ChatGPT to save time and spark ideas in the classroom. From creating schedules and organizing classroom spaces, to dr...

The first week of school sets the tone for your entire year — and it doesn’t have to be complicated. 📎In this episode, we’ll talk about the two most important goals for your very first day: knowing exactly how every student i...

In this episode of The Education Connection , we're diving into simple, powerful attention-getters and classroom management tools that set the tone for a calm, focused classroom—without raising your voice or losing your mind....

In this episode of The Education Connection , I'm walking you through exactly how I structure and teach my procedures on the very first day of school — and why it matters so much for the rest of the year. From unpacking suppl...

Back-to-School Reset: A Fresh Start for Teachers and Parents In this episode, we're turning the page from summer to school with a practical and encouraging conversation about how to reset for the new year. Whether you're a te...

Spiritual Rest: Reconnecting with God in Everyday Moments Description: In the final episode of our 4-part rest series, we’re talking about the kind of rest that truly restores: spiritual rest . This isn’t about naps or time o...

🎙️ Episode Title: Finding Emotional Rest — Exhale the Feelings You’ve Been Carrying Description: Even during summer break, the weight of the school year lingers—and those "July Scaries" creep in as a new year approaches. In t...

Rest & Restore – Week 2: Mental Rest That Lets Your Mind Exhale ☀️🧠✍️ Your body may be on summer break... but is your brain? In this week’s episode of the Rest & Restore Summer Mini-Series , we’re talking about mental rest —t...

Rest & Restore – Week 1: Physical Rest That Actually Restores ☁️🪴💤 You made it to summer… but why are you still so tired? 😩☀️ In this first episode of the Rest & Restore mini-series, we’re talking about physical rest — and wh...

In this episode of The Education Connection, I share an honest look at what it feels like to hit summer break and still feel completely drained—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Three days in, and the rest hasn’t kick...

🎙️ New Episode: 4 Days to Go — Ending the Year with Fun Games & Heart It’s the final countdown! 🗓️ Only four days left for me, and if you’re running on fumes, this one’s for you, teacher friend. 💛 Let’s wrap up the year with ...

How to Help Your First Grader Make the Leap to 2nd Grade 📚 Is your child or class moving from 1st to 2nd grade? In this episode, we're breaking down the big academic jumps in both math ➕ and language arts ✏️ —from place value...

When It’s OK to Pause: The Power of Rest for Teachers In this gentle and honest episode of The Education Connection , we’re giving teachers something they rarely get — permission to rest. If you’ve ever felt guilty for callin...

🎙️ Preventing the Summer Slide 📚 Summer is a time for fun and relaxation — but it’s also important to keep those young minds active! In today’s episode, we’ll explore simple, effective ways to prevent the "summer slide" and k...

🎧 Small Groups vs. Whole Group Instruction: What’s Best for Elementary Students? 📌 In today’s episode of The Education Connection , we’re diving into one of the most talked-about debates in elementary education: Should we tea...

Anxiety is showing up more and more in our classrooms—but what does it actually look like, and how can teachers respond in ways that truly help? In this episode of The Education Connection , I’m diving into what anxiety can l...

🎉 Big News! 🎉 I have two exciting updates to share with you! 🛍️ 1. My New Store is LIVE! I'm thrilled to announce that the FirstGradeLoves.com store is officially open! If you’re looking for fun, engaging, and easy-to-use res...

✅ Helping Kids Master Sight Words—The Fun Way! 🎉 📖 Sight words are the foundation of strong reading skills, but memorizing them doesn’t have to be boring! In this episode, I’m sharing fun, hands-on activities to help kids rec...

First grade is a big step, and making sure your child is academically ready can set them up for success! 🎉In this episode, we’ll focus on key reading and math skills that every first grader needs, including: ✔️phonics, ✔️flue...

Is your child ready for kindergarten? This Academic Kindergarten Readiness Checklist will help you track essential skills to ensure a smooth transition into school. Designed for parents and teachers, this checklist focuses on...

In this episode, we explore the growing concern of screen time and its impact on early childhood reading development. Research shows that excessive screen exposure can affect attention span, reduce time spent on interactive r...