A student in your class disrespects you in front of everyone. What are you supposed to do? As someone who runs a little hot myself, I know how tempting it can be to bite back with sarcasm or a quick retort, but keeping your cool is the real win. In this episode, I’m breaking down what to do (and what not to do) when things get heated, from resisting the power struggle and removing the audience to using calm scripts and proactive classroom routines. And if you’ve handled a tough interaction poorly before, remember that no single moment defines you as a teacher. You can apologize, reset, and model healthy conflict resolution for your students.

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode257

Resources Mentioned:

• Download your FREE Classroom Reset Challenge
• Take the Free Labs When Limited virtual PD course
• Send me a DM on Instagram: @its.not.rocket.science
• Send me an email: rebecca@itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com
• Follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts.
• Follow, rate, and comment on Spotify

Related Episodes:

• Episode 249: Board Points: A Simple Whole Classroom Management Strategy
• Episode 225: What to Do When Your Class Won’t Talk With You
• Episode 246: Grouping and Engaging Students With Popsicle Sticks
• Episode 136: Building a Team Mindset Into Your Classroom Culture
• Episode 134: Prioritizing Relationships Over Being Right
• Episode 92: 5 Ways to Have Precise Pacing and Tight Transitions in Your Secondary Science Classroom

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/

At this point in the year, the “new year, new you” energy has officially worn off, and students might be drifting into class a little less prepared than before. In this episode, I’m breaking down how to handle students who show up without the supplies they need by setting simple expectations, communicating them clearly, and consistently reinforcing them. I’m also sharing how to build in a little grace while still letting natural consequences do their job, plus how to teach absent students to find what they missed and take responsibility for getting caught up.

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode256

Resources Mentioned:

• Lil baby calculators
• Giant pencils
• Download your FREE Classroom Reset Challenge.
• Take the Free Labs When Limited virtual PD course
• Send me a DM on Instagram: @its.not.rocket.science
• Send me an email: rebecca@itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com
• Follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts
• Follow, rate, and comment on Spotify

Related Episodes:

• Episode 96: Why I Stopped Assigning Homework (And 6 Surprising Results)
• Episode 152: Absences – How to Deal With Them
• Episode 206: PRIME TIMES® – Everything You Need to Know

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/

How do you stay passionate about teaching after 24 years and multiple science preps? Veteran teacher and department chair Jaime Gratton is sharing her tricks of the trade. We’re talking about engaging students in 90-minute blocks, creating hands-on science experiences, mentoring new teachers, and building a supportive department culture. We also get into AI, classroom routines, grading, and Jamie’s reminder that sometimes the best thing we can do is give ourselves a little grace and remember that it gets better!

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode255

Resources Mentioned:

• Chemventory
• INRS Chemistry curriculum
• AP teacher episode playlist
• Contact Jaime: Jaime.Gratton@sau19.org
• Jaime’s Amazon Resource List
• Download your FREE Classroom Reset Challenge.
• Take the Free Labs When Limited virtual PD course
• Send me a DM on Instagram: @its.not.rocket.science
• Send me an email: rebecca@itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com
• Follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts.

Related Episodes:

• Episode 238: Department Chairs: How to Lead Your Team Well
• Episode 212: 6 Preps, EOC Review, Biology and Work/Life Balance With Guest Macee Huseman
• Episode 191: Engaging Students, Serving ELLs, and Teaching Earth Science With Becca of Science Lessons That Rock
• Episode 163: What I Wish I Knew in My First Year of Teaching High School Science: 5 Simple Tips

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/

Parent boundaries can make a huge difference in your school year, especially when you set them early! In this final episode of my 3-week boundaries series, I’m breaking down three key areas: availability and access, respect and care, and knowing when to bring in support. We’ll talk about setting clear expectations, using proactive communication to build stronger parent relationships, and bringing in admin when things get tricky. When you feel confident partnering with parents while still protecting your time (and sanity!), you can focus on what matters most: your students.

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode254

Resources:

• Download your FREE Classroom Reset Challenge.
• Take the Free Labs When Limited virtual PD course
• Send me a DM on Instagram: @its.not.rocket.science
• Send me an email: rebecca@itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com
• Follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts.
• Follow, rate, and comment on Spotify.

Related Episodes:

• Episode 70: “It Isn’t an Attack on You”: Dealing with Difficult Parents with Guest Zach Matson
• Episode 195: A Simple and Effective Process for Parent Communication With Guest Mandy Farrar
• Episode 207: Dealing With Combative Parents – 6 Tips and 2 Warnings

Teaching is your job, NOT your whole life, and that means setting healthy boundaries with your students, too! In week two of my New Year, New Boundaries miniseries, I'm sharing five boundaries to establish this school year around availability, respect, workload, consequences, and grading. The goal? To empower students to become more independent, hold the line in your classroom, and still have a life outside of teaching.

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode253

Resources:

• Download your FREE Classroom Reset Challenge.
• Take the Free Labs When Limited virtual PD course
• Send me a DM on Instagram: @its.not.rocket.science
• Send me an email: rebecca@itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com
• Follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts.
• Follow, rate, and comment on Spotify.

Related Episodes:

• Episode 123: What to Do When You Care More Than Your Students Do
• Episode 155: How to Create Active and Accountable Learners in Your Secondary Science Classroom
• Episode 202: What to Do When Your Students Fail the Test
• Episode 223: What to Do When Students Simply Won’t Do Their Work

A new school year calls for new boundaries, and it’s high time we stopped letting email rule our lives. Teaching is your job, not your whole identity, and nobody should expect you to be available 24/7! In this episode, I’m kicking off a 3-week mini-series on boundaries by tackling one of the biggest struggles for teachers: constant digital access. I get personal about my own journey with becoming unavailable, why these boundaries matter, and how they can help us teach others to become independent problem-solvers. I’ll also address the biggest pushback I get and share five practical tips for holding the line and responding to email strategically instead of reactively.

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode252

Resources:

• Inbox When Ready (Chrome Extension)
• Download your FREE Classroom Reset Challenge.
• Take the Free Labs When Limited virtual PD course
• Send me a DM on Instagram: @its.not.rocket.science
• Send me an email: rebecca@itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com
• Follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts.
• Follow, rate, and comment on Spotify.

Related Episodes:

• Episode 70: “It Isn’t an Attack on You: Dealing with Difficult Parents with Guest Zach Matson
• Episode 195: A Simple and Effective Process for Parent Communication with Guest Mandy Farrar
• Episode 199: How to Not Take Work Home (In Your Head, or in Reality) This School Year
• Episode 207: Dealing With Combative Parents - 6 Tips and 2 Warnings

Teaching science is about more than getting through the standards! In this episode, I’m sharing five critical life skills I want you to intentionally teach this school year. I’ll share practical ways to build these skills into what you’re already doing while helping students become more capable, confident, and resilient humans...not just successful science students!

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode251

Resources Mentioned:

• Life Skills PDF (FREE!)
• RADAR Signs (FREE!)
• Download your FREE Classroom Reset Challenge.
• Take the Free Labs When Limited virtual PD course
• Send me a DM on Instagram: @its.not.rocket.science
• Send me an email: rebecca@itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com
• Follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts.
• Follow, rate, and comment on Spotify.

Related Episodes:

• Episode 47. 2 Ways That Learning Happens and How to Create a Classroom Culture That Fosters It
• Episode 136. Building a Team Mindset Into Your Classroom Culture
• Episode 145. How to Build Resilience in Students Post-Pandemic
• Episode 147. Content Coverage - How to Get Through All of the Standards
• Episode 155. How to Create Active and Accountable Learners in Your Secondary Science Classroom
• Episode 175. How and WHY I Teach Students to Take Notes
• Episode 219. Study Guides for High School Science Classes
• Episode 244. Sanity-Saving Systems, Self Checks, and Starting a TA Program With Katie Dupuie
• Episode 246. Grouping and Engaging Students with Popsicle Sticks

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/

To celebrate 250 episodes of Secondary Science Simplified, I’m answering listener questions covering everything from coworker relationships and classroom organization to block schedules and student connections. I’m sharing practical strategies for balancing direct instruction and inquiry, navigating scripted curriculum, managing a season when you don’t have the time or energy to do everything, and integrating faith into a science classroom.

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode250

Resources Mentioned:

• FREEBIE: Anatomy of a Class Period (never lecture more than 15 min!):
• Individual lab supplies in shoebox lids (12 for $28)
• AP Science Teacher Playlist
• Grading Playlist
• Curriculum Design 101 Starts Here! (Episode 80)
• Christianity and Evolution blog post
• Download your FREE Classroom Reset Challenge.
• Take the Free Labs When Limited virtual PD course
• Send me a DM on Instagram: @its.not.rocket.science
• Send me an email: rebecca@itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com
• Follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts.
• Follow, rate, and comment on Spotify.

Related Episodes and Blog Posts:

• Episode 71, “I’m the Problem, It’s Me”: Working with Difficult Coworkers and Admin with Guest Zach Matson
• Episode 149, Teaching on a Block Schedule - Why It’s Not as Bad as You Think
• Episode 246, Grouping and Engaging Students with Popsicle Sticks