Have you ever felt guilty for switching off after school hours? Like being a “good teacher” means always being available, always saying yes, and always putting yourself last?

In this honest and empowering episode, we sit down with veteran educator and author Erin Sponaugle to unpack the reality of teacher burnout, boundary setting, and why protecting your wellbeing is essential, not selfish.

Drawing on 23 years of classroom experience and insights from her book Teachaholic, Erin shares practical mindset shifts that help teachers step away from the martyr mentality and create healthier, more sustainable teaching habits.

In this episode, we chat about:

• Why teachers struggle to set boundaries without guilt
• The pressure of being seen as the “good teacher”
• The hidden costs of constantly overworking
• The “martyr mentality” and superhero syndrome in education
• Erin’s 7-day mindset shift framework from Teachaholic
• The importance of sustainable teaching practices
• Practical ways to be “closed for the day” after work hours
• How boundaries actually make teachers more effective
• Why self-care is necessary for career longevity

This conversation is a powerful reminder that you can be an incredible teacher without sacrificing yourself in the process.

Because together, we grow, and that includes protecting our peace, too.

Rainbows ahead,

Alisha and Ashleigh

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Connect with Erin on Instagram, Facebook or YouTube

Erin’s website https://www.erinsponaugle.com

Watch Erin’s TEDx talk

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About Today’s Guest

Dr. Erin Sponaugle has taught grades 3-5 for the past 23 years and currently teaches visual art to students at Tomahawk Intermediate School in Hedgesville, West Virginia, USA. She is a former state teacher of the year and a National Board Certified teacher.

Erin recently gave a TEDx talk on teacher resilience and the global teacher shortage. She is the author of two children's books and recently published her first book for teachers, Teachaholic: The 7-Day MindSET Shift to Conquer Burnout, Build Life-Changing Boundaries, and Reignite Your Love for Teaching.

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Looking for simple ways to get your students moving while reinforcing important math concepts?

In this episode of Rainbow Skies for Teachers, we're taking maths learning outdoors with one of our favourite classroom resources: UNO cards!

After the incredible response to our outdoor learning episode, we wanted to share practical ways to combine movement, fresh air, and meaningful math practice. Inspired by a conference presentation we recently delivered, this episode is packed with easy-to-implement games that require minimal preparation and can be adapted across a range of year levels.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why movement and outdoor learning can improve engagement and participation
• How to use UNO cards to create meaningful maths games
• Simple ways to adapt classroom activities for outdoor spaces
• Lots of game ideas covering: Addition, subtraction, odd and even numbers, comparing numbers using greater than, less than and equal to symbols, rounding numbers, multiplication fluency and prime and composite numbers
• Brain break ideas that reinforce maths concepts while keeping students active

Outdoor learning doesn't need to be complicated.

Sometimes the most effective lessons come from taking a familiar classroom activity and giving it a fresh twist outside. By combining movement, collaboration, and hands-on learning, students can build confidence while developing important mathematical understanding.

The best part? Most of these activities require little more than a deck of UNO cards, some chalk, and a willingness to get outside.

There are rainbows ahead,

Alisha and Ashleigh

Resources mentioned in this episode:

FREE UNO games to try

UNO Brain Break cards + presentation

Check out our other UNO card resources here.

Listen to Episode 88: Outdoor Classrooms

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Student wellbeing isn’t an “extra”… it is the foundation for everything else in education!

In this episode of Rainbow Skies for Teachers, we sit down with Ashley McGrath from OurFutures Institute to explore why wellbeing needs to move from the sidelines to the centre of every school conversation.

Ashley shares practical insights into how student and teacher wellbeing directly impact learning, engagement, behaviour, and academic success. Together, we unpack what schools are getting right, where many are struggling, and how educators can create proactive wellbeing cultures that genuinely support students for the long term.

In this episode, we chat about:

• Why student wellbeing is the foundation for all learning
• The connection between teacher wellbeing and classroom success
• Early signs that students may be struggling emotionally
• Creating psychologically safe classrooms where students feel seen and heard
• Why reactive wellbeing approaches often miss the mark
• The importance of preventative mental health education
• Supporting students without teachers needing to “become counsellors”
• How peer influence impacts student decision-making
• Evidence-based wellbeing programs and what schools should look for
• Why long-term wellbeing strategies matter more than one-off initiatives

With experience supporting nearly 1,500 schools across Australia, Ashley brings evidence-based strategies, realistic advice, and an encouraging reminder that wellbeing work doesn’t have to feel overwhelming.

There are rainbows ahead,
Alisha and Ashleigh

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Connect with Ashley via email: ashley@rethinkcolelctive.com.au or LinkedIn

www.rethinkcollective.com.au

https://ourfuturesinstitute.org.au

APPLE PODCAST | SPOTIFY | AMAZON

About Today’s Guest

Ashley McGrath is a founder, author, and systems strategist who works across philanthropy, business, government, and community. He's the author of Rethink - Thriving Young Futures Begin with Systems Change, and the founder of The Rethink Collective, which helps organisations align strategy and collaboration around real social impact.

He co-founded Good in the Hood, a community initiative tackling loneliness in Sydney's Inner West, and Our Futures Institute, which partners with the University of Sydney to bring evidence-based wellbeing programs into schools. He also serves on the board of StreetWork.

Ashley's work is never abstract, it's grounded in a genuine belief that we can build something better, and a practical commitment to doing exactly that.

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