The Education Connection with Robin Wilson

Teaching Vocabulary in the Science of Reading: Simple Strategies to Build Reading Comprehension

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

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June 27, 2026

Teaching Vocabulary in the Science of Reading: Simple Strategies to Build Reading Comprehension

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June 21, 2026

Phonics Explained: Why It Matters in the Science of Reading

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

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June 14, 2026

Science of Reading Part 3: Fluency – The Bridge Between Phonics and Comprehension

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

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June 7, 2026

What Is Phonemic Awareness? Science of Reading Explained

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

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May 31, 2026

What Is the Science of Reading? Let's Talk About It

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

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May 24, 2026

Why Teachers Can’t Shut Their Brains Off After School Ends

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

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About the Host

Robin Wilson

I’m Robin Wilson, a veteran first-grade teacher and with over 32 years of experience in Sunday School, a successful Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) seller in the 97th percentile, and a passionate educator helping teachers simplify lesson planning.