Episodes

Your students can decode words — but something’s still missing. They’re reading words but not books, and it’s choppy, slow, and uncertain. That’s where fluency comes in, the bridge between sounding out and real reading. In th...

This week on The Education Connection, we’re moving forward on our phonics journey by exploring plurals — when to add s and when to add es to show “more than one.” We’ve already built strong foundations with letter sounds, CV...

In this episode of The Education Connection , Robin Wilson explores the power of word families—focusing on am , at , and an to strengthen early reading skills. Discover three engaging, low-prep activities that make decoding f...

Today we’re learning the FLOSS rule — when to double the final letter in short words! ✅ Discover what the FLOSS rule is ✅ Hear easy examples like hill, miss, and buzz ✅ Try 3 fun activities: word sort, “Double It!” build game...

In this episode, we take the next step in our phonics journey by introducing silent e words —also known as Mommy E if you're using Secret Stories in your classroom. After reviewing letter sounds, CVC words, blends, and digrap...

In this episode, we continue our phonics journey by introducing consonant blends paired with short vowels. After reviewing CVC words and digraphs the last two weeks, we dive into how blends work, why they matter, and how to t...

In this episode of The Education Connection , we continue our phonics journey by building on last week’s CVC word practice and diving into digraphs — ch, sh, th, wh, ph, and ck . You'll learn how to teach these essential soun...

In this episode of The Education Connection , we’re diving into the first steps in teaching reading — from mastering letter sounds to blending CVC words . Whether you're teaching kindergarten, first grade, or supporting early...

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...