Everyone’s first year teaching is hard, but Grace Ratliff’s first year may take the cake. She started her teaching career the same day her daughter was born, missed all of pre-planning, and returned from maternity leave to a brand-new school where she didn’t even know where to park or find her classroom. I’m talking with Grace about navigating that steep learning curve, building relationships, and celebrating small student successes (spoiler alert: high schoolers still love stickers!). Grace’s practical strategies prove that you can set boundaries, keep things simple, and still build a classroom where students feel seen, celebrated, and motivated to try, even in the middle of chaos.

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode260

Resources Mentioned:

• It’s Not Rocket Science PRIME TIMES®
• 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 143. My Top 5 Favorite Teacher Hacks for the New School Year
• Episode 206. PRIME TIMES® – Everything You Need to Know

Returning to your classroom after a long-term leave can feel like walking into a completely different classroom. You’re trying to figure out what happened while you were gone, what students actually learned, and where to begin. In this episode, I’m sharing five tips from teachers who have experienced this exact situation, including how to approach your first days back, make decisions about your curriculum, and get your classroom running smoothly again. Most importantly, give yourself and your students grace as you adjust to a new normal. Remember, teaching is your job, not your life!

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode259

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 49: Visuals, Middle School, Maternity Leave, and MORE with Guest Rachael Lasky
• Episode 117: How to Prep for a Long-Term Substitute Who Doesn’t Teach Science
• Episode 217: How to Regain Control Mid-Year: Resetting Your Classroom Management
• Episode 244: Sanity-Saving Systems, Self Checks, and Starting a TA Program With Katie Dupuie
• Episode 260: Celebrating Small Success and Building Relationships With Grace Ratliff

If you’re teaching three or more preps this school year, you may be realizing that your current systems are either keeping you organized or need a little adjusting! In this episode, I’m sharing six of my top tips for staying organized, from color coding and unit packets to implementing PrimeTimes and an end-of-day checklist. These simple systems can help you stay on top of your workload, stagger the demands of multiple preps, and make those busy days feel a whole lot more doable.

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode258

Resources Mentioned:

• Balancing multiple preps Spotify Playlist
• Plastic bins
• Paper desktop calendar
• Frixion erasable pens
• 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 60: Teaching with Packets – What They Are, Why I Love Them, and How to Use Them
• Episode 182: End the Year Organized: Your Resources
• Episode 183: End the Year Organized: Your Classroom
• Episode 184: End the Year Organized: Your Methods for Management
• Episode 206: PRIME TIMES® – Everything You Need to Know
• Episode 244: Sanity-Saving Systems, Self Checks, and Starting a TA Program With Katie Dupuie
• Blog: EVERYTHING you need to know about having a high school T.A. program

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

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

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

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