163. What I Wish I Knew in My First Year of Teaching High School Science: 5 Simple Tips

As we wrap up 2024, it’s only fitting to revisit the most popular episode of the year! Both new and experienced teachers are constantly searching for ways to make their classroom routines easier and more effective. I learned so many valuable lessons during my first few years of teaching, so in today’s replay episode, I’m sharing five things I wish I had known as a first-year high school science teacher.

Each of these five tips are lessons that I learned the hard way. I sacrificed a lot of my own personal time, didn’t set clear boundaries, took on too many tasks which made me feel overwhelmed, and tried to do it all on my own. If you’re a new teacher, or even a veteran teacher, I don’t want that for you!

➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode163

Resources:

• Virtual PD Courses for Teachers
• FREE Labs When Limited Mini-Course
• 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 129, 4 Things I Learned From Other Teachers That Changed How I Teach
• Episode 117, How to Prep for a Long-Term Substitute Who Doesn’t Teach Science
• Episode 91, My Top 5 Classroom Management Routines and Procedures for High School Science Teachers 
• Episode 77, 5 Myths You Might Believe About Your Work Email 
• Episode 39, Organization Tips for Your Science Classroom
• Episode 16, 5 Strategies for Pain-Free Sub Plans
• What I Wish I Had Known as a First-Year Teacher
• Why You Shouldn’t Bring Work Home – And How to Accomplish That
• 4 Must-Have High School Classroom Systems 
• A Manageable and Effective System for Parent Communication 
• Making Sub Plans for Secondary Science

If you are looking for a FUN and FREE way to engage your students this October, leading up to Halloween, you NEED to grab my 4 FREE Halloween science resources - one for biology, one for chemistry, one for physics, and one for anatomy - that you can do with your students now through the end of the month.  Grab them at https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/halloween/