Episodes

In this episode of The Education Connection, we’re talking about a simple phonics pattern first graders are learning to notice — two vowels together. I share how to teach EA, EE, OA, AI, UE, and UI using easy, no-prep classroom activities you can start this week. I also share a personal reflection after missing last week due to sickness and a reminder from Romans 8:26 that even when we don’t know what to do in our classrooms, the Spirit helps us. Practical teaching and encouragement for the hear...

Why 20 Minutes of Daily Reading Matters More Than We Think In this episode of The Education Connection with Robin Wilson, we talk about why protecting daily reading time matters so much, even when teaching feels messy and unpredictable. This episode is an encouragement for teachers and parents who know reading is important but struggle to make it happen consistently. ✅ Why 20 minutes of daily reading has such a powerful impact on student growth ✅ A realistic look at why protecting reading time...

Blends can be a tricky step in early reading, especially for young learners who know their letter sounds but struggle to put them together smoothly. In this episode of The Education Connection, first grade teacher Robin Wilson breaks down what blends are, why they can be challenging, and how to teach them in a way that actually works. You’ll hear clear explanations, classroom-tested strategies, and two engaging activities—including a movement-based Read the Room activity and a fun “Blend-er” le...

Heading back to school after a break can feel overwhelming. A new year brings fresh expectations, new energy, and sometimes the pressure to change everything at once. In this episode of The Education Connection, I encourage you to pause and reflect on your classroom routines and choose just one part of your day to improve. Instead of overhauling your entire schedule, I talk about the power of small, intentional changes and how they can bring renewed focus and peace into your classroom. I share...

Many teachers I know have some kind of side hustle, not because we don’t love teaching, but because teaching alone often isn’t enough to cover life anymore. In this Christmas break episode of The Education Connection, I’m pausing my phonics series for an honest teacher check-in. We talk about the reality of side hustles, why so many educators feel stretched thin, and how to navigate this season with grace instead of guilt. This conversation is for teachers who care deeply about their students ...

In this episode, we continue our work with r controlled vowels by diving into ar and or. Building on last week’s lesson with er, ir, and ur, I share how teaching phonics through stories helps concepts stick, especially when students need repeated exposure to truly learn. You will hear classroom ready activities for teaching ar and or, including a pirate themed ar strategy, an or decision making game, and an easy hands on word sort that works beautifully in small groups or centers. This episode ...

The Education Connection with Robin Wilson brings together encouragement, real-classroom honesty, simple academic strategy, and a little faith for teachers who want to grow without burning out. Each episode offers practical literacy and math ideas, student support tips, mindset shifts, and reflective conversations about the heart behind teaching. Whether you’re navigating reading fluency, January data checks, classroom behavior, parent relationships, or your own emotional load, Robin keeps it re...

In today’s episode of The Education Connection, Robin shares exactly how she teaches the r-controlled vowels er, ir, and ur in her classroom — and why her students absolutely love it. After hearing Katie Garner explain that all three make the same “errrr” sound, Robin completely shifted her approach. Now she teaches the patterns, using a playful, hands-on activity with toy cars that instantly grabs kids’ attention. You’ll hear how Robin labels cars with er, ir, and ur, lets students “drive” aro...

In this Thanksgiving week episode, Robin offers a gentle heart to heart for every teacher who feels tired, stretched thin, or simply ready for a moment to breathe. Together, we pause to reflect on gratitude, acknowledge the reality of the season, and prepare our hearts for the next three busy weeks leading up to Christmas. Robin shares encouragement for finding calm, noticing the wins that matter, giving yourself grace for the messy moments, and stepping into December with intention instead of ...

In this episode of The Education Connection, Robin shares one of the most important turning points in her teaching journey. Long before she became a confident and successful reading teacher, she remembers the season when she struggled, prayed for guidance, and felt unsure of how to help her students grow. God answered that prayer through an unexpected path that became the foundation of her reading instruction today. Robin teaches how glued sounds work and why they matter, and she breaks them int...

Teaching is heavy work. In this episode, Robin unpacks cognitive overload, the emotional weight of student trauma, the pressure of teacher evaluations, and the toll it takes on your heart and mind. With research, honesty, and encouragement from Lamentations 3:24, this episode offers strength and hope for educators in demanding seasonsI Connect with me on any of these Social Media Platforms. Facebook Instagram YouTube Pinterest Coaching Blog Teachers Pay Teachers: Find Reading Comprehension Str...

Fluency starts with confidence, and confidence starts with sight words! In this episode of The Education Connection, Robin Wilson shares practical ways to help young readers recognize high-frequency words instantly, freeing their brains to focus on comprehension and meaning. You’ll learn how sight words support fluency, how many to focus on each year, and why those little words make a big impact. Robin also shares her favorite classroom-tested activities and a free resource to help you put it a...

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 this episode, Robin Wilson shares: What fluency means Why 20 minutes of daily reading changes everything Three simple ways to build fluent, confident readers How to keep reading time fun with variety and choice 🎁 FREE RESOURCE: Download Robin’s The Read Everyday Challeng...

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, CVC words, blends, and digraphs. Now, we’re helping our students apply those skills in real reading and writing. In this episode, I share simple language to teach the rule, plus three easy activities you can use right away: “One or More?” oral practice game s/es sorting act...

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 fun and meaningful for young learners. Plus, learn how to apply these same ideas across all the basic word families in first grade. Scripture and prayer close out this episode with encouragement for teachers guiding little readers each day. Get Ready for next year with these ul...

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, and word hunt. End with Scripture and a simple prayer to remind us that learning brings wisdom. Connect with me on any of these Social Media Platforms. Facebook Instagram YouTube Pinterest Coaching Blog Teachers Pay Teachers: Find Reading Comprehension Strategies Bundl...

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 digraphs, it's time to help students understand how a silent “e” changes everything. I’ll explain how I introduce this concept using a fun and meaningful story students love, and I’ll walk you through 3 engaging classroom activities that make the “magic e” stick: ✨ Magic E Wand W...

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 teach them effectively. You'll walk away with three engaging classroom activities—Blend & Match Cards, Scoot & Blend, and Blends Bingo—that make learning blends fun and memorable for your students. Get Ready for next year with these ultimate resources. Get Ready for Kinderg...

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 sound chunks alongside short vowels using fun, simple activities that keep young readers engaged. Whether you’re introducing digraphs for the first time or reinforcing them with hands-on practice, you’ll walk away with practical strategies you can use in your classroom tomorrow. ...

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 readers in any setting, these foundational skills matter more than ever. We’ll talk about: Why fluency with letters and short vowels is essential How to assess what your students truly know What CVC blending really looks like Practical, low-prep activities you can use to...

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 — she reminds us that decoding skills alone aren’t enough. If we only teach students to tap out words but never give them time to read meaningful books, we risk creating readers who can decode… but not understand. Robin shares how she structures her small groups using decodabl...

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 four stations I will start with, how I model expectations, and what my students will experience during our very first day of rotating through centers—spoiler alert: we keep it short and sweet! You’ll hear how I teach routines for Heggerty, decodable reading, computer time, an...

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 effective substitute teacher plans, organizing emergency sub folders, and leaving extra activities like coloring sheets, read-aloud books, and time-filler activities. Whether you’re a first-year teacher or a veteran, these classroom management strategies will help you create str...

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 drafting polished parent letters, generating writing prompts, and even recovering lost game directions—this tool is becoming a teacher’s secret helper. Robin also explains how ChatGPT works, addresses common fears about using AI in education, and offers encouragement for usin...