Secondary Science Simplified™

For the month of April, I'm doing podcast episodes all based on your questions and requests. I love making episodes that are helpful to you, so if there’s something you want to hear about on the podcast, shoot me a DM on Instagram and let me know! Last week, in episode 16 , I covered one of the most requested topics, how to write sub plans for secondary science. Be sure to go back and listen...

Over the next few weeks, I'm doing a series of episodes based on listener requests. I love hearing from you and providing content that is relevant. So…what was the most requested topic? How to best write sub plans for secondary science!  It’s really no surprise. How many jobs do you know of where it is actually so much harder to be out of work than it is to actually just be there? Writing sub...

What better way to top off our mini-series on Senioritis than an interview with a teacher who has taught a lot of seniors in her career. I am so excited to welcome my friend, Diana Price, to the show today! In this episode, Diana shares some tips for how she personally handles senioritis with her students. She also talks about her entire teaching experience, from starting out as a floater teaching...

I’ve saved the best for last! In episode 12 and episode 13 I shared tips for combating senioritis as it creeps up in our classrooms this year. If you missed those episodes, be sure to go back and listen. It is possible to keep your students engaged and keep yourself energized so you can finish the year strong as a high school science teacher.  In today’s episode, I will be sharing my number one st...

Fighting students for their attention is the last thing you want to do when combating Senioritis. The more choices we can provide for our students, the better our chances for finishing the year on a positive note and avoiding the symptoms of Senioritis. It is possible to provide choices to students without spending tons of time prepping and exhausting yourself as a teacher. When you shift as many...

As the weather starts changing and the days are getting longer, Spring Fever starts to set in. I call it Senioritis, and whether you teach seniors or not, this condition does not discriminate based on student age. To be perfectly honest, Senioritis hits me as well. I get just as antsy as my students do for Spring Break and feel myself longing for summer days where I can escape the four walls of th...

I am so excited to introduce today’s guest, Sam Holcomb. Sam is sharing tips and strategies from her own experience balancing up to 7 preps at a time! She struggled during her first year trying to do it all, but soon, she began to implement the strategies she talks about today to simplify her life. Now she enjoys helping other teachers eliminate the overwhelm and stress that so many face. Sam Holc...

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 ep...

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 speci...

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, w...

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, w...

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...

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,...

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 podcas...

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 w...

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...

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 bala...

If you're drowning in lab reports and struggling to find time for anything besides work, I've got some great news for you. Teaching doesn't have to be rocket science AND it doesn't have to consume your entire life. This podcast will be your go-to resource for finally creating a sustainable work-life balance.  Tune in every Monday for practical and actionable strategies that you...