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

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

I’ve mentioned Board Points on this podcast more times than I can count, but somehow I’ve never given them their own episode. Today, we’re finally fixing that! I’m sharing how I started using Board Points, why they became a game-changer for one challenging class, and exactly how I use them to build teamwork and reduce individual behavior management. I’ll walk you through my simple system, answer common questions, and share creative ways to use points, class competitions, and rewards to keep students motivated and create that “we’re in this together” mentality.

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode249

Resources Mentioned:

• Bell
• INRS Units
• INRS Full Year Curriculum
• Classroom Management Podcast Playlist
• 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 90, Classroom Management Philosophy for Secondary Science Teachers
• Episode 91, My Top 5 Classroom Management Routines and Procedures for High School Science Teachers
• Episode 93, Simple Strategies for Classroom Management
• Episode 246, Grouping and Engaging Students with Popsicle Sticks

Getting handed a brand new prep just days before school starts can feel like every teacher's nightmare. I've been there, and in this episode, I'm sharing five practical tips to help you tackle a last-minute course assignment without putting impossible expectations on yourself. We'll talk about how to advocate for the support you deserve, when to lean on existing curriculum instead of reinventing the wheel, and the simple mindset shifts that will help you survive (and even thrive!) when you've been "voluntold" to teach something new.

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode248

Resources:

• INRS Units
• INRS Full Year Curriculum
• 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 185, When is Preparation Worth It, and When Is It a Pipe Dream?
• Episode 229, Balancing Unrealistic Admin Expectations
• Episode 235, Advocating for Yourself with Admin

Teaching physical science completely changed my perspective as an educator. It started out as the course I least wanted to teach, and somehow became the one I'd request if I ever returned to the classroom full-time! In this episode, I'm sharing why I fell in love with teaching physical science, the scope and sequence I used in my own classroom, and the big-picture goals that shaped every lesson. I'll also take you behind the scenes of the newly revamped It's Not Rocket Science® Physical Science curriculum, packed with new inquiry activities, engineering challenges, and classroom supports. Whether you're teaching physical science for the first time or looking for new ideas, this episode will leave you feeling excited and ready to make this one of your favorite courses to teach!

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode247

Resources:

• Physical Science FULL YEAR Curriculum
• Physical Science curriculum on TpT (over 400 5-star reviews!!)
• Physical Science Units
• Physical Science Scope and Sequence blog post
• Supplies Spreadsheet for INRS Physical Science curriculum
• FREEBIE - Get the Physical Science Pacing Guide
• 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 209, Anatomy Scope and Sequence: How and Why I Teach Anatomy the Way That I Do
• Episode 220, Biology Scope and Sequence: How and Why I Teach Biology the Way That I Do
• Episode 232, Chemistry Scope and Sequence: How and Why I Teach Chemistry the Way That I Do

One simple classroom tool has completely changed the way I manage my classroom, build relationships, and keep every student engaged…and it costs just a few dollars! In this episode, I'm sharing how I use popsicle sticks to create fair participation, build meaningful classroom discussions, and make sure every student feels seen. I'll walk you through how I make and use them, simple ways to reduce participation anxiety, and an alternative system from a fellow teacher that might be the perfect fit for your classroom!

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode246

Resources Mentioned:

• Popsicle sticks
• RADAR posters
• RADAR Blogpost
• INRS units
• INRS Full Year Curriculum
• 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 141, First Day of School Tips + What I Cover in My First Units of the Year
• Episode 143, My Top 5 Favorite Teacher Hacks for the New School Year
• Episode 225, What to Do When Your Class Won’t Talk With You