Episodes

Do your students read the words but struggle to understand what they read? In this episode of The Education Connection , we're wrapping up our Science of Reading series by focusing on the ultimate goal of reading: comprehension . I'll share the seven comprehension strategies that have shaped my instruction over the years and explain how I teach them in my first-grade classroom. While my approach has been influenced by the professional book 7 Keys to Comprehension by Susan Zimmermann and Chryse H...

How do you effectively teach vocabulary in the primary classroom? In this episode of The Education Connection , we're exploring one of the essential components of the Science of Reading : vocabulary. You'll learn why vocabulary instruction is critical for reading comprehension , how it differs from sight word practice, and simple classroom activities you can begin using immediately. Robin shares practical, teacher-friendly ideas including preteaching vocabulary before a read aloud, vocabulary sc...

In this episode of The Education Connection , we're continuing our Science of Reading series by exploring one of the most important building blocks of reading success: phonics. What is phonics, and why has it become such a major focus in reading instruction? Join me as we discuss how phonics helps students connect letters and sounds, decode unfamiliar words, and become confident readers. You'll learn: • What phonics is and how it fits into the Science of Reading • Why phonics instruction is rece...

In this episode of The Education Connection, we continue our Science of Reading series by exploring fluency and why it is such an important bridge between phonics and comprehension. Learn the three components of fluency: accuracy, rate, and prosody, and discover simple classroom strategies that help students become confident, expressive readers. Whether you teach kindergarten, first grade, or beyond, you'll walk away with practical ideas you can use right away to support reading success. • The 5...

What is phonemic awareness, and why is it so important for beginning readers? In this first episode of our Science of Reading series, I break down what phonemic awareness is, why it matters, and how you can teach it in your classroom, tutoring sessions, or homeschool lessons. We'll discuss: • What phonemic awareness is (and what it is not) • Examples of blending, segmenting, deleting, and manipulating sounds • Simple phonemic awareness activities you can use right away • How phonemic awareness c...

Have you been hearing the term Science of Reading and wondering what it actually means? In this episode of The Education Connection , I share my perspective and explore what the Science of Reading is and how it connects to the five essential components of reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. As I learned more about the Science of Reading, I realized that many of these components have been part of reading instruction for years. At the same time, the conver...

Summer break is finally here… so why do so many teachers still feel mentally exhausted? In this episode of The Education Connection, Robin Wilson talks honestly about the emotional and mental shift that happens during the first week after school ends. From overstimulation and teacher exhaustion to guilt over resting and struggling to “shut your brain off,” this episode is a real conversation for teachers who are trying to slow down after a long school year. Robin shares encouragement for educato...

In this episode of The Education Connection, I’m sharing how I survive the last week of school in first grade while still keeping students engaged, calm, and learning. If you are looking for last week of school tips for elementary teachers, simple end of year classroom ideas, or ways to keep structure during the final week of school, this episode is for you. I talk about why I keep our classroom schedule as normal as possible during the last week of school, how I use gentle spiral review in read...

Need simple end of year ideas that won’t leave you exhausted? In this episode of The Education Connection , Robin Wilson shares an easy 10 day balloon countdown filled with low prep, low cost activities that elementary students absolutely love. From Sit Anywhere Day and Read Outside Day to Popcorn and Movie Day, Sidewalk Chalk Day, and Movie and Memory Day , these simple end of year classroom ideas help teachers create meaningful memories without adding more stress during the busiest time of the...

In this episode of The Education Connection , Robin Wilson shares simple and effective ways to teach prefixes and suffixes in first grade without overcomplicating the skill. If teaching prefix and suffix feels tricky with young learners, this episode breaks it down into clear, manageable steps that help students understand how words change. Robin explains what prefixes and suffixes are in a first grade-friendly way and walks through how to introduce them so students can actually apply the skill....

In this episode, I share a classroom system inspired by Robert J. Marzano that focuses on one goal: making sure every student truly learns—not just receives instruction. I walk through how I introduce new concepts using “I do, we do, you do,” and how I intentionally listen, track understanding, and respond in real time. Instead of moving on when some students don’t get it, I build in time to reteach, revisit, and provide targeted support throughout the week. From small group reteaching to peer s...

In this episode of The Education Connection , I’m sharing exactly how I teach contractions in my first grade classroom in a way that actually sticks. If you’ve ever introduced contractions and realized your students aren’t quite getting it yet, this episode walks you through a simple, step-by-step approach you can use right away. I’ll show you how I scaffold the skill so students move from seeing two separate words to confidently building contractions with understanding. I’m also sharing three e...

When a teacher recommends retention, it can feel overwhelming for everyone involved. Parents may feel worried or unsure, and teachers know this is one of the most important decisions they make all year. In this episode, we walk through retention from both perspectives. This is not about holding a child back. It is about asking the right question: what will help this child be successful long term? You will hear: • What teachers are really looking at before recommending retention • How age and dev...

In this episode, I’m sharing a simple routine I added to my math block that is making a big difference in what my students actually remember. I’m still teaching my regular lessons and following my curriculum, but I added just 8 to 10 minutes of review at the beginning of math. I call it “Skittle Review,” and while the Skittles definitely help with engagement, that’s not what’s really making the impact. Inside this episode, I walk you through exactly what this looks like in my classroom using end...

Are your students able to read sight words… but struggle to spell them in their writing? Or maybe they can pass a quick sight word check, but don’t recognize those same words in a sentence? In this episode, we’re talking all about how to teach sight words (or trick words) so students can both read and write them with confidence . As we head into the final 6 to 8 weeks of the school year, this is not the time to add complicated routines. Instead, I’m sharing a simple, repeatable weekly system tha...

In this episode of The Education Connection , I’m sharing how I teach one, two, and three syllable words in first grade. You’ll hear a simple explanation of syllables and three easy, hands-on activities that help students hear the beats in words and build stronger phonics skills. If you are teaching first grade syllables and need practical ideas for introducing 1, 2, and 3 syllable words , this episode is for you. What are you working on this week. I'd love to hear about it. Reach out and leave ...

In this episode of The Education Connection , Robin shares an important update about the podcast schedule and a simple classroom strategy for supporting students who are close to reaching grade level. Beginning next week, new episodes of the podcast will be released on Saturdays . Robin explains why this change will help her continue sharing thoughtful and helpful content for teachers each week. Robin also discusses a group of students many teachers know well, the “bubble kids.” These are studen...

In this episode of The Education Connection , Robin Wilson explores one of the most powerful phonics patterns for early readers: Silent E . Some teachers call it Magic E , and in Secret Stories it’s known as Mommy E . No matter what you call it, this small letter has a big job because it makes the vowel say its name. Robin shares a fun classroom approach where she dresses up as Mommy E and teaches students how this silent letter changes words like cap to cape and tap to tape . When phonics becom...

Are you teaching suffix -ing in your classroom? In this episode, we break down what -ing really means, how it strengthens decoding and fluency, and three simple activities you can use right away. Plus, we connect -ing to glued sounds like ing, ang, ong, ung, ink, ank, onk, and unk to help students see patterns inside bigger words. Practical, structured literacy strategies you can use tomorrow. Leave a 5-star review to be entered into a $25 Amazon gift card. Connect with me on any of these Social...

This week on The Education Connection, we are breaking down one tiny suffix that can cause big confusion in the classroom… -ed . Did you know -ed makes three different sounds? It can say /t/, /d/, or /ed/. If your students are reading “jump-ed” or adding an extra syllable where it doesn’t belong, this episode is for you. In this episode, I walk you through simple, practical ways to teach the three sounds of -ed so your students can hear it, feel it, and apply it confidently in both reading and w...

This week, we are tackling three consonant blends like string, spring, strong, and shrimp — words that look simple but require serious brain work for young readers. In this episode of The Education Connection , I break down: • What three letter blends actually are • Why students sometimes drop a sound when reading them • How to slow down instruction to build confidence • Why we should build words before asking students to read them • Four simple, no purchase at-home activities parents can use ri...

In this episode, Robin Wilson breaks down a common phonics mystery: why some students know their letter sounds but still struggle to blend words. Blending is not just one skill. There are different reasons a child might get stuck, and each one needs a different kind of support. Robin explains three specific blending breakdowns teachers see in early readers: sound production, sound linking, and sound memory. You will learn how to recognize each one and, more importantly, what to do about it. This...

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 ...