Secondary Science Simplified™

We’ve made it to our final episode in our AP science teacher interview series, and I’ve saved the best for last! When I sent out a survey several months ago, y’all requested to have him make another guest appearance, so here he is, Zach Matson! Teaching AP Chemistry for several decades, he has gained so much experience, knowledge, and tips that are going to help you be successful in teaching in your classroom. Even if you teach another AP science discipline, Zach first shares general tips and advice for any teacher, which revolves around unit exams, practice AP exams, when and how often to use FRQs, and which resources give you the most bang for your buck. As we get further into discussing AP Chemistry content, Zach discusses even more valuable information. He has a wonderful outlook on which content you should cover, how to balance the content, exams, and labs, and still have enough time for review. His ideas and outlook on the life lessons students can get out of the class are refreshing and will help you feel less stressed about the final AP exam. Zach has always been so passionate about his philosophies in teaching and how he delivers content to his students, which is why he has so much to share and offer other AP Chemistry teachers or just teachers in general. There’s no question why he’s the most requested guest and I know that whatever subject you teach, AP or general, you will be left with a new perspective and ideas to implement in your own classroom!  Resources Mentioned: Adrian Dingle AP Chem Prep BookAP Chemistry Facebook GroupDownload your FREE Classroom Reset ChallengeSend me a DM on Instagram: @its.not.rocket.scienceSend me an email: rebecca@itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.comFollow, rate, and review on Apple PodcastsShow Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode127

I’ve had so much fun and really enjoyed listening to my guest science teachers during my AP science teacher interview series. Each guest has given incredible insight about the AP exam and helpful tips for other teachers in their respective science disciplines. But out of all the AP science courses, I received the most questions about teaching AP Environmental Science. My guest on today’s episode, Ashton Allgood, is the perfect person to answer all of your questions while also sharing how she manages to teach the content in a short amount of time while still preparing her students for their final exams. According to Ashton, AP Environmental Science, or APES as it’s commonly referred to, is truly the science course that meshes all the other science branches together. She loves how it’s relatable to her students and their ability to apply real-world scenarios and experiences to their everyday activities and discussions. With her class only a semester long, Ashton has come up with creative and engaging ways to make sure her students retain the information necessary to take the AP exam at the end of the year. She also shares how her experience as an AP reader helped prepare her students for the exam. I loved my conversation with Ashton because she has such a profound and realistic perspective when it comes to her student’s preparation and work ethic in her class. She sets clear expectations for them and is upfront about the hard work that’s ahead of them for the semester. However, she believes in meeting her students halfway, along with honesty and communication. I learned so much about AP Environmental Science but also engaging ways to run a classroom, and I know you will, too! Resources Mentioned: APES School of ShapTeaching AP ScienceAP Credit SearchNational APES Teachers Facebook Download your FREE Classroom Reset ChallengeSend me a DM on Instagram: @its.not.rocket.scienceSend me an email: rebecca@itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.comFollow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode126

As we move forward with focusing on the different AP science classes, this week, we’re focusing on AP Biology. This class comes with a lot of content, material, reading, and prior background knowledge to help students succeed and prepare for the end-of-year AP exam. I’m so lucky to have guest Beth Hines be the expert on this class since she is a veteran teacher and has been teaching AP biology for 3 years. In today’s episode, Beth shares so much information, wisdom, and encouragement, and how to keep your students accountable and truly prepare them for the course and final exam. Since there’s so much content to cover with AP Biology, I jump right into it with Beth. Her ability to be open about what she loves the most and her opinions on labs, homework, grading, and textbooks will help listeners get an idea of what’s most important when teaching AP Biology. Beth also answers the most common and pressing question of how to get through the content and effective ways to prepare students for the final AP exam. One way she serves her students is by having high expectations for them and holding them accountable for their actions and learning the content, which will benefit them in the class and future life skills. No matter how long you’ve been teaching, teaching an AP class can be intimidating and a lot to handle. So, if you’re in this situation, Beth shares advice and what resources to become familiar with to feel prepared before your students arrive. Whether you’re a teacher of an AP science class or not, I know you will gain beneficial information to use in your own classroom. Stay tuned to next week’s episode as we highlight another AP science class! Resources Mentioned: Bozeman Science WebsitePivot Interactive LabsAP Bio Facebook groupAP Bio Penguins Review InstagramDownload your FREE Classroom Reset ChallengeSend me a DM on Instagram: @its.not.rocket.scienceSend me an email: rebecca@itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.comFollow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode125

It’s the beginning of April, and with the spring air around us, it reminds me of something fresh and new, so I decided to start a new series about teaching different AP sciences. Even though in my podcast episodes, I share ideas and strategies that will benefit all classes, I get a lot of questions targeted specifically toward teaching an AP class. So, in my first episode of the series, I have guest Laura Preiser, who shares how she prepares her students for the AP exam and what changes she’s made that have positively impacted them. For those who don’t know, AP stands for Advanced Placement and is a course through the College Board that offers the opportunity to earn college credit if students pass the exam at the end of the year. Since that’s the ultimate goal of students, Laura really relies on the various College Board resources to teach her students and prepare them for the exam. She made a new change this year with those resources that gave more time for practice and questions during class, extra review time before the exam, and increased test scores. Teaching an AP class can be intimidating, but Laura shares great advice for taking it one unit at a time and being honest with your students about where you’re at. Additionally, she shares how, while preparing her students for the AP exam, she also prepares them with life skills and finding strategies that work best for them. I thoroughly enjoyed my conversation with Laura about all things AP Physics and know you, too, will gain perspective, knowledge, and ideas you can implement in your own classroom.  Resources Mentioned: Teach the Class ProjectFiveableNational AP Physics Teachers Facebook GroupDownload your FREE Classroom Reset ChallengeSend me a DM on Instagram: @its.not.rocket.scienceSend me an email: rebecca@itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.comFollow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode124

As educators, we decided to make this our career because we love to help people and care about students and their success. However, just because that’s our personality and mission, unfortunately, doesn’t mean that’s how our students feel. One of the resounding themes from the survey I sent out was how do I get my students to care as much as I do? I’ve heard this a lot, so I wanted to address it on the podcast. So, in today’s episode, I’m sharing why this seems to be the case and what you can practically do to move forward and keep serving your students. It’s no secret that we seem to care more about our students’ success and learning of the content. Due to this, we need to always be reminded of the reality of our situation and how this impacts the disparity in how much our students care. But truly, what can we practically do? There are three things both you and your students need to implement and realize. While some might seem harsh, it’s what students need to realize or experience in order to change their outlook and work ethic in the future. Our students not caring as much as we do is a tale as old as time, but the disparity seems to be greater in recent years. This has sparked concern from teachers and required a need to take action in order to best serve students. So, if you’re looking for ways to get your students to care as much as you do or change your perspective on it, this episode is for you! Resources Mentioned: Download your FREE Classroom Reset ChallengeSend me a DM on Instagram: @its.not.rocket.scienceSend me an email: rebecca@itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.comFollow, rate, and review on Apple PodcastsShow Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode123

In last week’s episode, I asked you to examine your current job situation to see if there were more things causing you stress than things that brought you joy. One solution might be changing your scenery, such as switching schools or even districts, which would mean a teacher interview is in your future. Or even if you’re a beginning teacher looking for their first teaching job, this episode is for you! One request I get a lot is to share my teacher interview tips, which is exactly what I’m going to share in today’s episode. To help get you ready and confident to nail your job interview, I’m sharing four tips and giving specific examples of what each of these four tips entails and how to impress the interview team. Additionally, teacher interviews are moving towards interviewing candidates performing mock lessons as part of their interview process. If this is a new concept for you, I share what these mock lessons look like and the different components you should display in your lesson. I also give you three mock lesson ideas that show your skills as a science educator that will also engage students. Interviewing for a job can make you nervous and anxious, but I want you to feel confident and ready to tackle your next teacher interview. So whether you’re a new teacher looking for their first job or a veteran teacher looking to try out a new school or district, these job interview tips and mock lesson ideas will help you land the job! Resources Mentioned: Biology Mock Lesson - Characteristics of Life Inquiry Chemistry Mock Lesson - Free Chemistry Inquiry ActivityPhysics Mock Lesson - Motion and Force Lab Station Activity Anatomy of a Class Period Cheat SheetDownload your FREE Classroom Reset ChallengeSend me a DM on Instagram: @its.not.rocket.scienceSend me an email: rebecca@itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.comFollow, rate, and review on Apple PodcastsShow Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode122

It’s no secret that teachers are constantly overwhelmed and stressed and often don’t feel appreciated for their work. Especially during this time of year, it can be hard to determine if the exhaustion you’re feeling is just temporary or a feeling that won’t go away. Trust me, I’ve been exactly where you’re at and want to help. So, in today’s episode, I’m sharing my process to see if the burnout you’re feeling is fixable or if it’s time to make a change. Make no mistake: deciding to make a career change is a big decision. That’s why the process I share provides you with the opportunity to assess where you are and make changes accordingly. After making a list and labeling your priorities, it will make it easier to see what’s making you happy and what’s holding you back. Additionally, I give a list of things to consider before making a change in your career that will show you a different perspective and help you be sustainable in where you want to be professionally. Teaching is a mentally tough job. We’re juggling a lot of plates, and our responsibilities are endless at school, let alone when we go home. So it’s no wonder teachers are feeling exhausted and experiencing burnout. By sharing this process, I hope it clears up whether the feelings you’re experiencing are just in season or time for a permanent change. Resources Mentioned: Download your FREE Classroom Reset ChallengeSend me a DM on Instagram: @its.not.rocket.scienceSend me an email: rebecca@itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.comFollow, rate, and review on Apple PodcastsShow Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode121

Everyone is trying to achieve a work-life balance, but for teachers, that simple concept is actually very complicated. One of the reasons teachers struggle so much with having a life outside of school is the amount of grading that we have to do. While I’m biased, I believe secondary science teachers have the most grading, especially with the labs and having multiple preps. I want you to be able to manage and achieve this, so in today’s episode, I’m sharing four tips that will cut your grading time in half. Now, some of these ideas may seem drastic to you, but I encourage and challenge you to listen with an open mind if you really want to cut down on your grading. Each of my four tips includes limiting what you collect, which items you grade for accuracy, and trying batching when you grade. A lot of the pushback I get when I suggest ways to cut down your grading, are teachers’ concerns of not checking in or assessing students based on their work. But don’t you worry! I’ve thought of a way you can check in daily with your students to ease your concerns. Grading student work is part of teaching and we’re made to believe we should be spending hours a day on this one task of teaching. However, if we want to achieve a work-life balance, we need to find a better solution. And while the four tips I share in this episode might seem extreme, they will help cut your grading time in half and allow you to have a life outside of school while also checking in with your students daily. Resources Mentioned: Bell Ringers & Exit SlipsSend me a DM on Instagram: @its.not.rocket.scienceSend me an email: rebecca@itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.comFollow, rate, and review on Apple PodcastsShow Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode120

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again - the reason I do this podcast is for you! I love sharing ideas, strategies, activities, and curriculum with you that help make your science classrooms more successful. This is why I reached out to you to hear what questions you had for me or for your science classrooms. So, for the next few months, I’ll be answering all your questions, starting today. This important question that was mentioned a lot revolved around increasing retention and how to get students to remember dense topics in your science curriculum. Instead of thinking this is your fault, I first want you to know it’s not. I share my own personal reasons why students have worse retention than ever before. But really, I share very practical tips that you can begin implementing in your classroom. Although they’re most effectively introduced at the beginning of the school year, there are still ideas you can start using today. Each tip requires you to reflect on your current practices, sequence, and instructional activities in order for students to increase their retention of dense topics. Sometimes, students struggle to retain information in general, let alone difficult content, so it’s important to find ways to increase that retention in any way possible. Whether you start using these tips now or get a jump start on how to structure your science course for next year, these practical ideas will increase the retention of dense science topics in your students! Resources Mentioned: Biology Curriculum Chemistry CurriculumSend me a DM on Instagram: @its.not.rocket.scienceSend me an email: rebecca@itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.comFollow, rate, and review on Apple PodcastsShow Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode119

If you’ve been in education long enough, you know that new acronyms and ideas are constantly being tossed out there. Once these ideas are presented, schools and districts want them implemented, which results in teachers stressing about incorporating them into their lessons. But in reality, teachers are already doing a lot of these ideas; they’re just called something different. This is exactly what happened with CER. So, in today’s episode, I’m explaining what CER is and why you’re already doing this in your science classroom. For those that don’t know, CER is an acronym for claim evidence reasoning. When this came onto the scene a few years ago, my inbox was flooded with questions on how to implement this and if it was incorporated into my curriculum resources. My response has always been the same - you’re already implementing this in your classroom because science is all about making claims and backing them up with evidence and reasoning. With that being said, I’m sharing how to be more intentional about using the language so your students learn to expect this type of response to any question. Although the term CER is new, the structure for how students construct an explanation is not. I know the stress and pressure of implementing something new in your classroom that your school is promoting, but I hope that this episode encourages and reinforces that you’re already doing this in your science classrooms despite it having a new name. Resources Mentioned: It’s Not Rocket Science Complete UnitsSend me a DM on Instagram: @its.not.rocket.scienceSend me an email: rebecca@itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.comFollow, rate, and review on Apple PodcastsShow Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode118

We’ve all had someone who isn’t trained in our subject area be a substitute in our class before, but only for just a day or two, and we survived. But when it’s for an extended period of time, that’s when planning can get challenging. This episode is more than for those going on maternity leave. Most of us don’t anticipate when we need to go on extended leave, but it’s critical to think about and plan for it. So, in today’s episode, I’m sharing how you can effectively plan for a long-term substitute who isn’t trained to teach science.  In my years of teaching, I’ve encountered this situation twice in my career, so I’m familiar with the plans you need to make. Because, in reality, you need to prep for students to learn for an extended period of time without someone in the room to help them with the content. With this in mind, I have six tips on what you can do to prepare for a long-term sub who doesn’t teach your content. Each idea asks you to examine your plans, find alternative ways for students to learn content, and how to have your substitute grade assignments. It’s difficult to find substitutes who are trained in what we teach, especially in the subject of science. So when you need to be gone for an extended period of time, planning needs to go into it. In order to give yourself peace of mind and your students the best learning experience possible, implement my six tips for when your long-term substitute doesn’t teach science. Resources Mentioned: It’s Not Rocket Science Complete UnitsIt’s Not Rocket Science ProjectsIt’s Not Rocket Science YouTube ChannelDownload your FREE Classroom Reset ChallengeSend me a DM on Instagram: @its.not.rocket.scienceSend me an email: rebecca@itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.comFollow, rate, and review on Apple PodcastsShow Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode117

No matter what subject or grade you teach or how long you’ve been teaching, you have been behind schedule at least at one point in your career. Trust me, I’ve been there, and it is stressful! Especially if you have an end-of-year test that you’re preparing for. But instead of feeling overwhelmed, in today’s episode, I’m sharing ways to assess why you’re behind schedule and providing practical ways to prevent it from happening in the future. When we start to get behind schedule, our natural reaction is to either rush students or cut instructional resources. However, I caution you to do either of those, for it can bring down student enthusiasm and change your demeanor as a teacher. Instead, I give you four questions to ask yourself where you can begin to assess why you’re behind, which can be eye-opening to what you find important and how much instructional time you actually have. Then, after assessing, I share practical ways you can get back on track or prevent you from being behind schedule in the future. It’s natural to get behind schedule when you have so much science content to teach, but it’s so important to learn where it’s coming from and how to fix it. So, if you’re struggling to fit all of your content in before a big test or the end of the year, this episode is for you! Resources Mentioned: Free Lab AuditAnatomy of a Class PeriodDownload your FREE Classroom Reset ChallengeSend me a DM on Instagram: @its.not.rocket.scienceSend me an email: rebecca@itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.comFollow, rate, and review on Apple PodcastsShow Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode116

If you’re a beginning teacher or teaching a new prep for the first time, everyone’s advice is always to fake it till you make it! We’re conditioned to believe that you need to project confidence to show your students that you’re qualified to be their teacher. But is that narrative what’s best for your students? I’ve had many conversations with teachers about how to act confident when you don’t feel that way, and my answer may surprise you. It’s normal to want to display a sense of confidence towards your students when you’re in charge of the classroom. But I want you to think about the benefits of being honest and humble with your students instead. Being able to humanize yourself, show your flaws, and share your mistakes with them lets them know it’s okay for them to do so as well. However, I do share the two things you should feel confident about and how to stay firm in those beliefs. It can be intimidating to stand in front of students for the first time and act like you’ve been there before. Although my answer on how to project confidence when that’s not how you feel may not be the answer you were looking for, I promise it’s exactly what you’ll need to be confident for your students. Resources Mentioned: Download your FREE Classroom Reset ChallengeSend me a DM on Instagram: @its.not.rocket.scienceSend me an email: rebecca@itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.comFollow, rate, and review on Apple PodcastsShow Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode115 

Have you ever made a mistake in your classroom? Or handled a situation differently that caused more problems or regretted how you handled it? I am raising my hand high in the air! Even though it feels like you’re the only teacher something like this has ever happened to, in reality, you’re not alone. I received an email a few months back that resonated with me, and I knew it would resonate with y’all as well. It was from a second career teacher who shared her struggle with this exact topic. But how can you bounce back? Since I knew this was something every teacher could relate to, I wanted to make it a podcast episode to share some encouragement. So, in today’s episode, I’m sharing my advice for when you make a mistake in the classroom and some ways to be proactive in the future. Even though we try everything to avoid it, making a mistake in the classroom is inevitable, but it’s how you bounce back that makes all the difference. While I offer words of encouragement and share my own mistakes from when I was in the classroom, I also provide advice. This advice includes a three-step process on ways to admit when you’re wrong, identify ways it could’ve been prevented, how to make it right, and, most importantly, move on and learn from it. It can be a defeating feeling when you’ve made a mistake, or a negative situation has happened in your classroom. Trust me, I’ve been there. However, it shows more about who you are as a teacher on how you bounce back than the actual mistake. So I’m here to remind you that trials and mistakes will happen, but use them as an opportunity to grow and learn from them to be better as an educator.  Resources Mentioned: Download your FREE Classroom Reset ChallengeSend me a DM on Instagram: @its.not.rocket.scienceSend me an email: rebecca@itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.comFollow, rate, and review on Apple PodcastsShow Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode114

If you are anything like I was in the classroom, this time of year is when I often felt the most drained, with little energy. The excitement of break seems so far away; it’s dark, and the days seem never-ending. And while I can’t change any of those things for you, I can give you some encouragement to make it through. Similar to last week’s episode, where I shared five systems for the home, in today’s episode, I’m sharing five truths for the classroom. Y’all know how much I thrive off a routine or system, which is exactly what I was going to share today. However, knowing the level of energy you possibly have, I decided on disclosing truths for the classroom instead. In seasons where you are the most drained, you actually need support the most. In the five truths I share, each gives you permission to be yourself, allows you grace, and focuses on what’s important, such as the connection you have with your students. Sometimes, hearing the truth can be difficult. It’s usually the things we don’t want to hear that we need to hear. In this case, these truths give you an opportunity to breathe until you regain your energy. So, if you’re struggling and need support during this season of your life, make sure you take to heart the five truths for the classroom. Resources Mentioned: Download your FREE Classroom Reset ChallengeSend me a DM on Instagram: @its.not.rocket.scienceSend me an email: rebecca@itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.comFollow, rate, and review on Apple PodcastsShow Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode113

With the demands of teaching, we often come home with no energy but are faced with the demands of our home life as well. And just like we have routines put in place to make things easier at school, we can do the same when we’re at home. So, in today’s episode, I’m sharing my best systems for the home that will help you maximize your energy from the day. Each of the systems for the home that I share helps you manage the daily tasks of running a home, how to build in more time for yourself, and ways to relax and boundaries for a better mindset. Even though each of the five systems might not work for everyone, I encourage you to take what serves you, particularly depending on where you are in your season of life. I know this is a deviation from the normal topics we discuss on this podcast, but I believe it’s something that’s going to help you optimize your time at home. So, if you didn’t have enough time to recharge or get that energy boost over break like you had wished, implementing these systems for the home (and systems for school in next week’s episode) will help transform your life! Resources Mentioned: Meal Planning NotepadDownload your FREE Classroom Reset ChallengeSend me a DM on Instagram: @its.not.rocket.scienceSend me an email: rebecca@itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.comFollow, rate, and review on Apple PodcastsShow Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode112 

Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you were able to unplug over this winter break and recharge so you can tackle the last semester of the school year. Since the start of a new year is the perfect time to hit the reset button, I really wanted to start the year off by assessing where you are in life, what your priorities are, and the types of boundaries you should have. During today’s episode, I want to introduce you to what it means to be living in your current season and how to honor that with your priorities and boundaries. Different seasons require different things from us, so it’s important to find ways to make it through based on what your needs are and what matters in your life during your current season. One of the best ways to do that is by naming your priorities and defining boundaries. Your priorities filter through every decision you make during that time, which is why being selective with what matters most is so essential. Additionally, I discuss how to choose certain boundaries that align with your priority and that serve whoever is involved or connected to your priority. I want you to remember that seasons aren’t forever, and it’s going to require you to pick and choose or give and take during certain moments of your life. But by naming your priorities and defining your boundaries, you can make it through your current season. So, I want to encourage you to assess where you’re at so you can have a fresh start in this new year and end the school year strong! Resources Mentioned: The Lazy Genius WebsiteThe Lazy Genius Way BookThe Lazy Genius PodcastThe Lazy Genius on Instagram: @thelazygeniusDownload your FREE Classroom Reset ChallengeSend me a DM on Instagram: @its.not.rocket.scienceSend me an email: rebecca@itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.comFollow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode111

It’s officially the last week of 2023, so I wanted to end the year with the most listened to episode from the year. It was no surprise to me that my interview with Casey O’Hearn was the top episode because of his approach to teaching, his philosophies, and his outlook on how to interact and connect with his students. Adapting to teach in a post-pandemic world, Casey shares his approach to classroom management post-COVID and how you can implement his ideas. Post-pandemic, a lot of teachers have had to adapt their management and increase student motivation. These times have presented many challenges for teachers and students, so how can you experience success? My conversation with Casey spans from reaching apathetic students, finding new ways to motivate students, and his effective no-hassle cell phone policy. There’s so much I personally took from our conversation, but the general theme was finding ways to meet students where they’re at in this post-pandemic world. Casey has a great perspective on teaching and classroom management, and I encourage you to reflect on your own philosophies as you jump into 2024! Resources Mentioned: Grab the Anatomy of a Class Period FREEBIEDownload your FREE Classroom Reset ChallengeSend me a DM on Instagram: @its.not.rocket.scienceSend me an email: rebecca@itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.comFollow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode110

As I mentioned last week, I’m taking the last weeks of December to replay my top three episodes of the year based on your listens and downloads. I was shocked that this original episode was number two, but so excited because it’s something I’m passionate about, which is curriculum design, specifically strategizing your sequence. This was the first episode in our curriculum design series, which is a great place to start when developing your own curriculum. To get you started, I’m sharing 10 questions to think through when beginning how to strategize your sequence. Since I often get asked about my process for designing a curriculum, I wanted to present to you a series that helped you write your own curriculum for your own classroom. Whether you’re starting from scratch or tweaking the curriculum you’ve already written, after this series, you will be able to walk away with a well-developed curriculum that’s cohesive, aligned, creative, and effective. Resources Mentioned: Sign up for the FREE Summer Podcast PDBiology Curriculum - FULL YEAR BundlePhysical Science Curriculum - FULL YEAR BundleAnatomy and Physiology Curriculum FULL YEAR BundleChemistry Curriculum - FULL YEAR BundleDownload your FREE Classroom Reset ChallengeSend me a DM on Instagram: @its.not.rocket.scienceSend me an email: rebecca@itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.comFollow, rate, and review on Apple PodcastsShow Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode109

Happy December, y’all! The one word that describes my life right now, which might describe yours as well, is frantic. So, I thought for the rest of the month, we’d revisit episodes from this past year that can either be good reminders for you during this last month of school or ideas you need to think about or reinforce when you return from break in January. In today’s episode, we’re listening to the third most popular episode, which focuses on five classroom management routines and procedures for your secondary classroom. The number of procedures and routines you have set up in your classroom is solely determined by your own teaching philosophies, personality, and style. So before setting up a procedure because “that’s what you should do,” make sure you reflect and ask yourself some questions regarding consistent conflicts, disruptions, and personal preferences.  My constant message when it comes to classroom management is finding ways to be proactive instead of reactive. With each of these five classroom management routines and procedures, they establish an effective work ethic and eliminate distractions and late or incomplete work. Even though you’re in the middle of the year, it’s never too late to reflect and examine your teaching and classroom behaviors to see if they need to be reworked or newly enforced. These are my top five classroom management routines and procedures, so whether you implement these or come up with your own, make sure they’re what you need and best fit your classroom. Resources Mentioned:  Biology Bell Ringers or Exit Slips – Full Year BundlePhysical Science Bell Ringers or Exit Slips – Full Year BundleAnatomy and Physiology Bell Ringers or Exit Slips – Full Year BundleBlue Pocket Charts for Classroom Supplies OrganizerBigLight Push Lights Download your FREE Classroom Reset ChallengeSend me a DM on Instagram: @its.not.rocket.scienceSend me an email: rebecca@itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.comFollow, rate, and review on Apple PodcastsShow Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode108