Secondary Science Simplified™

Balancing multiple preps can be one of the most challenging things for a secondary science teacher to do, but it’s possible to simplify and reduce the stress of balancing multiple preps. Two of the biggest struggles for balancing multiple preps are lesson planning and grading. In episode 9, I shared my 5 best tips for how to lesson plan for three or more preps. Be sure to go back and catch that episode because it will save you so much time and make your life with multiple preps so much easier. In today's episode, we're going to specifically address struggle number two, which is grading for all of those preps. Check out the show notes for all the resources in this episode: itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode10

Being strategic with your time is always important for teachers who want to maximize their energy, but when you have 3 or more preps, it is more important than ever to be strategic so you can save time in every way possible. Having a system in place for managing lesson plans can have a huge impact on your effectiveness and efficiency in the classroom. In today’s episode, we are going to talk specifically about how to lesson plan for all those preps. I’m going to share with you my five best tips for managing it all through lesson planning when you have 3 or more preps. When you have three or more preps on your plate, you cannot possibly do it all perfectly, and that’s ok. The goal is not perfection. The goal is to do your job so that you can do your best to love your students and provide engaging lessons that will support their success. Grab your FREE Valentine's Day resources: bit.ly/inrsvday Check out the show notes for all the resources in this episode: itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode9

How do you do all the things you want to do as a secondary science teacher while balancing multiple preps? I get it. You want to do it all and be it all, but you are only one person with so much time. On top of that, your energy levels vary from season to season. Teaching multiple preps can be an overwhelming task, and the solution is not to start working 60-70 hours a week.  In today’s episode, we are going to talk about where you need to focus your energy so you can survive and thrive during this busy season. When you’ve got multiple preps to teach, it is not the time to try all of the new things. I’ll share how to be strategic and pick one prep to focus your creative energy on while putting your other preps on cruise control. Grab your FREE Valentine's Day resources: bit.ly/inrsvday Check out the show notes for all the resources in this episode: itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode8

What’s the difference between a 1-Dimensional classroom and a 3-Dimensional classroom, and how does a 3D classroom benefit our students? That’s what we’re talking about in today's episode. I’m interviewing my very first guest (yay!) and she is an expert in helping other teachers transform their classrooms from 1D to 3D with simple shifts. Skipper Coates started teaching in February of 2008, when a teacher left a note on his desk saying that he was never coming back. A biology major, she was suddenly thrown into the world of Earth and Space Science. It was only a few years later that Skipper started writing her own Earth and Space Science curriculum for Teachers Pay Teachers. She is the mother of three cute kids, and she forces them to do science experiments together for family time. Check out the show notes for all the resources in this episode: itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode7

Lectures don’t have to be boring! In fact, they can be engaging and effective when used correctly in a classroom that is balanced with active learning experiences and direct instruction. Lectures can still be a useful instructional strategy that can help solidify the learning our students do during active learning experiences.  In this episode, I’ll share why I still lecture, and I’ll give you my five best strategies for making lectures engaging for your students. GIVEAWAY: I’m celebrating the launch of the podcast this month with a giveaway! Two winners will be selected at the end of this month to receive their choice of $100 in store credit to the It’s Not Rocket Science Resource Shop OR an It’s Not Rocket Science Custom RTIC Tumbler and a $30 TpT Gift Card. To enter the giveaway: Share the podcast somewhere on Social Media with your teacher friends DM me on Instagram with a screenshot of your post  BONUS ENTRY: Leave a review on Apple podcasts Check out the show notes for more resources from this episode: itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode6

Do you find yourself wishing that teaching science could be fun without being exhausting? It's absolutely possible! Labs are one of the main ways we can engage our students in learning, but they require a lot of teacher prep. There are many other ways to get students involved in learning that are highly effective and take some of the workload off of you. In this episode, I share seven simple, low-prep ways to engage students without exhausting yourself. Of course, these are not meant to replace labs, but they are great tools to break up your teaching and keep the learning student-centered. The key to saving time is to put the work back on the students and keep it simple. GIVEAWAY: I’m celebrating the launch of the podcast this month with a giveaway! Two winners will be selected at the end of this month to receive their choice of $100 in store credit to the It’s Not Rocket Science Resource Shop OR an It’s Not Rocket Science Custom RTIC Tumbler and a $30 TpT Gift Card. To enter the giveaway: Share the podcast somewhere on Social Media with your teacher friends DM me on Instagram with a screenshot of your post  BONUS ENTRY: Leave a review on Apple podcasts Check out the show notes for more resources from this episode: itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode5

Can the first 5 minutes of class really set the tone for the entire period? Absolutely! I believe the first 5 minutes are the most important part of each and every class. In today’s episode, I’m sharing exactly what I do during those first 5 minutes to get my students focused and moving in the right direction from the moment they walk in the door. GIVEAWAY: I’m celebrating the launch of the podcast this month with a giveaway! Two winners will be selected at the end of this month to receive their choice of $100 in store credit to the It’s Not Rocket Science Resource Shop OR an It’s Not Rocket Science Custom RTIC Tumbler and a $30 TpT Gift Card. To enter the giveaway: Share the podcast somewhere on Social Media with your teacher friends DM me on Instagram with a screenshot of your post  BONUS ENTRY: Leave a review on Apple podcasts Check out the show notes for more resources from this episode: itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode4

In episode two, I discussed ways to reset the physical classroom space and the way you relate to and manage your students. In today’s episode, I’ll give you two ways you can reset the year personally and professionally and how you can simplify your job so you can enjoy your year both in and out of the classroom. Kick-off the New Year with me by celebrating Cheer for the New Year during the first week in January! Join my list so you don’t miss out on the major deals, fun giveaways, and free resources I’ll be offering during this week: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/challenge/ Check out the show notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode3

Have you ever had one of those school years where you wanted to start the summer countdown in January? Trust me, you’re not alone. I’ve experienced this myself, but  I’ve got good news! There is no student, class, or school year that is too far gone. You can recover! Implementing a mid-year reset in your classroom is a game-changer. You can do a classroom reset anytime, but implementing it during December or January is the perfect time! From bad habits that have been formed, to a class that is impossible to manage, to running at an unsustainable pace, there are 4 strategies you can use to hit the reset button for a fresh start to any classroom.  In this episode, I share two of those strategies with you and give you practical actions you can take today to change your classroom dynamic. In episode number three, I will share two more strategies for a successful mid-year reset. Be sure to follow so you don’t miss out. Kick-off the New Year with me by celebrating Cheer for the New Year during the first week in January! Join my list so you don’t miss out on the major deals, fun giveaways, and free resources I’ll be offering during this week: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/challenge/ Check out the show notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode2

Welcome to the very first official episode of Secondary Science Simplified! To kick things off, I’m sharing a bit about who I am, my unexpected journey to becoming a secondary science teacher, the story behind It's Not Rocket Science, and my vision for Secondary Science Simplified. Throughout my years as a teacher, I quickly learned how demanding the job is and how difficult it can be to balance your work and personal life. Now I’m here to show you how you can simplify your life with practical and easy-to-implement strategies! In this episode you’ll hear more about my vision for this podcast, and how you can request episode topics and guests. Kick-off the New Year with me by celebrating Cheer for the New Year during the first week in January! Join my list so you don’t miss out on the major deals, fun giveaways, and free resources I’ll be offering during this week: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/challenge/ Check out the show notes: itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode1.