Recently, I was asked a question that stopped me in my tracks: What’s one thing you wish you’d done differently in the classroom? My first answer came fast...I thought too much of myself and carried the weight of everything on my shoulders. But the more I thought about the question, the more I realized there were several things I would do differently! In this episode, I’m sharing four regrets from my early teaching years, four things I would do differently now after years of growth (and becoming a mom), and four classroom practices I’d do again in a heartbeat.

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode234

Resources Mentioned:

• INRS Units
• INRS Full Year Curriculum
• FREE podcast playlist for NEW high school science teachers
• 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 91, My Top 5 Classroom Management Routines and Procedures for High School Science Teachers
• Episode 130, First Year Teaching? 5 Things I Wish I Had Known
• Episode 195, A Simple and Effective Process for Parent Communication with Guest Mandy Farrar
• Episode 206, Prime Times® - Everything You Need to Know

Why does it feel like I start every week organized, then somehow end it with a mile-long to-do list and lesson plans that still need fixing? In this episode, I’m answering a listener’s relatable question with six practical strategies that helped me stay ahead of planning in the classroom. We’re talking batch planning, overplanning, classroom routines, pacing with confidence, protecting your planning period, and reflecting now so next year feels easier. If lesson planning always feels like a moving target, this episode will help you create systems that lighten the load!

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode233

Resources Mentioned:

• INRS Units
• INRS Full Year Curriculum
• LAST CHANCE TO APPLY TO BE A GUEST!!!
• 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 62, 5 Ways to Instantly Make Your Planning Period More Productive
• Episode 92, 5 Ways to Have Precise Pacing and Tight Transitions in Your Secondary Science Classroom
• Episode 139, Sunday Scaries - How I Use Friday Planning to Prevent Them
• Episode 208, 5 Tips for How to Lesson Plan While Managing Constant Disruptions

Chemistry can be one of the most rewarding courses to teach, and in this episode I’m sharing why! I walk you through the scope and sequence I use in my yearlong chemistry curriculum, how I break down major topics so students build confidence step by step, and why I prioritize depth over rushing through standards. We’ll also cover the big themes that connect chemistry all year long, plus what makes my curriculum especially supportive for teachers through flexible labs, differentiation, and intentional organization.

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode232

Resources:

• Chemistry FULL YEAR Curriculum
• Chemistry curriculum on TpT (see all the 5 star reviews!!)
• Chemistry Units
• Chemistry Scope and Sequence Blogpost
• FREEBIE - Get the Chemistry Pacing Guide
• Be a guest on the podcast! Apply here.
• 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 127, Teaching AP Chemistry with Zach Matson
• Episode 140, 5 Tips for Teaching Chemistry
• Episode 190, Student Mastery, Switching Schools, and Teaching Chemistry with Heather Bonanno
• Episode 209, Anatomy Scope and Sequence: How and Why I Teach Anatomy the Way That I Do

Caring deeply about your students can feel exhausting when you’re the only one showing up! In this episode, I share how to support a student when admin and parents aren’t involved, without taking on everything yourself. You’ll learn how to do your due diligence through consistent communication, shift your perspective with empathy, and bring in additional support when needed. Most importantly, it’s about building a strong connection with your student while protecting your time and energy, setting boundaries, and reflecting on what it means to be faithful to your role without carrying what isn’t yours.

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode231

Resources Mentioned:

• Be a guest on the podcast! Apply here!
• 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 70, “It Isn’t an Attack on You”: Dealing with Difficult Parents with Guest Zach Matson
• Episode 121, Burned Out? When It’s Time to Make a Change
• 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 156, What to Do When You Are Micromanaged by Your Admin or District
• Episode 195, A Simple and Effective Process for Parent Communication With Guest Mandy Farrar
• Episode 229, Balancing Unrealistic Admin Expectations

It’s been awhile since we’ve tackled a hot-button topic, so we’re going there today: test retakes. I’m breaking down the real pros and cons, sharing how I decide when retakes are actually necessary, and how to structure them in a way that supports mastery without adding more to your plate. It all comes down to clear expectations, strong boundaries, and putting responsibility back on students. Plus, I’m sharing strategies from other teachers to help you manage retakes in a way that protects your time, your sanity, and your standards!

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode230

Resources Mentioned:

• Be a guest on the podcast! Apply here.
• INRS Units
• INRS Full Year Curriculum
• Instagram: @biowithmrs.mac
• Instagram: @themathematicalmama
• Instagram: @apbiopenguins
• 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 145, How to Build Resilience in Students Post-Pandemic
• Episode 155, How to Create Active and Accountable Learners in Your Secondary Science Classroom
• Episode 190, Student Mastery, Switching Schools, and Teaching Chemistry with Heather Bonanno
• Episode 197, Motivating the Unmotivated - 4 Practical Tips to Help Students Care
• Episode 202, What to Do When Your Students Fail the Test
• Episode 213, Everything You Need to Know About Teaching AP Biology with Tiffany of AP Bio Penguins
• Episode 229, Balancing Unrealistic Admin Expectations

I get asked all the time if I’ll ever go back to teaching full time, and honestly… we’ll see. I miss teaching, but I don't miss the challenge of balancing admin expectations with what’s actually realistic in the classroom! In this episode, I’m sharing what to do when those expectations start to feel overwhelming, from getting perspective and finding support to having productive conversations with admin that lead to real solutions. And if it’s still not working, we’re talking about how to protect your time, focus on what matters most, and recognize when it might be time for a change, because the right environment and leadership can make all the difference.

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode229

Resources:

• Relationships mini-course
• Be a guest on the podcast! Apply here.
• 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 68, Evaluating Your Teacher Contract
• Episode 69, Admin Support: WHY You Need to Ask, HOW to Ask, and WHAT to Ask For
• Episode 71, “I’m the Problem, It’s Me”: Working with Difficult Coworkers and Admin with Guest Zach Matson
• Episode 121, Burned Out? When It’s Time to Make a Change
• Episode 156, What to Do When You Are Micromanaged By Your Admin or District
• Episode 190, Student Mastery, Switching Schools, and Teaching Chemistry with Heather Bonanno

Labs can easily become one of the most overwhelming parts of teaching science, so in this episode, I’m breaking down how to find, fund, prep, run, and assess labs in a way that’s actually sustainable. I share simple strategies for managing materials, planning for multiple classes, keeping labs purposeful (not just checking a box), and making them work for all students. Plus, we’re simplifying grading so you can focus on what really matters and get your time back!

Want more support? Sign up for my free Labs When Limited course, and if you’ve got lab strategies that work, apply to be a guest on the podcast!

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode228

Resources Mentioned:

• Labs When Limited free virtual PD course
• Be a guest on the podcast! Apply here.
• ANATOMY Supplies Spreadsheet
• BIOLOGY Supplies Spreadsheet
• CHEMISTRY Supplies Spreadsheet
• PHYSICAL SCIENCE Supplies Spreadsheet
• INRS Units
• INRS Full Year Curriculum
• Download your FREE Classroom Reset Challenge.
• 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:

• Blog Post: EVERYTHING You Need to Know About Having a High School T.A. Program
• Episode 69, Admin Support - WHY You Need to Ask, HOW to Ask, and WHAT to Ask For
• Episode 105, What Happened When I Stopped Assigning Formal Lab Reports
• Episode 177, Unpacking the NGSS: What High School Science Teachers Need to Know
• Episode 186, True Life: I Am a Science Teacher Who Hates Labs
• Episode 222, What to Do With Fast Finishers - Managing Different Students’ Paces

The final stretch of the school year can feel heavy, especially if you’re not sure the year turned out the way you hoped. In this episode, I offer a Quarter 4 pep talk and a mindset shift to help you finish strong. I talk about redefining what success looks like, embracing seasons of survival when needed, and focusing on small moments that still make a BIG impact with students. I also give you permission to stop doing time-draining tasks, try something new in your classroom, and bring a little more fun into these final weeks!

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode227

Resources Mentioned:

• Be a guest on the podcast! Apply here.
• Ecosystem in a Bottle
• End of year project packs
• Reviewing for standardized tests
• Biology scope and sequence
• Prime Times Bell Ringers
• 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:

• Episodes 12, Combating Senioritis Part 1: Getting Students Outside and Changing Up Lecture
• Episode 13, Combating Senioritis Part 2: Using Student-Centered Activities
• Episode 14, Combating Senioritis Part 3: Saving the Best for Last
• Episode 15, Teaching Seniors, AP Biology, and MORE with Diana Price
• Episode 18, What to Do After End of Year Testing with Students
• Episode 72, Review Strategies for EOC, Benchmark, and AP Exams
• Episode 165, How Naming What Matters Most Can Change the Rest of Your School Year
• Episode 218, 3 Things to Stop Doing This Semester
• Episode 220, Biology Scope and Sequence: How and Why I Teach Biology the Way That I Do
• Episode 226, What to Do When You’ve Lost Your Spark in Teaching