Grading doesn’t have to take over your nights and weekends! In this episode, I’m sharing six practical grading game changers that helped me simplify my workload without lowering my standards. You’ll learn how to define your grading philosophy, reduce what you collect, give meaningful feedback faster, and keep students engaged, even when you're not grading everything. Plus, I’m breaking down how strategies like Prime Times and constant vigilance can make daily assessment and classroom management easier than ever!

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode196 

Resources:

• Prime Times
• 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.

Related Episodes:

• Episode 4, Engaging Students In the First 5 Minutes of Class
• Episode 95, How to STOP Grading Everything
• Episode 96, Why I Stopped Assigning Homework (And 6 Surprising Results)
• Episode 97, 6 Grading Tips That Changed My Life
• Episode 189, True Life: I Grade Everything and Because of It, I Have No Life
• Episode 194, The Importance of Inquiry-Based Learning - And How to Implement it Practically 
• Episode 195, A Simple and Effective Process for Parent Communication With Guest Mandy Farrar

Confession time: I’ve been gatekeeping this conversation with Mandy Farrar because it’s that perfect for the start of the school year. Mandy, a high school chemistry and physics teacher, shares her simple yet highly effective system for parent communication, built from her own early struggles and refined into a clear, repeatable process. From starting the year with positive outreach to using email templates and data-driven language for tough conversations, this episode is packed with actionable strategies to make parent communication feel manageable and meaningful!

Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode195

Resources:

• Secondary Science Simplified virtual PD course
• Mandy's Instagram: @chemwithfarrar
• 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.

Related Episodes:

• Episode 70, It Isn’t an Attack on You: Dealing with Difficult Parents with Guest Zach Matson
• Episode 89, Classroom Management in a Post-COVID World with Guest Casey O’Hearn
• Episode 90, Classroom Management Philosophy for Secondary Science Teachers
• Episode 91, My Top 5 Classroom Management Routines and Procedures for High School Science Teachers
• Episode 93, Simple Strategies for Classroom Management

Back-to-school season is the perfect time to breathe new energy into your classroom, and one of the most powerful ways to do that is through inquiry-based learning. In this episode, I’m sharing why inquiry matters, why students often push back against it, and how you can scaffold it to feel less intimidating for everyone. I’ll break down what inquiry actually means, offer my honest take on the 5E instructional model, and give you five simple, actionable strategies to help you make inquiry the norm—not the exception—starting from day one.

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode194

Resources:

• INRS First Biology Unit 
• INRS First Anatomy Unit 
• INRS First Chemistry Unit 
• INRS First Physical Science Unit
• ALL INRS Complete Units 
• FREE: What is Life? Inquiry Activity
• Where to find POGILs
• 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.

Related Episodes:

• Episode 47, 2 Ways That Learning Happens and How to Create a Classroom Culture That Fosters It
• Episode 64, How to Re-Engage Apathetic Students (And Manage Your Own Apathy!)
• Episode 123, What to Do When You Care More Than Your Students Do
• Episode 141, First Day of School Tips + What I Cover in My First Units of the Year
• Episode 145, How to Build Resilience in Students Post-Pandemic
• Episode 155, How to Create Active and Accountable Learners in Your Secondary Science Classroom

What if you could hit pause after your first year of teaching and really process what just happened? That’s exactly what we’re doing in this episode with Cienna Domke. Cienna just wrapped up her first year teaching high school biology and chemistry in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and y’all—she brought the honesty, humility, and wisdom that only comes from walking through the fire and making it to the other side! From classroom management wins and tough parent conversations to lab day chaos and setting boundaries with grading, Cienna shares what worked, what didn’t, and how she’s planning to grow next year. 

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode193

Resources:

• Biology Curriculum - FULL YEAR Bundle 
• Chemistry Curriculum -  FULL YEAR Bundle 
• Secondary Science Simplified ® Course Bundle
• Cienna’s email: [email protected] 
• 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.

Related Episodes:

• Episode 27, How the Secondary Science Simplified Course Helped This New Teacher With Guest Rachel Carter
• Episode 190, Student Mastery, Switching Schools, and Teaching Chemistry with Heather Bonanno
• Episode 191, Engaging Students, Serving ELLs, and Teaching Earth Science with Becca of Science Lessons That Rock
• Episode 192, Teaching Biology, Managing 6 Preps, and EOC Review with Macee Huseman

What would you do if you were the entire science department at your school? That’s the reality for my guest, Macee Huseman, a powerhouse high school science teacher from Texas who juggles six preps, engaging labs, and family life with incredible grace. In this episode, Macee shares her best tips for staying organized, keeping students engaged, and finding balance in a demanding teaching role. From managing cell phones and mixed-ability classes to prepping for the end-of-year exam and embracing the power of “no,” this conversation is full of practical takeaways for any secondary science teacher!

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode192

Resources:

• INRS Biology Curriculum - FULL YEAR Bundle 
• INRS Physical Science (IPC) Curriculum - FULL YEAR Bundle
• Connect with Macee: [email protected]
• 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.

Related Episodes:

• Episode 125, Teaching AP Biology with Guest Beth Hines
• Episode 134, Teaching Biology - 4 Things NOT to Do
• Episode 176, Teaching AP Biology, Exam Review, FRQ Prep, and More with Tiffany of AP Bio Penguins
• Episode 190, Student Mastery, Switching Schools, and Teaching Chemistry with Heather Bonanno
• Episode 191, Engaging Students, Serving ELLs, and Teaching Earth Science with Becca of Science Lessons That Rock

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to make earth science engaging and hands-on, this episode is for you! I’m joined by Becca from Science Lessons That Rock, a veteran teacher with over 15 years of experience and a passion for turning abstract concepts into meaningful, accessible learning experiences. Becca shares creative ways to teach everything from planetary distances to landforms using simple, affordable materials—plus practical tips for lab prep, grading, and boosting student engagement. 

We also talk about supporting ELLs, teaching in Title 1 schools, and building classroom buy-in. Whether you’re new to earth science or just need some fresh inspiration, you’re going to love getting to learn from Becca. I’ve known her online for nearly a decade, and I’m so excited you get to know her now, too!

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode191

Resources:

• Climate Change Ice Core Lab
• Igneous Crystal Size Lab Activity | Rock Cycle Experiment 
• Landforms Stop Motion Video Project
• Rewordify
• Vocaroo
• 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.

Connect with Becca:

• Instagram: @sciencelessonsthatrock
• Website

Related Episodes:

• Episode 126, Teaching AP Environmental Science with Ashton Allgood
• Episode 157, Serving ELLs with AI and More with Guest Alyse of Keystone Science
• Episode 189, True Life: I Grade Everything and Because of It, I Have No Life
• Episode 190, Student Mastery, Switching Schools, and Teaching Chemistry with Heather Bonanno

Have you ever met a teacher who just gets it—who knows how to challenge students, meet them where they are, and do it all with purpose and empathy? That’s exactly who you’ll hear from in this episode. I chat with Heather Bonanno, a high school chemistry teacher from Pennsylvania who recently returned to the classroom after a five-year break.

Heather shares how she navigates 40-minute class periods, makes chemistry relevant through real-world connections, and uses labs to spark inquiry from day one. We also dive into her flexible approach to grading, classroom management tips, and strategies for keeping students engaged, even when the content gets tough. This episode may be about teaching chemistry on the surface, but trust me, it’s so much more than that!

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode190 

Resources Mentioned:

• Chemistry Curriculum - FULL YEAR BUNDLE
• Chemistry Bell Ringers or Exit Slips - FULL YEAR BUNDLE
• 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.

Related Episodes and Blog Posts:

• Episode 35, Competency, Classroom Management, Teaching Chemistry and More with Guest Zach Matson
• Episode 127, Teaching AP Chemistry with Zach Matson
• Episode 140, 5 Tips for Teaching Chemistry
• Episode 186, True Life: I Am a Science Teacher Who Hates Labs

If grading has taken over your life, this final episode in the True Life Teacher Confession series is here to help. I’m unpacking the hidden costs of grading everything, challenging the belief that every assignment needs a grade, and sharing mindset shifts and practical strategies to help you reclaim your time. From setting clear grading boundaries to building a classroom culture where students stay accountable without constant grading, this episode is your first step toward a more sustainable teaching life!

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode189 

Resources:

• Culture Mini-Course
• Secondary Science Simplified Bundle
• 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.

Related Episodes:

• Episode 64, How to Re-Engage Apathetic Students (And Manage Your Own Apathy!)
• Episode 123, What to Do When You Care More Than Your Students Do
• 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 160, 4 Proven Tips to INSTANTLY Decrease Your Grading Time 
• Episode 187, True Life: I’m Drowning

“Help! I teach a course with a high-stakes test that I do not care about at all, but I need to care about it. How can I make myself care?” If you've ever felt this way, this episode is for you. In this True Life: Teacher Confessions episode, I'm sharing what to do when you're stuck teaching a test-heavy course but feel totally unmotivated by the exam itself. I’ll give you permission to care less and practical strategies to help you care more if you need to—like embedding test prep into your weekly rhythms with FRQ Fridays, bellringer questions, review days, and more.

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode188

Resources Mentioned:

• 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.

Related Episodes and Blog Posts:

• Episode 60, Teaching with Packets - What They Are, Why I Love Them, and How to Use Them 
• Episode 72, Review Strategies for EOC, Benchmark, and AP Exams 
• Episode 185, When is Preparation Worth It, and When Is It a Pipe Dream?
• Episode 186, True Life: I’m a Science Teacher Who Hates Labs
• Episode 187, True Life: I’m Drowning

Are you juggling multiple preps across several grade levels, trying to run labs every week, and still show up for your family? Feeling overwhelmed by unrealistic admin expectations and a lack of student accountability? If it all feels like too much, that’s because it is too much. In this "true life" episode, I’m talking about what it really means to teach inside a broken system, why so many teachers are feeling burned out, and practical ways to keep showing up—without losing yourself in the process.

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode187

Resources Mentioned:

• Balancing Multiple Preps Podcast Playlist 
• Secondary Science Simplified course
• Labs When Limited Free Mini-Course
• 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.

Related Episodes and Blog Posts:

• Episode 69, Admin Support - WHY You Need to Ask, HOW to Ask, and WHAT to Ask For
• 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 185, When Is Preparation Worth It, and When Is It a Pipe Dream?
• Episode 186, True Life: I Am a Science Teacher Who Hates Labs