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Secondary Science Simplified™

Secondary Science Simplified™

Rebecca Joyner, High School Science Teacher

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.

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Top 10 Secondary Science Simplified™ Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Secondary Science Simplified™ episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Secondary Science Simplified™ for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Secondary Science Simplified™ episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Secondary Science Simplified™ - 48. 5 Ways to Reclaim Your Class Time

48. 5 Ways to Reclaim Your Class Time

Secondary Science Simplified™

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11/14/22 • 14 min

It seems we never have enough time to do what we want to do in our class periods. How are we supposed to get labs, demos, lectures, assessments, and more squeezed into a 45 or 90 minute class? The answer: Reclaim your precious class time! You may be wondering how in the world you can do that, so today, I am sharing 5 simple changes you can make so you can cover all that you need to.

If you are looking at everything you need to get through and aren’t sure when you’ll have time to do it all, this episode is for you! I am giving you practical and simple changes you can make in your classroom to reclaim your valuable class time. I am sharing the three places time is most often wasted, how procedures are key to reduce wasted time, why you should have an agenda on your whiteboard, the power of timers and bells, and how an efficient turn-in system is a game-changer.

It is amazing how much time you can reclaim by implementing these five tips! I want to hear about what you try and how it goes. Send me a message on Instagram and share what changes you are making and if they are helping you!

Resources Mentioned:

Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode48

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It’s almost Valentine’s Day so I knew I needed to share with you all about love at first sight! It may be a bit cheesy, but when I was first introduced to teaching with packets, I knew it was love at first sight and I’ve never looked back.

In this episode, I am sharing all the information you need to decide if teaching with packets is something you want to try with your classes. I am diving into what packets are and what is included in these packets, what teaching with packets looks like, ten reasons I absolutely love teaching with packets, and what resources can help you to create your own packets.

Be sure to grab your FREE Valentine’s Day themed high school science activities! These activities are perfect for engaging your students in a fun and worthwhile learning experience. There is one activity specifically for each subject - biology, anatomy, physics, and chemistry. Grab them today and send me a DM or email me at [email protected] when you use them with your students! I love to hear from you all when you use these free resources!

Resources Mentioned:

Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode60

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Secondary Science Simplified™ - 40. How to Reach EVERY Learner in Your Classroom
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09/19/22 • 22 min

As teachers, we know how important it is to reach every student that walks into our classroom. But how do we go about doing that when there is such a diverse group of students in every class? Today, I am sharing 4 tips on how to reach every learner in your high school science classes.

Reaching every single one of your students can seem overwhelming but I am here to help give you practical tips to help you do just that. In this episode, I am sharing the importance of getting to know every student as a person, how eliminating homework can benefit you and your students, why you should use a variety of assessments, and the importance of checking your test questions for bias.

Our students come to us with so many different backgrounds, home lives, experiences, and preferences but there are simple things we can do in our classrooms to make sure we are reaching them all and making an impact.

Resources Mentioned:

Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode40

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Secondary Science Simplified™ - 39. Organization Tips for Your Science Classroom
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09/12/22 • 32 min

Do you LOVE organizing your space or does the thought of it send you running the other way? Are you thinking there’s no way you can “organize” when you aren’t in a science classroom, you have no storage, or you’re a floater who only has a cart?

You all know how much I love all things organization and I am sharing some of my favorite tips and recommendations with you to help make your teaching space (whatever that space may be) efficient and welcoming.

I have spent time teaching in several settings and have learned so much about how to best use the space I have. Today, I am sharing some of the things I’ve learned with you! We are looking at how to use the front of your classroom most effectively, suggestions for having an organized turn in area, how to make class necessities easily accessible, and some advice specifically for floaters.

PLUS, I’m sharing two bonus recommendations on how to help manage cellphones in the classroom and how to organize YOUR files.

Need some help getting your classroom reset, organized, and ready to go? Grab my FREE Classroom Reset Challenge where I walk you through 5 tasks to help get your classroom in order.

Resources:

Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode39

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Secondary Science Simplified™ - 95. How to STOP Grading Everything

95. How to STOP Grading Everything

Secondary Science Simplified™

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09/11/23 • 25 min

As teachers, we know that our time is valuable and we try to create that perfect work-life balance. However, time dedicated to instruction, engaging activities, and other teaching-related tasks can consume our time in and outside the classroom. But you can decrease the amount of time you spend on one task that will save you more time and energy, which is grading!
Now, I know that grading is a mandatory and necessary component of teaching, but the amount of time teachers are spending on grading student work is way too much. I believe that there are ways you can truly stop grading everything while still having multiple preps and higher-level AP courses. In today’s episode, I’m sharing how to achieve this, two of the biggest criticisms I get, and my solutions to each.
Once you decrease the amount you’re grading, you will begin to see how it benefits both you and your students. Yes, I said students! They will appreciate your more timely feedback and get a more energized and recharged teacher, which ultimately impacts your instruction and activities.
Although the concept of not grading every assignment is scary, I promise it will be life-changing. I am living proof that this philosophy works, which has helped me create a more balanced work and home life, which also benefits my students. Join me in my grading challenge of collecting 1 thing per class per week and watch this simple change make a huge difference in your life!
Resources Mentioned:

Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode95

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Secondary Science Simplified™ - 36. Teaching Anatomy: 5 Tips for the Best Year EVER!
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08/22/22 • 15 min

Are you teaching Anatomy for the first time or have you taught it before but don’t feel super confident teaching it? This episode is for you! Today, I am sharing 5 tips for teaching anatomy to help both you and your students LOVE anatomy!

In many high schools, Anatomy is an elective class which allows you to have some flexibility and options in what you teach and how you teach it. In this episode, I am sharing 5 tips to help you teach an anatomy class that you and your students love and that is meaningful. I am sharing why and how to stick to YOUR goals for the class, the importance of prioritizing real world applications, why students should be doing research in Anatomy class, the importance of emphasizing the interconnectedness of the systems, and how to take advantage of seasonal opportunities to keep students engaged.

I need YOUR help! I am putting together an episode on tips to keep every learner engaged in science classes. I would love to hear from YOU on how you engage a diverse group of learners in your classes. All you have to do is record a short 30 second clip and it may be featured on an upcoming episode! Check out the details here!

Resources:

Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode36

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Secondary Science Simplified™ - 122. How to Nail Your Teacher Job Interview + 3 Mock Lesson Ideas
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03/18/24 • 33 min

In last week’s episode, I asked you to examine your current job situation to see if there were more things causing you stress than things that brought you joy. One solution might be changing your scenery, such as switching schools or even districts, which would mean a teacher interview is in your future. Or even if you’re a beginning teacher looking for their first teaching job, this episode is for you!
One request I get a lot is to share my teacher interview tips, which is exactly what I’m going to share in today’s episode. To help get you ready and confident to nail your job interview, I’m sharing four tips and giving specific examples of what each of these four tips entails and how to impress the interview team.
Additionally, teacher interviews are moving towards interviewing candidates performing mock lessons as part of their interview process. If this is a new concept for you, I share what these mock lessons look like and the different components you should display in your lesson. I also give you three mock lesson ideas that show your skills as a science educator that will also engage students.
Interviewing for a job can make you nervous and anxious, but I want you to feel confident and ready to tackle your next teacher interview. So whether you’re a new teacher looking for their first job or a veteran teacher looking to try out a new school or district, these job interview tips and mock lesson ideas will help you land the job!
Resources Mentioned:

Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode122

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I’m doing a happy dance because it’s my 100th episode! Y’all, I can’t believe I’ve been supporting and sharing my thoughts, ideas, and resources with you for almost two years. Just like when I celebrated 50 episodes, I’m doing another special “Ask me anything” episode.
I constantly get questions ranging from work, personal, curriculum, management, and more. And since I love connecting and supporting teachers, I knew answering all your questions was how I wanted to celebrate! I answer all your questions about maternity leave prep, group work, supporting ELs, absences, curriculum writing, and more. So take a listen to a fun episode that celebrates 100 episodes!
Want to continue the celebration? I’m incredibly thankful to you, my listeners of Secondary Science Simplified, and would love to have you leave a rating or review of this podcast! Your review and support means so much to me.

Resources Mentioned:


Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode100

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Secondary Science Simplified™ - 89. Classroom Management in a Post-COVID World with Guest Casey O’Hearn
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07/31/23 • 43 min

Tomorrow is August which means that many of you are gearing up to head back to school. What better way to get back into the school mindset than to talk about classroom management? We know classroom management is so important to have a successful class, but these post-pandemic times are making things TOUGH! I have not personally been in the classroom since before the pandemic, so I invited Casey O’Hearn to join me today to share all about his post-COVID classroom management.
Casey is a 4th-year science teacher at Sumner-Fredericksburg High School. He teaches biology, anatomy and physiology, chemistry, earth science, and astronomy. He has spent his entire teaching career teaching during COVID and post-COVID times, which we all know has presented many challenges for teachers and students.
In his 3 years of classroom experience, Casey has found simple and practical ways to build relationships with students and successfully manage his classroom. In this episode, we talk all about reaching apathetic students, balancing the personalities in his classes, how he gets students to find meaning in school, cell phone and bathroom policies, cheating, and more! I was genuinely inspired by Casey, and I know that you will be able to take some of his tips to implement in your classroom this coming year!
Resources Mentioned:

Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode89

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Secondary Science Simplified™ - 88. PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION: Part 5

88. PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION: Part 5

Secondary Science Simplified™

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07/27/23 • 16 min

YOU DID IT!! It is the last episode of our Curriculum Design mini-series and we are wrapping it up with a little extra support with what I think is the most challenging assessment to write, the end-of-unit tests. Now, let’s be clear, no assessment is easy to write, and writing tests is NOT for the faint of heart. Of course, I want to give you as many helpful tips as I can, so in today's episode, I am giving you a glimpse into how I write my end-of-unit tests.
As I mentioned, writing tests is challenging, and I don’t want you diving into this thinking it will be easy peasy because, quite honestly, it won’t be. However, I hope that hearing how I create my end-of-unit tests makes it a bit more manageable. In this episode, I am sharing what I recommend you use as a starting point, how I typically break down the types of questions on tests, how I like to divide up my end-of-unit tests, and why it is CRUCIAL you review your tests for bias.
I hope you found this mini-series to be incredibly helpful and packed full of useful information! I am so grateful that you are spending your summer with me and preparing for the school year! Next up, we are jumping into classroom management so if you know a teacher friend who you think would love this topic, be sure to spread the love and share the Summer Podcast PD with them!
Resources Mentioned:

Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode88

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FAQ

How many episodes does Secondary Science Simplified™ have?

Secondary Science Simplified™ currently has 175 episodes available.

What topics does Secondary Science Simplified™ cover?

The podcast is about How To, Chemistry, Productivity, Podcasts, Education, Science and Biology.

What is the most popular episode on Secondary Science Simplified™?

The episode title '48. 5 Ways to Reclaim Your Class Time' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Secondary Science Simplified™?

The average episode length on Secondary Science Simplified™ is 29 minutes.

How often are episodes of Secondary Science Simplified™ released?

Episodes of Secondary Science Simplified™ are typically released every 7 days.

When was the first episode of Secondary Science Simplified™?

The first episode of Secondary Science Simplified™ was released on Nov 22, 2021.

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