Secondary Science Simplified™
Secondary Science Simplified is a podcast specifically for high school science teachers that will help you to engage your students AND simplify your life as a secondary science educator. Each week Rebecca, from It's Not Rocket Science, and her guests will share practical and easy-to-implement strategies for decreasing your workload so that you can stop working overtime and start focusing your energy doing what you love - actually teaching! Teaching doesn't have to be rocket science, and you'll learn exactly what you need to do to simplify your secondary science teaching life so that you can enjoy your life outside of school even more. Head to itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/challenge to grab your FREE Classroom Reset Challenge.
Episodes
228 episodes
227. A Quarter 4 Pep Talk
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 ...
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14:41
226. What to Do When You’ve Lost Your Spark in Teaching
Spring might bring renewed energy, but sometimes the spark for teaching is still missing. In this episode, I share what to do when you’ve lost your passion for teaching or feel the weight of teacher burnout. I walk through four steps I call the...
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25:02
225. What to Do When Your Class Won’t Talk With You
You may have read the title of this episode and thought, “Wow, I cannot relate. My problem is getting my students to quiet down!” But if you’re facing a roomful of crickets, this one’s for you. I share my experience with nearly-silent classes a...
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18:20
224. Keeping Students’ Attention Engaged - Without Killing Yourself to Do It
“I’m pouring everything I have into keeping my students engaged… and I’m completely drained, but nothing is changing.” If that thought has been running through your head, you are not alone. In this episode, I challenge the belief th...
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39:55
223. What to Do When Students Simply Won’t Do Their Work
When students flat-out refuse to work, it can feel impossible to stay in control. In this episode, I tackle what you can actually do when encouragement isn’t enough and resistance takes over. Instead of focusing on controlling students, I share...
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20:28
222. What to Do With Fast Finishers - Managing Different Students’ Paces
Fast finishers can throw your whole class off pace when you’re already feeling behind. In this episode, I share how to manage fast finishers during notes, practice, labs, projects, and tests without adding more to your plate. I explain why diff...
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19:23
221. Pacing Panic - What to Do When You Are So Far Behind Where You Thought You’d Be
Pacing panic hits hard this time of year, and if you’re feeling behind (again), this episode is for you. I revisit the ever-relevant issue of pacing, helping you assess whether you’re truly behind or just holding yourself to unrealistic expecta...
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31:55
220. Biology Scope and Sequence: How and Why I Teach Biology the Way That I Do
Biology has always been my first love, and this episode felt like the perfect moment to come back to it! In this episode, I share the thinking behind my biology scope and sequence, why order matters so much, and the structures, experiences, and...
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30:52
219. Study Guides for High School Science Classes
Something I realized early in my teaching career is that most students have absolutely no clue how to prepare for tests! That's why I'm diving into how intentional study guides can actually teach students how to study, not just wha...
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26:13
218. 3 Things to Stop Doing This Semester
I’ve sat through a lot of professional development over the years, and I don’t remember a single one that ever took something off my plate - it was always more! That’s why this episode exists: to simplify your workload by doing less of...
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19:22
217. How to Regain Control Mid-Year: Resetting Your Classroom Management
Mid-year is when the cracks start to show - expectations fade, routines get sloppy, and classroom management feels heavier than it should. In this episode, I share why you can reset classroom management at any point in the year and wal...
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17:33
216. Simple Goal Setting for the New Semester
The “new year, fresh start” energy feels exciting, but can also be overwhelming! This episode cuts through the noise with a refreshingly simple approach to goal setting. Instead of complicated systems, you’ll focus on just two questions: what y...
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20:08
215. A Systematic and Scientific Approach to Parent Communication With Guest Amanda Farrar
It's time to hear the top episode of 2025, and it’s easy to see why this was a crowd favorite! I’m joined by high school chemistry and physics teacher Amanda Farrar, who shares her system for parent communication. She uses an intentional, data-...
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50:35
214. Practical Scientific Inquiry Teaching Strategies
Our second most-listened-to episode of 2025 dives into inquiry-based teaching and why it’s essential, even when students push back. I break inquiry down into practical, classroom-ready strategies, explain why students struggle if they’ve only e...
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34:11
213. Everything You Need to Know About Teaching AP Biology With Tiffany of AP Bio Penguins
As we continue our end-of-year countdown, week three highlights one of 2025’s top episodes featuring Tiffany of AP Bio Penguins, an AP Biology teacher with 13 years of experience and a passion for creating free, high-impact review resources. In...
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58:14
212. 6 Preps, EOC Review, Biology and Work/Life Balance With Guest Macee Huseman
In December, we’re airing the top five most-played episodes of the year - and this conversation with Macee Huseman easily earned its spot! As a one-woman science department juggling six preps and three kids at home, Macee balances a heavy workl...
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37:15
211. 5 Differentiation Tips for High Achievers in Your High School Science Classroom
December is here, and we’re kicking off the month by bringing back your most-loved, most-listened-to episodes of Secondary Science Simplified to make the holiday chaos feel a little lighter! This week’s replay dives into practical, high-impact ...
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25:43
210. 4 Ways AI Can Support You in Your Secondary Classroom
AI may be getting better every day, but it’s still not coming for my job anytime soon - because, well…it struggles with science! While it can’t write a reliable test or answer key, it can make day-to-day teaching easier in some surpris...
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12:41
209. Anatomy Scope and Sequence: How and Why I Teach Anatomy the Way That I Do
Anatomy holds a special place in my heart, and in this episode, I share how I teach it and why I designed the It’s Not Rocket Science® Anatomy curriculum the way I did. I focus on sparking curiosity, weaving in three big themes, and prioritizin...
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24:08
208. 5 Tips for How to Lesson Plan While Managing Constant Disruptions
Are constant disruptions messing up your perfectly planned weeks? You’re not alone! When I taught at small schools in particular, it often felt like every week held a new disruption. Between spirit weeks, fire drills, and field trips, I sometim...
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24:04
207. Dealing With Combative Parents - 6 Tips and 2 Warnings
No matter how far we are into the school year, those dreaded surprise parent emails can still hit your inbox, often full of big emotions and even bigger accusations. In this episode, I’m diving into one of the most challenging parts of teaching...
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30:34
206. PRIME TIMES® - Everything You Need to Know
Today’s the day! I’m finally doing a deep dive into my number one classroom procedure: PRIME TIMES®. I share the origin story, why they’re essential for classroom management and formative assessment, and practical strategies for making them wor...
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49:56
205. A Cell Phone Policy for High School Students
Cell phone policies are one of the most debated topics for secondary teachers, and for good reason! They’re tough to get right. In this episode, I’m sharing my honest experiences with different approaches, what’s worked (and what’s totally fail...
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25:11
204. Serving English Learners in Your Science Classroom With Risa Woods of Every Teacher
Once the school year is in full swing, meeting every learner’s needs can feel impossible, especially when it comes to supporting English learners. In this episode, I sit down with Risa Woods from Every Teacher for a conversation that’s equal pa...
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49:21