Secondary Science Simplified™

If you’ve been wondering where your “new year, new you” pep talk was, well you’re getting it in this episode! I love taking the opportunity to reflect, plan, dream, and set goals all year, but especially at the start of the new year. And while I usually have a list of things you can do to start the year off on the right track, this year I’m sharing ONE specific new year challenge. This challenge has the power to transform how the rest of your school year goes. Are you ready for it? It’s naming what matters most. 

This concept, introduced by Kendra Adachi, has become a cornerstone of how I approach both my personal and professional life. I’ve touched on this idea before on the podcast, but it’s so powerful that I keep coming back to it. In today’s episode, I’m diving deeper into why this principle is so crucial for achieving work-life balance and how you can apply it in your own life.

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode165

 Resources Mentioned:

• Core Values Mini-Course
• Virtual PD Course Bundle
• Kendra Adachi’s book, The PLAN: Manage Your Time Like a Lazy Genius
• The Lazy Genius Collective
• The Lazy Genius Podcast
• 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:

• Episode 164, My Top Tips for Kicking Off a New Semester
• Episode 137, Work/Life Balance as a Mom and and AP Teacher With Guest Kimberly Leary
• Episode 57, Living and Working in Your Current Season 
• Episode 55, Goal Setting For the New Year – A Different Approach

If you are looking for a FUN and FREE way to engage your students this October, leading up to Halloween, you NEED to grab my 4 FREE Halloween science resources - one for biology, one for chemistry, one for physics, and one for anatomy - that you can do with your students now through the end of the month.  Grab them at https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/halloween/ 

Happy New Year, teacher friends! Can you believe we’re kicking off the FOURTH year of this podcast? Let’s celebrate with a super practical and helpful episode. As the new semester begins, it’s the perfect opportunity to start fresh with a new group of students to make meaningful changes with the same class. In this episode, I’m sharing my top tips to help you hit the ground running this semester.

Whether you’re welcoming back familiar faces or meeting new ones, how you start this semester sets the tone for the months ahead. Your approach will depend on your goals and what you want to accomplish, so I’ve tailored specific strategies to fit different schedules. I’m also sharing recommendations for what to do on the very first day back to set yourself up for success.

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode164

Resources:

• Virtual PD Courses for Teachers
• Winter Science Freebies
• FREE Biology Curriculum Pacing Guide
• FREE Chemistry Curriculum Pacing Guide
• FREE Anatomy & Physiology Curriculum Pacing Guide
• FREE Physical Science Curriculum Pacing Guide
• Heredity Unit
• Transport Unit
• Stoichiometry Unit
• Matter Unit
• Matter Lab Station Activity
• Waves Unit 
• It’s Not Rocket Science Complete Units
• 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:

• Episode 143, My Top 5 Favorite Teacher Hacks for the New School Year
• Episode 141, First Day of School Tips + What I Cover in My First Units of the Year
• Episode 120, How to Cut Your Grading Time in Half
• Episode 60, Teaching with Packets - What They Are, Why I Love Them, and How to Use Them

If you are looking for a FUN and FREE way to engage your students this October, leading up to Halloween, you NEED to grab my 4 FREE Halloween science resources - one for biology, one for chemistry, one for physics, and one for anatomy - that you can do with your students now through the end of the month.  Grab them at https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/halloween/ 

As we wrap up 2024, it’s only fitting to revisit the most popular episode of the year! Both new and experienced teachers are constantly searching for ways to make their classroom routines easier and more effective. I learned so many valuable lessons during my first few years of teaching, so in today’s replay episode, I’m sharing five things I wish I had known as a first-year high school science teacher.

Each of these five tips are lessons that I learned the hard way. I sacrificed a lot of my own personal time, didn’t set clear boundaries, took on too many tasks which made me feel overwhelmed, and tried to do it all on my own. If you’re a new teacher, or even a veteran teacher, I don’t want that for you!

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode163

Resources:

• Virtual PD Courses for Teachers
• FREE Labs When Limited 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 129, 4 Things I Learned From Other Teachers That Changed How I Teach
• Episode 117, How to Prep for a Long-Term Substitute Who Doesn’t Teach Science
• Episode 91, My Top 5 Classroom Management Routines and Procedures for High School Science Teachers 
• Episode 77, 5 Myths You Might Believe About Your Work Email 
• Episode 39, Organization Tips for Your Science Classroom
• Episode 16, 5 Strategies for Pain-Free Sub Plans
• What I Wish I Had Known as a First-Year Teacher
• Why You Shouldn’t Bring Work Home – And How to Accomplish That
• 4 Must-Have High School Classroom Systems 
• A Manageable and Effective System for Parent Communication 
• Making Sub Plans for Secondary Science

If you are looking for a FUN and FREE way to engage your students this October, leading up to Halloween, you NEED to grab my 4 FREE Halloween science resources - one for biology, one for chemistry, one for physics, and one for anatomy - that you can do with your students now through the end of the month.  Grab them at https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/halloween/ 

We all love discovering ways to simplify our lives and make managing our classrooms easier. We’re constantly on the hunt for tips, tricks, and strategies to help everything run smoothly while saving us time and energy. That’s why this episode became the second most listened-to of 2024!

In this popular replay, I’m sharing my top five essential teacher hacks specifically designed for secondary science teachers. These game-changing strategies are simple to implement but can have a major impact on how your classroom operates and the culture you create throughout the year. I’ll walk you through each hack, showing you how to put them into action and explaining how they can improve your classroom procedures, routines, and behavior management.

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode162

Resources Mentioned:

• Virtual PD Courses for Science Teachers
• It’s Not Rocket Science Prime Times
• Academic Desk Calendar
• 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:

• Episode 120: How to Cut Your Grading Time in Half
• Episode 108: 5 Must-Have Routines and Procedures for Secondary Teachers
• Episode 4: Engaging Your Students in the First 5 Minutes of Class 
• Start Strong: 5 Beginning of the Year Procedures to Teach
• Prime Times: The Secondary Classroom Procedure You Can’t Live Without
• My Favorite Classroom Management Strategy 
• 5 Reasons You May Hate Bell Ringers – And the Solutions to Run Them Easily

If you are looking for a FUN and FREE way to engage your students this October, leading up to Halloween, you NEED to grab my 4 FREE Halloween science resources - one for biology, one for chemistry, one for physics, and one for anatomy - that you can do with your students now through the end of the month.  Grab them at https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/halloween/ 

Teachers everywhere are feeling the weight of their students’ lack of motivation, and it’s no surprise this topic has resonated so strongly—it’s the third most-listened-to episode of 2024! The pressure to carry the burden of student success is exhausting and unsustainable, leaving many educators burned out and questioning their future in the profession.

That’s why now is the perfect time to rethink your approach and head into the new year with a fresh perspective. In today’s episode, I dive into why students seem to care less and share three actionable strategies to address the issue. You'll hear real examples from my experience in the classroom, including how I’ve set and reinforced expectations while giving students the responsibility to take ownership of their success.

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode161

Resources:

• Balance Virtual PD 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:

• Episode 122, How to Nail Your Teacher Job Interview + 3 Mock Lesson Ideas
• Episode 121, Burned Out? When It’s Time to Make a Change 
• Episode 113, What to Do When You Have No Energy – Truths for the Classroom
• Episode 111, Priorities and Boundaries in the New Year
• Episode 57, Living and Working in Your Current Season
• Episode 56, Scheduling Rest – Why You Need To and How To Do It
• Episode 55, Goal Setting for the New Year – A Different Approach

If you are looking for a FUN and FREE way to engage your students this October, leading up to Halloween, you NEED to grab my 4 FREE Halloween science resources - one for biology, one for chemistry, one for physics, and one for anatomy - that you can do with your students now through the end of the month.  Grab them at https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/halloween/ 

We all have unique experiences, but one thing teachers all seem to share is the overwhelming challenge of grading. When I talked about ways to cut your grading time in half on the podcast earlier this year, it was clear that it was a hot topic, so let’s dive into it again! In today’s replay episode, I’m sharing the number four most listened-to episode where I provide four tips that instantly decrease your grading time. 

If you think January is too late to switch things up, it’s not! The beginning of a new semester is the perfect time to rethink or redo how you approach grading. The four specific action items I share are ones I personally executed when I was in the classroom. And just a warning - they may feel drastic! But in order to provide quick and accurate grading while also allowing for more time for yourself, sometimes big changes are required.

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode160

Resources Mentioned:

• Bell Ringers & Exit Slips
• Assessments Virtual PD 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 105, What Happened When I Stopped Assigning Formal Lab Reports
• Episode 96, Why I Stopped Assigning Homework (And 6 Surprising Results)
• Episode 4, Engaging Your Students – In the First 5 Minutes of Class
• Decrease Grading Time: 4 Practical Ways to Cut Your Grading Time in Half
• Why You Shouldn’t Bring Work Home – And How to Accomplish That
• Prime Times: The Secondary Classroom Procedure You Can’t Live Without
• 5 Reasons You May Hate Bell Ringers – And the Solutions to Run Them Easily

If you are looking for a FUN and FREE way to engage your students this October, leading up to Halloween, you NEED to grab my 4 FREE Halloween science resources - one for biology, one for chemistry, one for physics, and one for anatomy - that you can do with your students now through the end of the month.  Grab them at https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/halloween/ 

It’s crazy to think that we’re nearing the end of 2024! We’ve covered so many topics this year, so I wanted to spend the last five weeks of the year replaying the top five most listened to episodes. I want to encourage you to take this opportunity to either reinforce the routines, systems, and strategies in these episodes or prioritize them starting in 2025. 

In today’s episode, we’re starting with the fifth most listened to episode where I talk about how to increase student retention of content, specifically DENSE content! I not only give you encouragement and reasons why retention might be lacking in your students, but very practical tips you can easily implement in your science classes.

If you are enjoying the content in this podcast, please leave your view on Apple Podcasts! It will only take a minute and is a simple way to support this show and reach more science teachers!

➡️ Full Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode159

Resources Mentioned:

• Biology Curriculum
• Chemistry Curriculum
• 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:

• Episode 116. Behind Schedule? What to Do and How to Prevent It in the Future
• Episode 88. PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION: Part 5 
• Episode 87. Aligning Your Assessments: Curriculum Design Part 5
• Episode 86. PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION: Part 4
• Episode 85. Building Out Your Backbone: Curriculum Design Part 4
• Episode 84. PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION: Part 3
• Episode 83. Forming Your Foundation: Curriculum Design Part 3
• Episode 82. PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION: Parts 1 and 2
• Episode 81. Analyzing Your Aims: Curriculum Design Part 2
• Episode 80. Strategizing Your Sequence: Curriculum Design Part 1

If you are looking for a FUN and FREE way to engage your students this October, leading up to Halloween, you NEED to grab my 4 FREE Halloween science resources - one for biology, one for chemistry, one for physics, and one for anatomy - that you can do with your students now through the end of the month.  Grab them at https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/halloween/ 

In teaching, there are a lot of balancing acts, but none come close to preparing your students for success while NOT teaching to the test. I hear from many of you that struggle with this, and honestly I did as well while I was teaching, but I have since adopted a few philosophies that will help minimize the pressure you feel and start prioritizing what matters most to you in your classroom. 

In today’s episode, I’m sharing two main ways that you can balance “good teaching” and the pressure of getting your students prepared for the test. I discuss how each of the two ideas work off of each other and various ways they can be implemented throughout your instructional resources and activities. 

➡️ Full Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode158

Resources Mentioned:

• Core Values Mini-Course
• Biology Exam Pack
• Physical Science Exam Pack
• Anatomy Exam Pack
• Chemistry Exam Pack
• 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:

• Episode 157, Serving ELLs with AI and MORE With Guest Alyse of Keystone Science
• Episode 155, How to Create Active and Accountable Learners in Your Secondary Science Classroom
• Episode 104, Using Summative Assessments to Prepare Students for Standardized Tests

If you are looking for a FUN and FREE way to engage your students this October, leading up to Halloween, you NEED to grab my 4 FREE Halloween science resources - one for biology, one for chemistry, one for physics, and one for anatomy - that you can do with your students now through the end of the month.  Grab them at https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/halloween/ 

I don’t know about you, but I love growing and learning, especially when it has anything to do with teaching science. This is exactly what happened when I interviewed Alyse of Keystone Science. Throughout our entire conversation, we discussed a wide range of topics that will help students have success in a secondary science classroom, particularly English Language Learners.

When it comes to the use of AI in the classroom, Alyse has embraced this innovative technology tool. She shares why her perspective is different and describes specific ways she utilizes it in her classroom. And since she works with many ELL students, Alyse discusses the countless possibilities that come with AI and how it contributes to their learning. Trust me when I say this episode is JAM PACKED with helpful tips!

➡️ Full Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode157

Resources:

• ELL Freebie
• AI Freebie
• ChatGPT
• Otter.AI
• Eduaide
• Magic School
• Diffit
• Google Translate
• Secondary Science PD Courses
• 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 & Blog Posts:

• Episode 154, AI and Chat GPT With Guest Mitch Wieland
• Episode 95, How to Stop Grading Everything 
• Episode 94, How to Deal with Cheating in Your High School Science Classes
• Why I Don’t Assign Homework in High School

If you are looking for a FUN and FREE way to engage your students this October, leading up to Halloween, you NEED to grab my 4 FREE Halloween science resources - one for biology, one for chemistry, one for physics, and one for anatomy - that you can do with your students now through the end of the month.  Grab them at https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/halloween/ 

Let’s talk about something that is all too familiar for teachers: navigating micromanagement from school administrators or districts. I’ve encountered my fair share of overbearing directives, from mandated curricula to unreasonable data tracking, and I know you have too.

I’ve heard from many of you about the struggles you face with being micromanaged when it comes to grading, classroom management, and more. Whether it’s coming from the district or your direct admin, being micromanaged never feels good. We know our students and we should be trusted to do what’s best for them!

In today’s episode, I’m sharing practical tips and strategies to try if you are being micromanaged, and when it might even be time to consider a change for the better. You’ve been warned - I run hot when it comes to this topic!

➡️ Full Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode156

Resources:

• 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 & Blog Posts:

• Episode 155, How to Create Active and Accountable Learners in Your Secondary Science Classroom
• Episode 121, Burned Out? When It’s Time to Make a Change
• Episode 71, “I’m the Problem, It’s Me”: Working with Difficult Coworkers and Admin with Guest Zach Matson 
• Episode 69, Admin Support - WHY You Need to Ask, HOW to Ask, and WHAT to Ask For

If you are looking for a FUN and FREE way to engage your students this October, leading up to Halloween, you NEED to grab my 4 FREE Halloween science resources - one for biology, one for chemistry, one for physics, and one for anatomy - that you can do with your students now through the end of the month.  Grab them at https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/halloween/