Secondary Science Simplified™

Using phenomena is a great way to engage your students but it can be so overwhelming trying to figure out what to do or how to get started. If you’re using NGSS or other standards that utilize phenomena, but are struggling to incorporate them in a meaningful way, I’m going to break it down for you! In this episode, we’re diving into engaging students through phenomena.

Resources Mentioned:

• Next Generation Science Standards
• It’s Not Rocket Science Units
• Biology everyday phenomenon: Cancer Statistics 
• Biology anchoring phenomenon: Comparing Genetics
• Ecosystem in a Bottle investigation
• Support and motion unit 
• Anatomy everyday phenomena: Wellness Trends
• Anatomy everyday phenomena: Heart Health
• Antibiotic Resistance Lab
• Matter Unit
• Follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts.

I want to hear from you! We are coming up on our 50th episode! To celebrate, I am doing an “ask me anything” episode where no topic is off limits. Submit any question you have by DM-ing me on Instagram or send me an email to [email protected].

Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode45

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/ 

Managing large classes can be a challenge but engaging small classes can be equally as difficult. If you are struggling with engaging your small class, you’re not alone! I’ve been there twice (teaching class periods with only 6 students!) and today, I’m sharing what I’ve learned about engaging small classes.

Trying to keep the excitement and energy up in a small class isn’t easy and finding ways to do activities without enough students is challenging. 

So in this episode, I am sharing my four BEST tips for helping you engage your small classes. We are covering why you should lighten up when you’re teaching a small class, the power of discussion and how it helps build a culture that encourages questions, how to use unique rewards as a means of motivation, and what to do when you just don’t have enough bodies for labs.

Don’t forget to grab your Halloween-themed FREEBIE for biology, anatomy, chemistry, and physics!

Resources Mentioned:

• FREEBIE: Halloween-themed resources
• Photosynthesis Activity - Class Relay
• Follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts.

Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode44

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/ 

If you’re looking at your class roster and feeling absolutely overwhelmed by the crazy numbers you are seeing, you’re not alone! I am seeing so many teachers saying they have 30+ students in their science classes and they have no idea how to make teaching, let alone labs, with that many students, work.

If you are one of the teachers that has too many students in your science class, this episode is for you! I’m sharing six tips I’ve learned on how to manage large class sizes. We are going to cover why you should arrange desks into pods, how seating charts are crucial to managing large classes, why you need to include small group work into your lessons, how to use stations for labs with large classes, the importance of procedures, and how to use my favorite whole-classroom management strategy. Plus, I am giving you practical ways to incorporate each one of these tips!

Don’t forget to grab your Halloween-themed FREEBIE for biology, anatomy, chemistry, and physics!

Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode43

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/ 

Are you stuck teaching a class or a grade that you absolutely hate teaching? You’re not alone! I’ve been there and so have many other teachers. 

It can be such a struggle to make it through the year when you don’t want to teach the classes you’re assigned to teach. But perspective and a plan can make getting through the school year a little easier.

In today’s episode, I am talking all about what to do when you hate what you’re teaching. I’m covering my experience teaching a grade that I hated, four pieces of advice for what to do, why talking with admin is so important, and what to do if admin isn’t willing to work with you on what you want to teach. I’m also covering what to look for in great admin and three things you can do to help make it through this school year.

This episode was inspired by an email I received from a teacher and I would LOVE to do an episode on a topic that would benefit you or that would answer a question you have! If you are struggling with something or have a question, chances are there are many others who do as well. DM me on Instagram and let me know what you want to hear!

Resources Mentioned:

• FREEBIE: Halloween-themed resources
• Follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts.

Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode42

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/ 

You know that building relationships with your students is crucial. You know it leads to more memorable learning experiences but you aren’t quite sure how to build that relationship with all of your 100+ students. Today, I am giving you some of my favorite tips for building solid relationships with students.

We all know building relationships is foundational for reaching every learner but building these relationships doesn’t have to be exhausting! In this episode, I am sharing four practical tips to start building relationships with your students today, how to easily and realistically implement these tips, and how I found time to support students in extracurriculars pre and post-kids.

Looking back, my most memorable learning experiences were the ones where I knew my teachers cared about me as a person, not just my grade. Building strong relationships shows our students that we care about them, we want them to succeed, and we are rooting for them!

Do you have a tip on how to keep every learning engaged that you would love to share on the podcast? I have decided to keep the submission form open and would LOVE to hear your tips! You can find all the details for submitting your tips here.

Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode:

https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode41

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 teachers, we know how important it is to reach every student that walks into our classroom. But how do we go about doing that when there is such a diverse group of students in every class? Today, I am sharing 4 tips on how to reach every learner in your high school science classes.

Reaching every single one of your students can seem overwhelming but I am here to help give you practical tips to help you do just that. In this episode, I am sharing the importance of getting to know every student as a person, how eliminating homework can benefit you and your students, why you should use a variety of assessments, and the importance of checking your test questions for bias. 

Our students come to us with so many different backgrounds, home lives, experiences, and preferences but there are simple things we can do in our classrooms to make sure we are reaching them all and making an impact. 

Resources Mentioned:

• Complete Secondary Science Units 
• Biology Midterm and Final Exam Review and Test Pack
• Anatomy Midterm and Final Exam Review and Test Pack
• Physical Science Midterm and Final Exam Review and Test Pack
• Follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts.

Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode40

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/ 

Do you LOVE organizing your space or does the thought of it send you running the other way? Are you thinking there’s no way you can “organize” when you aren’t in a science classroom, you have no storage, or you’re a floater who only has a cart?

You all know how much I love all things organization and I am sharing some of my favorite tips and recommendations with you to help make your teaching space (whatever that space may be) efficient and welcoming.

I have spent time teaching in several settings and have learned so much about how to best use the space I have. Today, I am sharing some of the things I’ve learned with you! We are looking at how to use the front of your classroom most effectively, suggestions for having an organized turn in area, how to make class necessities easily accessible, and some advice specifically for floaters.

PLUS, I’m sharing two bonus recommendations on how to help manage cellphones in the classroom and how to organize YOUR files.

Need some help getting your classroom reset, organized, and ready to go? Grab my FREE Classroom Reset Challenge where I walk you through 5 tasks to help get your classroom in order.

Resources:

• Download your FREE Classroom Reset Challenge.
• Natural Selection Lab
• Turn in bins
• Utility Cart
• Shoebox storage containers
• Phone caddy
• Follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts.

Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode39

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/ 

The school year is approaching and we could all use a pep talk, especially after the past 3 years! We know this school year is filled with more unknowns and we’re running on empty before the year even starts. But I’m here to pump you up and get you excited for the start of school!

This is a much-needed pep talk, not only for secondary science teachers, but for all teachers! I am sharing why teaching is a job and not your whole life, why you don’t need to be on-call all the time, the importance of giving yourself and students grace, and why we should take this year one day at a time. 

You are valuable and what you are doing is valuable! So this year, focus on showing your students that you care about them and you care about what you are teaching. You’ve got this, Teacher-Friend!

Know a teacher who could really use a pep talk? I’d love for you to share this episode with them and pass on the encouragement and pump each other up for another school year!

Resources:

• Download your FREE Classroom Reset Challenge.
• Follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts.

Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode38

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/ 

Does the thought of teaching physics for the first time stress you out? Do demos and labs seem overwhelming? My special guest, Michelle Brosseau, is here to give some great advice to new physics teachers!

Today, I am joined by an amazing secondary science teacher, Michelle Brosseau. Michelle is sharing 4 tips she has for first year physics teachers, what to do if you’re intimidated by demos and labs, and how she makes grading labs more manageable. She’s sharing some changes she's made throughout the years to engage her students and set them up for success.

Michelle Brosseau is a high school Science teacher, specializing in Physics, Earth & Space Science, and making learning FUN. Whether it’s teaching the physics of bubbles, demonstrating drag forces with indoor skydiving, or wearing her astronaut costume (or her velociraptor sweater, or her molecules dress, or her fossils blouse…), Michelle embraces her nerdiness to energize her students’ learning. Michelle has a Professional Master of Education degree, with a Classroom Specialist focus. Michelle weaves her love of Art, Science, and all things nerdy into her educational resources.

There is still time for you to submit a 30 second clip on tips to keep every learner engaged in science classes for a chance to be featured on an upcoming episode of Secondary Science Simplified. Check out the details here!

Resources:

• How to be on the SSS podcast
• Michelle’s Instagram
• Michelle’s TeachersPayTeachers
• LIFT OFF! Free workbook for new Physics (or new-to-Physics) teachers 
• Physics Teacher Community
• Mission Control: Planning and Pacing Guide for Physics
• Pendulum Painting Lesson
• Download your FREE Classroom Reset Challenge.
• Follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts.

Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode37

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/ 

Are you teaching Anatomy for the first time or have you taught it before but don’t feel super confident teaching it? This episode is for you! Today, I am sharing 5 tips for teaching anatomy to help both you and your students LOVE anatomy!

In many high schools, Anatomy is an elective class which allows you to have some flexibility and options in what you teach and how you teach it. In this episode, I am sharing 5 tips to help you teach an anatomy class that you and your students love and that is meaningful. I am sharing why and how to stick to YOUR goals for the class, the importance of prioritizing real world applications, why students should be doing research in Anatomy class, the importance of emphasizing the interconnectedness of the systems, and how to take advantage of seasonal opportunities to keep students engaged. 

I need YOUR help! I am putting together an episode on tips to keep every learner engaged in science classes. I would love to hear from YOU on how you engage a diverse group of learners in your classes. All you have to do is record a short 30 second clip and it may be featured on an upcoming episode! Check out the details here!

Resources:

• How to be on the SSS podcast
• My Anatomy Curriculum
• Anatomy Exam Pack
• Control and Coordination Unit
• FREE Halloween Science Resources
• Protection Unit
• Download your FREE Classroom Reset Challenge.
• Follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts.

Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode36

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/