Rainbow Skies for Teachers
Hey there, amazing teachers—this podcast is for YOU! Whether you’re just starting your teaching journey or you're a seasoned educator seeking inspiration, Rainbow Skies for Teachers is here to help you thrive in and out of the classroom.
We’re Ashleigh and Alisha, your enthusiastic hosts and co-founders of Rainbow Sky Creations. With 20+ years of combined experience in primary education, we’re dedicated to sharing practical advice, supercharged tips, and game-changing strategies to help you succeed as a teacher.
Whether it’s crafting engaging lessons or perfecting your classroom management, we’ve got your back. We're on a mission to lead an education revolution; one inspired teacher at a time….
There are rainbows ahead, and together, we're unstoppable!
You can follow us on Instagram or TikTok @rainbowskycreations
To discover more helpful tips + tricks for teachers, head to http://www.rainbowskycreations.com
Rainbow Skies for Teachers
71. The Magic Trick to Develop Number Fluency
As teachers who've been there, we know that building number fluency is about more than just drilling facts—it’s about creating engaging, confidence-boosting experiences that help students develop essential skills for problem-solving and critical thinking.
In this episode, we explore how to make fluency fun, effective, and stress-free for all learners. Alisha shares a personal classroom challenge—her highly competitive Year 2 students—and how a simple Speedy Numbers booklet transformed their motivation and engagement.
We also discuss alternative approaches to traditional timed tests, ways to foster autonomy in learning, and how to differentiate fluency activities for all levels.
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
- How to harness competition in a positive way to build number fluency
- Why fluency is essential for higher-order thinking and problem-solving
- Creative alternatives to traditional timed tests
- How to differentiate fluency activities for struggling learners
- The importance of motivation, inclusion, and celebrating progress
We also explore strategies like personal timers, flexible question goals, peer mentoring, and the “peek and steal” method to help students build their skills while reducing math anxiety. Plus, we share real teacher success stories and practical ways to implement these ideas in your classroom.
If you are looking to implement Speedy Numbers into your classroom, the resources are linked below.
We’d love to know: How do you build math fluency in your classroom? Share your thoughts with us on Instagram @rainbowskycreations!
Rainbows ahead,
Alisha and Ashleigh
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Addition and Subtraction Speedy Number Booklets
Multiplication Speedy Number Booklets
Division Speedy Number Booklets