The Education Connection with Robin Wilson | Public Private and Homeschool Teachers

Robin Wilson
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Courses
  • Weekly

Are you a teacher looking for practical strategies to create engaging lesson plans and improve student comprehension? Whether you teach in public school, private school, or homeschool, The Education Connection is here to support you! 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. Each episode delivers actionable tips on classroom management, reading comprehension strategies, and effective teaching methods. From breaking down comprehension strategies like background knowledge, visualization, and inferences to helping you structure engaging weekly lessons, this podcast gives you the tools you need to succeed. Subscribe now to The Education Connection and start transforming your teaching—one lesson at a time!

  1. 2d ago

    Synthesizing in First Grade: When Our Thinking Changes as We Read

    Synthesizing in First Grade: When Our Thinking Changes as We Read In this week's episode of The Education Connection, I'm sharing how I teach synthesizing, a reading comprehension strategy that helps students recognize how their thinking changes as they read and learn new information. I'll walk you through my classroom routine, starting with a simple anchor chart, making predictions halfway through a read-aloud, and comparing those predictions to what actually happens at the end. Plus, I'm sharing how I'm taking this lesson one step further by connecting reading comprehension with writing. Students will have opportunities to draw and write about what they originally thought would happen, what actually happened, and how their thinking changed along the way. Whether you're introducing synthesizing for the first time or looking for a meaningful way to help young learners explain their thinking in writing, I hope this episode gives you some practical ideas to try in your classroom! ❤️ Let's stay connected! Visit my website for more first-grade teaching ideas and resources: https://firstgradeloves.com Want more practical teaching ideas delivered to your inbox? Join my email list and grab my FREE roadmap for helping students respond to their reading! https://winning-founder-891.kit.com The Education Connection with Robin Wilson Helping little learners grow as readers, writers, and thinkers!

    Synthesizing in First Grade: When Our Thinking Changes as We Read

  2. Oct 26

    How to Teach Visualization | Writing about Reading

    Making Pictures in Our Minds: Teaching Visualization in First Grade | Writing About Reading Series What do popcorn, a good book, and a little imagination have in common? They're all part of one of my favorite reading comprehension lessons! 🍿📚 In this episode of The Education Connection, I'm sharing how I teach visualization in my first-grade classroom by turning our read-aloud into a little movie-theater experience! With popcorn bags, a movie-film anchor chart, and a surprise illustration reveal, my students learn how to create mental pictures using the author's words. I'm also sharing how I'm taking this lesson one step further by connecting visualization to Writing About Reading. Instead of simply drawing what they imagine, students learn to put those mental pictures into words and write complete sentences about what they visualize. We'll talk about modeling visualization, encouraging students to use details from the text, and helping young readers understand that their mental pictures don't have to look exactly like the illustrator's. Whether you're teaching visualization for the first time or looking for a meaningful way to connect reading comprehension with writing, I hope this episode gives you an idea you can use in your classroom! ❤️ Let's connect! Visit my website for more first-grade teaching ideas and resources: https://firstgradeloves.com The Education Connection with Robin Wilson Helping little learners grow as readers, writers, and thinkers! Want more first-grade teaching ideas and Writing About Reading tips? Subscribe to my email list and grab your FREE Writing About What We Read Roadmap! https://firstgradeloves.com/writing-roadmap/

    How to Teach Visualization | Writing about Reading

  3. Oct 18

    How to Teach Questioning Strategy | Writing About Reading Series

    How to Teach Questioning in First Grade | Writing About Reading Series Are your first graders full of questions? Let's put that natural curiosity to work during reading! In this episode of The Education Connection, Robin Wilson from First Grade Love shares simple, practical ways to teach questioning as a reading comprehension strategy in kindergarten, first grade, and second grade. Discover how to help students ask meaningful questions before, during, and after reading—and how to turn those questions into drawing and writing activities that encourage deeper thinking. We'll talk about creating a simple questioning anchor chart, modeling questions during a read-aloud, using partner talk, and helping students write their own "I wonder..." questions. You'll also hear ideas for using fiction and nonfiction books to encourage curiosity and help students return to the text to find answers. The best part? These activities don't require complicated lesson plans or hours of preparation. Just a good book, meaningful conversation, and a little curiosity! In this episode: Teaching questioning before, during, and after readingModeling questions with picture booksCreating an easy questioning anchor chartUsing partner talk and sentence startersTurning student questions into writing responsesEncouraging students to find answers in the textLet's stay connected! Find more first-grade teaching ideas, reading comprehension strategies, and classroom resources at: https://firstgradeloves.com Explore my teaching resources on Teachers Pay Teachers: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/robin-wilson-first

    How to Teach Questioning Strategy | Writing About Reading Series

  4. Oct 14

    How to Teach Text-to-World Connections in First Grade | Writing About Reading Series

    In this episode of The Education Connection, we're wrapping up our three-part series on making connections with text-to-world connections! Discover simple ways to help first graders connect what they're reading to the world around them through seasons, holidays, community events, and everyday experiences. I'll share picture book recommendations, a simple anchor chart idea, and practical ways to turn reading connections into meaningful drawing and writing activities. Remember, if they can say it, they can write it! Missed the previous episodes? Go back and listen to Text-to-Text Connections and Text-to-Self Connections! Resources Mentioned: Text-to-Text, Text-to-Self, and Text-to-World Student Response Sheets: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Text-to-Text-Text-to-Self-Text-to-World-Connections-1736887 Visit my blog for teaching ideas and freebies: https://firstgradeloves.com Join my email list: https://winning-founder-891.kit.com Scripture: Matthew 5:16 (KJV) Connect with me on any of these Social Media Platforms. Sign up for my Weekly Email Facebook Instagram YouTube Pinterest Coaching Website Teachers Pay Teachers: Find Reading Comprehension Strategies Bundle Find Genesis Bible Stories Bundle

    How to Teach Text-to-World Connections in First Grade | Writing About Reading Series

  5. Sep 28

    How to Teach Text to Self Reading Comprehension | Writing About Reading Series

    How do you teach text-to-self connections in first grade in a way young readers can really understand? In this episode of The Education Connection, Robin Wilson continues the Writing About Reading Series with a simple, classroom-tested approach to teaching text-to-self connections. Learn how to introduce the strategy with a Book → Me anchor chart, model your own connection, and help students connect events and feelings in a story to experiences from their own lives. Robin also shares how she moves first graders from reading and talking to drawing and writing about their connections. Because if they can say it, they can write it! You'll also hear how to help students move beyond random or surface-level connections and begin making connections that actually help them understand what they're reading. 🎁 FREE Text-to-Self Connections Printable A free printable that goes along with this lesson is available on the First Grade Love blog. Use it as a visual reminder to help students think about meaningful connections between a book and their own lives. Get the FREE printable here: 📚 Text-to-Text, Text-to-Self & Text-to-World Connections Want ready-to-use student response sheets for all three types of reading connections? https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Text-to-Text-Text-to-Self-Text-to-World-Connections-1736887 💌 Join First Grade Love Get teaching ideas, freebies, and new Writing About Reading resources delivered to your inbox: https://winning-founder-891.kit.com In the next episode, we'll finish our three-part look at making connections with Text-to-World Connections. 📖 Scripture: James 1:22 “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only…” When we read, the words on the page can connect to something beyond the page, and sometimes they can connect directly to our own lives. Happy teaching!

    How to Teach Text to Self Reading Comprehension | Writing About Reading Series

  6. Sep 21

    How to teach Text-to-Text Comprehension Strategy | Writing About Reading Series

    How do you teach text-to-text connections in first grade without making the strategy too complicated for young readers? In this episode of The Education Connection, Robin Wilson shares the simple, step-by-step way she teaches first graders to connect one text to another as part of her Writing About Reading series. You'll hear how Robin uses a simple anchor chart with two books and a large arrow, chooses books with easy-to-find connections, and spreads the lesson across two days. She also shares why different versions of familiar stories, such as The Three Little Pigs and Cinderella, work so well when introducing this reading comprehension strategy. Then, Robin explains how she moves students from talking about their connections to drawing and writing about them. If they can say it, they can write it! 🎁 FREE Text-to-Text Connections Printable Grab the free printable that goes along with this episode. It gives young readers a simple visual for connecting two texts and prompts them to think about characters, events, problems, and settings. Get the FREE printable here: https://firstgradeloves.com/text-to-text-connections/ 📚 Text-to-Text, Text-to-Self & Text-to-World Resource Want the student response sheets Robin uses with all three types of connections? Find the complete Connections resource here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Text-to-Text-Text-to-Self-Text-to-World-Connections-1736887 💌 Join the First Grade Love Email List Get teaching ideas, freebies, Writing About Reading resources, and updates delivered to your inbox: https://winning-founder-891.kit.com This episode is perfect for first-grade teachers, primary teachers, homeschool educators, and anyone looking for practical ways to teach reading comprehension, making connections, text-to-text connections, and writing about reading. Next in the Writing About Reading series: Text-to-Self Connections! Connect with me on any of these Social Media Platforms. Sign up for my Weekly Email Facebook Instagram YouTube Pinterest Coaching Website Teachers Pay Teachers:

    How to teach Text-to-Text Comprehension Strategy | Writing About Reading Series

  7. Sep 13

    How to Teach Background Knowledge for Reading Comprehension in First Grade | Writing About Reading Series

    How to Teach Background Knowledge for Reading Comprehension in First Grade | Writing About Reading Series How do you teach first graders to use background knowledge while reading? In this episode of The Education Connection, Robin Wilson shares a simple, first-grade-friendly way to introduce background knowledge, also called schema, as a reading comprehension strategy. Robin shares how she begins with a big-brain anchor chart and asks one simple question: “What do you know?” As students share everything from dinosaurs to Minecraft and Roblox, they begin to understand that their brains are already filled with knowledge from their experiences, learning, and reading. Then Robin takes the strategy to a book. After reading, students draw and write about one thing they already know about the topic, creating a simple bridge from thinking and talking to writing about reading. You'll also hear why activating background knowledge doesn't need to be complicated and how this simple strategy helps young readers understand an important truth: their brains should be thinking while they read. Plus, Robin shares a little peek at something new she's beginning to develop behind the scenes for her Writing About Reading approach. 🎁 FREE Background Knowledge Worksheet Use the same simple activity Robin describes in this episode with your own students. Students draw what they already know inside the brain and then write about one of their ideas. GET THE FREEBIE HERE 💌 Join the First Grade Love Email List Get teaching ideas, new freebies, Writing About Reading resources, and updates from First Grade Love delivered to your inbox. Connect with me on any of these Social Media Platforms. Sign up for my Weekly Email Facebook Instagram YouTube Pinterest Coaching Website Teachers Pay Teachers:

    How to Teach Background Knowledge for Reading Comprehension in First Grade | Writing About Reading Series

  8. Sep 7

    Retelling a Story for Reading Comprehension | Writing About Reading Series

    How do you teach retelling in first grade without students telling every tiny detail—or barely telling you anything at all? In this episode of The Education Connection, we're wrapping up Part One of the Writing About Reading series with a simple approach to teaching students how to retell a story using the most important details. I'll share how I use a four-square graphic organizer to help first graders plan their thinking before they begin writing. We'll talk about what to include on the graphic organizer, how to model retelling with an anchor chart and Smart Board, and how to gradually move students from guided activities to independent practice. You'll also hear my simple routine: Read. Plan. Say. Retell. Write. Because before we expect our first graders to write a retell, we need to help them organize their thinking and practice saying it aloud. Whether you're looking for first grade reading comprehension activities, a retelling graphic organizer, or practical ideas for helping young readers write about what they read, this episode will give you a simple place to start. This episode also marks the end of Part One of Writing About Reading! Next week, we'll begin Part Two and move into comprehension strategies that help students think more deeply about what they're reading. Perfect for first grade teachers, homeschool families, private and Christian school educators, and tutors looking for simple reading comprehension and writing activities. Connect with me on any of these Social Media Platforms. Sign up for my Weekly Email Facebook Instagram YouTube Pinterest Coaching Website Teachers Pay Teachers: Find Reading Comprehension Strategies Bundle Find Genesis Bible Stories Bundle 🎧 The Education Connection Robin Wilson First Grade Love

    Retelling a Story for Reading Comprehension | Writing About Reading Series
See All (109)

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Are you a teacher looking for practical strategies to create engaging lesson plans and improve student comprehension? Whether you teach in public school, private school, or homeschool, The Education Connection is here to support you! 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. Each episode delivers actionable tips on classroom management, reading comprehension strategies, and effective teaching methods. From breaking down comprehension strategies like background knowledge, visualization, and inferences to helping you structure engaging weekly lessons, this podcast gives you the tools you need to succeed. Subscribe now to The Education Connection and start transforming your teaching—one lesson at a time!

Information