Even though you may love the science discipline you teach, that doesn’t mean that you’re excited to teach every topic, let alone your students enjoying everything you teach. Unfortunately, there are certain topics that are considered boring but still need to be taught! Knowing the topics that are deemed boring for you, how can you turn those around to be more engaging for everyone involved? In today’s episode, I’m discussing two concerns when it comes to approaching less than thrilling content in your science disciplines, and what to do about it!

➡️ Full Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode153

Resources Mentioned:

• Lessons Mini-Course
• Core Values Mini-Course
• Culture Mini-Course
• Free Anatomy of a Class Period Lesson Plan
• Free Lab Audit
• 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.

Related Episodes and Blog Posts:

• Episode 145, How to Build Resilience in Students Post-Pandemic
• Episode 78, Our LEAST Favorite Topics to Teach and How We Approach Them with Guest Sam Holcomb of Engineer Does Education
• Episode 6, Engaging Students in Lecture
• Episode 5, Engaging Your Students - Without Exhausting Yourself
• Episode 4, Engaging Your Students - In the First 5 Minutes of Class

Grab my FREE Halloween science resources - specifically written for high school science teachers! I have ones for biology, chemistry, physics, and anatomy to bring a little holiday spirit into your classroom!

https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/halloween

There are many elements of teaching that are unpredictable and out of your control, which can make it difficult to handle or prepare for. One of those things are student absences. Let’s be honest, it’s a miracle when all of your students are in class on the same day! So, you need to prepare and determine how you’re going to deal with the absences of your students and when you miss a day of teaching as well.

I think we all can agree that the most tiresome aspect of a student’s absence is figuring out how to handle makeup work. Personally, I believe it’s important to catch them up with the class as soon as possible, so I’m sharing my makeup work policy and how I train my students on what to do when they’re absent. I also discuss my procedures and thoughts for when just one class is off from the rest of your classes, chronic absent students, transfer students, and how to handle when you’re gone for a day.

Having students miss class or you missing a day of school is an inevitable aspect of teaching during the school year. And even though it makes things complicated, it’s important to think through how you’re going to deal with them. So if this is something you’re struggling with, take a listen to hear how to manage it all, my hot takes, what I learned while I was in the classroom, and how you can implement these ideas in your own classroom.

Resources Mentioned:

• Culture Mini-Course
• Assessments Mini-Course
• Episode 123, What to Do When You Care More Than Your Students Do
• Episode 117, How to Prep for a Long-Term Substitute Who Doesn’t Teach Science
• Episode 94, How to Deal with Cheating in Your High School Science Classes
• Episode 16, 5 Strategies for Pain-Free Sub Plans
• 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.

Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode152

Grab my FREE Halloween science resources - specifically written for high school science teachers! I have ones for biology, chemistry, physics, and anatomy to bring a little holiday spirit into your classroom!

https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/halloween

I love celebrating podcast milestones with my listeners so much that I couldn’t celebrate with just one episode! Last week, I hit 150 episodes and decided to answer questions sent to me from listeners. Although I covered a variety of different topics, I received so many questions that I needed to do another episode to answer them all. So, in part 2, I’m continuing the celebration by answering more listener questions.

These sets of questions range from content help, how to handle negative feedback, ways to get students to study or participate in note-taking, and how to achieve a work/life balance, especially after having a baby. I even answer It’s Not Rocket Science resource-specific questions and a few personal questions. But with each question, I answer authentically while trying to give both advice and strategies to help support you in your current teaching struggles.

I thoroughly enjoy doing this podcast and creating content for y’all every single week. I love being able to connect and answer your questions or address struggles or concerns you have while teaching your science discipline. So I thank you and can’t wait to celebrate again after the next 50!

Resources Mentioned:

• Virtual PD Courses for Science Teachers
• Lessons Mini-Course
• Physical Science Independent Research Project
• Biology Independent Research Project
• Anatomy Independent Research Project
• Chemistry Independent Research Project
• 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

Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode151

Grab my FREE Halloween science resources - specifically written for high school science teachers! I have ones for biology, chemistry, physics, and anatomy to bring a little holiday spirit into your classroom!

https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/halloween