Department chairs are carrying far more than a title and a tiny stipend! In this episode, I’m sharing practical ways to lead your science department well without burning yourself out. I’m talking about advocating for teachers, communicating with admin, running productive meetings, organizing shared resources, and supporting new science teachers in ways that actually make a difference!

If you’re a department chair with ideas, strategies, or experiences that have worked well for your team, I’d love to hear from you! Send me an email or message me on Instagram so we can keep the conversation going.

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode238

Resources Mentioned:

• Virtual PD
• Labs When Limited (FREE virtual PD course!)
• INRS Units
• INRS Full Year Curriculum
• New Teachers Podcast Playlist (free!) 
• Download your FREE Classroom Reset Challenge.
• Send me a DM on Instagram: @its.not.rocket.science
• Send me an email: [email protected]  
• Follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts.
• Follow, rate, and comment on Spotify.

Related Episodes and Blog Posts:

• Episode 71, “I’m the Problem, It’s Me”: Working with Difficult Coworkers and Admin with Guest Zach Matson
• Episode 229, Balancing Unrealistic Admin Expectations
• Episode 235, Advocating for Yourself With Admin 
• Episode 237, End of Year Reflection - How to Know What Needs to Change

You made it to summer… or you’re so close you can taste it! In this end of year reflection episode, I’m sharing how to look back on your school year without drowning in guilt or taking responsibility for things that weren’t yours to carry. We’re talking about meaningful goals, honest feedback, burnout, boundaries, and how your current life season impacts the way you view your year. I’m also walking you through 10 reflection questions to help you identify what drained you, what energized you, and what needs to change before next school year begins.

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode237

Resources Mentioned:

• Virtual PD
• Labs When Limited (FREE!)
• INRS Units
• INRS Full Year Curriculum
• Download your FREE Classroom Reset Challenge.
• Take the Free Labs When Limited virtual PD course
• Send me a DM on Instagram: @its.not.rocket.science
• Send me an email: [email protected]  
• Follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts.
• Follow, rate, and comment on Spotify.

Related Episodes and Blog Posts:

• Episode 182, End the Year Organized: Your Resources 
• Episode 183, End the Year Organized: Your Classroom 
• Episode 203, Who Makes up the Deficit? How to Respond When Students are Behind

If you are listening to this episode, I’m guessing you just found out you’ll be teaching AP Science for the very first time… and you’re probably equal parts excited and equal parts overwhelmed. I’ve been there! In this episode, I’m sharing the six biggest tips I wish someone had handed me before stepping into my first AP classroom, from navigating the overwhelm and letting go of perfectionism to creating a solid plan and teaching with confidence. My goal is simple: to help you feel more equipped than overwhelmed, and more excited than scared, as you step into this new role!

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode236

Resources Mentioned:

• Podcast Playlist: Teaching AP Science!
• INRS Units
• INRS Full Year Curriculum
• Blog Post: Teaching AP Biology for the First Time 
• Download your FREE Classroom Reset Challenge.
• Take the Free Labs When Limited virtual PD course
• Send me a DM on Instagram: @its.not.rocket.science
• Send me an email: [email protected]  
• Follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts.
• Follow, rate, and comment on Spotify.

Related Episodes:

• Episode 137, Work/Life Balance as a Mom and AP Teacher with Guest Kimberly Leary
• Episode 142, Reflections From a First-Year AP Teacher with Guest Laura Tice
• Episode 213, Everything You Need to Know About Teaching AP Biology with Tiffany of AP Bio Penguins

As the school year wraps up and end-of-year meetings approach, NOW is the moment to advocate for yourself with your admin. Yes, really! In this episode, I’m sharing why your voice matters right now as a secondary science teacher, how to clearly communicate your capacity, boundaries, and needs, and practical scripts for handling tough conversations about added responsibilities. You’ll also learn how to advocate for meaningful support, use data to strengthen your requests, and step into next year feeling lighter, clearer, and more in control.

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode235

Resources Mentioned:

• INRS Units
• INRS Full Year Curriculum
• Download your FREE Classroom Reset Challenge.
• Take the Free Labs When Limited virtual PD course
• Send me a DM on Instagram: @its.not.rocket.science
• Send me an email: [email protected]  
• Follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts.
• Follow, rate, and comment on Spotify.

Related Episodes and Blog Posts:

• Episode 68, Evaluating Your Teaching Contract 
• Episode 69, Admin Support - WHY You Need to Ask, HOW to Ask, and WHAT to Ask For 
• Episode 71, “I’m the Problem, It’s Me”: Working with Difficult Coworkers and Admin with Guest Zach Matson 
• Episode 121, Burned Out? When It’s Time to Make a Change
• Episode 156, What to Do When You Are Micromanaged by Your Admin or District 
• Episode 190, Student Mastery, Switching Schools, and Teaching Chemistry with Heather Bonanno
• Episode 229, Balancing Unrealistic Admin Expectations 

Recently, I was asked a question that stopped me in my tracks: What’s one thing you wish you’d done differently in the classroom? My first answer came fast...I thought too much of myself and carried the weight of everything on my shoulders. But the more I thought about the question, the more I realized there were several things I would do differently! In this episode, I’m sharing four regrets from my early teaching years, four things I would do differently now after years of growth (and becoming a mom), and four classroom practices I’d do again in a heartbeat.

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode234

Resources Mentioned:

• INRS Units
• INRS Full Year Curriculum
• FREE podcast playlist for NEW high school science teachers
• Download your FREE Classroom Reset Challenge.
• Take the Free Labs When Limited virtual PD course
• Send me a DM on Instagram: @its.not.rocket.science
• Send me an email: [email protected]  
• Follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts.
• Follow, rate, and comment on Spotify.

Related Episodes:

• Episode 91, My Top 5 Classroom Management Routines and Procedures for High School Science Teachers
• Episode 130, First Year Teaching? 5 Things I Wish I Had Known
• Episode 195, A Simple and Effective Process for Parent Communication with Guest Mandy Farrar
• Episode 206, Prime Times® - Everything You Need to Know

Why does it feel like I start every week organized, then somehow end it with a mile-long to-do list and lesson plans that still need fixing? In this episode, I’m answering a listener’s relatable question with six practical strategies that helped me stay ahead of planning in the classroom. We’re talking batch planning, overplanning, classroom routines, pacing with confidence, protecting your planning period, and reflecting now so next year feels easier. If lesson planning always feels like a moving target, this episode will help you create systems that lighten the load!

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode233

Resources Mentioned:

• INRS Units
• INRS Full Year Curriculum
• LAST CHANCE TO APPLY TO BE A GUEST!!! 
• Download your FREE Classroom Reset Challenge.
• Take the Free Labs When Limited virtual PD course
• Send me a DM on Instagram: @its.not.rocket.science
• Send me an email: [email protected]  
• Follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts.
• Follow, rate, and comment on Spotify.

Related Episodes and Blog Posts:

• Episode 62, 5 Ways to Instantly Make Your Planning Period More Productive 
• Episode 92, 5 Ways to Have Precise Pacing and Tight Transitions in Your Secondary Science Classroom 
• Episode 139, Sunday Scaries - How I Use Friday Planning to Prevent Them
• Episode 208, 5 Tips for How to Lesson Plan While Managing Constant Disruptions

Chemistry can be one of the most rewarding courses to teach, and in this episode I’m sharing why! I walk you through the scope and sequence I use in my yearlong chemistry curriculum, how I break down major topics so students build confidence step by step, and why I prioritize depth over rushing through standards. We’ll also cover the big themes that connect chemistry all year long, plus what makes my curriculum especially supportive for teachers through flexible labs, differentiation, and intentional organization.

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode232

Resources:

• Chemistry FULL YEAR Curriculum
• Chemistry curriculum on TpT (see all the 5 star reviews!!)
• Chemistry Units
• Chemistry Scope and Sequence Blogpost
• FREEBIE - Get the Chemistry Pacing Guide
• Be a guest on the podcast! Apply here.
• Download your FREE Classroom Reset Challenge.
• Take the Free Labs When Limited virtual PD course
• Send me a DM on Instagram: @its.not.rocket.science
• Send me an email: [email protected]  
• Follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts.
• Follow, rate, and comment on Spotify.

Related Episodes:

• Episode 127, Teaching AP Chemistry with Zach Matson
• Episode 140, 5 Tips for Teaching Chemistry
• Episode 190, Student Mastery, Switching Schools, and Teaching Chemistry with Heather Bonanno
• Episode 209, Anatomy Scope and Sequence: How and Why I Teach Anatomy the Way That I Do

Caring deeply about your students can feel exhausting when you’re the only one showing up! In this episode, I share how to support a student when admin and parents aren’t involved, without taking on everything yourself. You’ll learn how to do your due diligence through consistent communication, shift your perspective with empathy, and bring in additional support when needed. Most importantly, it’s about building a strong connection with your student while protecting your time and energy, setting boundaries, and reflecting on what it means to be faithful to your role without carrying what isn’t yours.

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode231

Resources Mentioned:

• Be a guest on the podcast! Apply here!
• INRS Units
• INRS Full Year Curriculum
• Download your FREE Classroom Reset Challenge.
• Take the Free Labs When Limited virtual PD course
• Send me a DM on Instagram: @its.not.rocket.science
• Send me an email: [email protected]  
• Follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts.
• Follow, rate, and comment on Spotify.

Related Episodes and Blog Posts:

• Episode 70, “It Isn’t an Attack on You”: Dealing with Difficult Parents with Guest Zach Matson 
• Episode 121, Burned Out? When It’s Time to Make a Change 
• Episode 123, What to Do When You Care More Than Your Students Do 
• Episode 155, How to Create Active and Accountable Learners in Your Secondary Science Classroom 
• Episode 156, What to Do When You Are Micromanaged by Your Admin or District
• Episode 195, A Simple and Effective Process for Parent Communication With Guest Mandy Farrar 
• Episode 229, Balancing Unrealistic Admin Expectations 

It’s been awhile since we’ve tackled a hot-button topic, so we’re going there today: test retakes. I’m breaking down the real pros and cons, sharing how I decide when retakes are actually necessary, and how to structure them in a way that supports mastery without adding more to your plate. It all comes down to clear expectations, strong boundaries, and putting responsibility back on students. Plus, I’m sharing strategies from other teachers to help you manage retakes in a way that protects your time, your sanity, and your standards!

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode230

Resources Mentioned:

• Be a guest on the podcast! Apply here.
• INRS Units
• INRS Full Year Curriculum
• Instagram: @biowithmrs.mac
• Instagram: @themathematicalmama
• Instagram: @apbiopenguins
• Download your FREE Classroom Reset Challenge.
• Take the Free Labs When Limited virtual PD course
• Send me a DM on Instagram: @its.not.rocket.science
• Send me an email: [email protected]  
• Follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts.
• Follow, rate, and comment on Spotify.

Related Episodes and Blog Posts:

• Episode 145, How to Build Resilience in Students Post-Pandemic 
• Episode 155, How to Create Active and Accountable Learners in Your Secondary Science Classroom 
• Episode 190, Student Mastery, Switching Schools, and Teaching Chemistry with Heather Bonanno
• Episode 197, Motivating the Unmotivated - 4 Practical Tips to Help Students Care
• Episode 202, What to Do When Your Students Fail the Test
• Episode 213, Everything You Need to Know About Teaching AP Biology with Tiffany of AP Bio Penguins 
• Episode 229, Balancing Unrealistic Admin Expectations

I get asked all the time if I’ll ever go back to teaching full time, and honestly… we’ll see. I miss teaching, but I don't miss the challenge of balancing admin expectations with what’s actually realistic in the classroom! In this episode, I’m sharing what to do when those expectations start to feel overwhelming, from getting perspective and finding support to having productive conversations with admin that lead to real solutions. And if it’s still not working, we’re talking about how to protect your time, focus on what matters most, and recognize when it might be time for a change, because the right environment and leadership can make all the difference.

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode229

Resources:

• Relationships mini-course
• Be a guest on the podcast! Apply here.
• Download your FREE Classroom Reset Challenge.
• Take the Free Labs When Limited virtual PD course
• Send me a DM on Instagram: @its.not.rocket.science
• Send me an email: [email protected]  
• Follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts.
• Follow, rate, and comment on Spotify.

Related Episodes:

• Episode 68, Evaluating Your Teacher Contract
• Episode 69, Admin Support: WHY You Need to Ask, HOW to Ask, and WHAT to Ask For
• Episode 71, “I’m the Problem, It’s Me”: Working with Difficult Coworkers and Admin with Guest Zach Matson
• Episode 121, Burned Out? When It’s Time to Make a Change
• Episode 156, What to Do When You Are Micromanaged By Your Admin or District
• Episode 190, Student Mastery, Switching Schools, and Teaching Chemistry with Heather Bonanno