Shows
Bestie Business Banter“If You Love This Dog, You Will Put Your Socks in the Hamper”Wow, do we have a lot to catch up on! Rebecca's back from her Disney adventure (and still detoxing from the magic and the chicken tenders), and Lauren is breaking down exactly how much she’s worked this year (it’s even less than we thought). We’re chatting about business rhythms, homeownership dilemmas, all the drama that comes with having a sock-eating dog 🙄, and Disney reflections.👯♀️ Today's Banter Includes:Real-life work hours confession, and does revenue match the time invested?Little luxuries: hairdressers who can read the room, family shows we all love, and the sublime experience...
2026-02-2555 minBestie Business Banter"I'm Not Into Face Touching"We survived the month of January, and I think we can all agree that's something to celebrate! Balancing work, family, and a relentless stream of sick days and snow days is no joke. That's why we're kicking off this episode by talking about how we share the household load with our husbands, and what we're outsourcing just to survive. Then, we're venting about our latest blood boilers, like annoying trips to Verizon and losing our favorite things. And we're calming it down with a reminder to embrace whatever season you're in - and a great story of a failed...
2026-02-0946 minBestie Business Banter"Your Junk Is Not Going in My Shed"Are there any besties out there getting ready to start their own business?! In today's episode, we're each sharing our top three things we want you to know if you're new to entrepreneurial life. Then, we get into bestie banter, including blood boilers, lifesavers, little luxuries...and a friendly roast of all things Texas! If you have a new business idea, come say hi on Instagram and let us cheer you on!👯♀️ Today’s Banter Includes:Business beginnings: motivation, humility, and why “everything is figureoutable”Kid medicine and kid clothing - why is keeping up so hard?!Social me...
2026-01-261h 01Bestie Business Banter"Fight or Flight All Day"We're rolling into the new year with a whole lotta business talk and bestie banter, including some blood boilers that need to get off our chests...per usual. We’re digging into our business highs and lows, how we’re prioritizing family and choosing to slow down, dreaming of slow and steady growth, and sharing all the things saving our lives in this season. Grab your latte (can we expense those? Katherine, help!) and buckle up because we have a lot to chat about!Today's Banter Includes:Business revenue, growth stats, and end-of-year reflectionsMaking the choice to s...
2026-01-191h 07Bestie Business Banter“Most Likely to Have 5 Kids and Run a Blackberry Pie Business” with Anna Grace of Willimon Family FarmsAlright ya'll, we finally have a guest episode for you! We wrangled our calendars and welcomed Anna Grace Willimon to BBB - a country girl from South Carolina with a big family and even bigger dreams. We’re talking all things farm life, building a business with your husband (and four kids in tow!), and navigating the wild balance of being a mom and entrepreneur. Come for the behind-the-scenes scoop on Willimon Family Farms. Stay for the bestie banter on Grinch Day drama, existential bedtime questions, and a shared deep love of hot honey.👯♀️ Today’s Banter Includes:...
2025-12-3055 minBestie Business Banter“It Is What It Is, but It’s Not What It Will Be”🎅 Disclaimer: There is Santa and Elf talk in this episode! The Christmas countdown is on, and we're catching up on ALL the things, like how to muster up motivation when your business battery is dead, why our stockings are the only thing Santa fills, and the annual debate of “will we ever stop buying Christmas gifts for adults?”. We chat about what it’s like running a business as a mom, especially during the holidays, thrifting Christmas presents, and making fun the secret sauce to getting things done. We laughed, we ranted, and we maybe shed a sentiment...
2025-12-141h 14Bestie Business Banter"Mary Poppins Better Be Walking Through My Door Right Now"Heyyyy besties! We've got a lot to gab about today, like our thoughts on extended breastfeeding (and our inability to relate), holiday party marathons, and the never-ending search for an available babysitter. We’re also talking about our newest opinions on business funnels and marketing. Come for the business tips; stay for the shameless secondhand Christmas chat, screen time confessions, and general blood boiling over Walmart red onion reviews (do people actually do this?! We have to know.). We’re so glad you’re here!👯♀️ Today’s Banter Includes:The business funnel breakdown: social media, email, podcast, and sell...
2025-11-2856 minBestie Business Banter"I Want to Make Money, I Just Don't Want to Work"We are RISKING IT FOR THE BISCUIT today - recording while our kids are napping (or “pretending” to be sick). We’re chatting about how we’re keeping our businesses moving along. One of us is lazy-geniusing her podcast guest schedule, and the other has no self-control when there’s a brunch invite. 💁♀️ Plus, we’re diving deep on important life matters: are we supposed to be this tired? Why do men fall asleep faster than humanly possible, and what even happened to waterbeds? 👯♀️Today’s Banter Includes:Rebecca's “lazy genius” hack to book podcast guests on her scheduleWhy Lauren can’t get...
2025-11-1451 minBestie Business Banter"I Did Not Grow Up Cake Walking"We're back with the second episode this month - look at us go! We’re chatting about all the things, from dreaming up our post online business career pivots to why adulting is overrated, especially when it comes to insurance and terrible returns. We’re recapping how our strengths (literally, our StrengthsFinder scores) are polar opposites and why it actually works in our favor. Plus, we talk Halloween plans and are making our argument for adult costumes.Today’s Banter Includes:Our “what would we do after this?” dream jobs and very practical skillsInsurance woes and why eye do...
2025-10-2644 minBestie Business Banter"I Go From a Four to a Seven"It’s us again, besties! 💁♀️ After a casual fourteen-month hiatus, we're BACK with all the bestie business banter your earbuds can handle. From hormonal roller coasters and toddler chaos to revamping curriculums and going all in on new workout routines, we're catching up on ALL the things.Today’s Banter Includes:The wild ride of cycle-day hormonesBusiness updates (curriculum upgrades, website refreshes, memberships, and Facebook ads side hustles)Balancing work-from-home with limited childcare and celebrating small productivity victoriesBlood boilers: husbands snoring, tiny microphones, and why Thursdays = meltdownsLifesavers: Spiderman costumes, scooter suitcases, LASIK surgery, sunless tanner, hydration drinks, and f...
2025-10-1043 minBestie Business Banter"R.I.P. the Trash Rat"It’s just us besties again today and we’re catching up on all the bestie chat, from potty training to uninvited trash rats and everything in between! We’re checking in on what’s going on in our businesses this summer before jumping into bestie banter. If you’re looking for new shows to binge or a hack for traveling with babies, we’ve got you covered!Interested in rolling an ad for your business in our episodes? Send us an email to hello@bestiebusinessbanter.com and we can chat about it!Today’s Banter Include...
2024-07-241h 21Bestie Business Banter"You can't take me anywhere right now"It’s just us besties today and we are sharing our quarter 2 business updates before diving into a whole lot of bestie banter! Tune in for our current blood boilers, unpopular opinions, and millennial memories. Plus we’re sharing our lifesavers that are helping us get through this summer!Interested in rolling an ad for your business in our episodes? Send us an email to hello@bestiebusinessbanter.com and we can chat about it!Today’s Banter Includes: Why we don’t like Visa gift cardsThe frustrations that come with building a new houseDaily Time Hop...
2024-06-121h 23Bestie Business Banter"My toddler is 50% goldfish" with Kacie Barnes of Mama Knows NutritionWe are so excited to have someone we are so grateful for on the Bestie Business Banter podcast! Kacie Barnes is a registered dietitian nutritionist, mom of 2, and is the mama behind Mama Knows Nutrition on Instagram where she shares low-stress nutrition tips and hacks for littles and tips for picky eating. Kacie is chatting with us about how she got started with Mama Knows Nutrition, how she balances family and business, and how she handles the negative comments on social media. Plus, you’ll hear our recent mom fails and what’s saving our lives right now.
2024-05-081h 02Bestie Business Banter"Bump Its and B and G-ing" with Lindsey Myers of Created ColorfulWe absolutely love having business owners we love on the pod! So today, we're we have Lindsey Myers of Created Colorful joining us and we are so excited to chat! Lindsey Myers is a virtual color analyst who was looking for a way to feel more confident after having her second baby. She came across color analysis, did a deep dive to learn everything she could about it, and was able to turn it into an incredibly successful business.In this episode, you'll hear all the details behind how Created Colorful got started and how...
2024-04-101h 01Bestie Business Banter"My Naked Mole Rat Summer"It’s been a few months, but we’re back! In case you haven’t noticed, we’re a little all over the place with our recording schedule. But Lauren has a newborn, so life is a bit unpredictable right now! We're pumped to bring you this new “just besties” episode where we’ll give you all the updates among other things, including an introduction to two new segments. And don't worry, there will be blood boilers!Interested in rolling an ad for your business in our episodes? Send us an email to hello@bestiebusinessbanter.com and we can chat abou...
2024-03-2758 min
Secondary Science Simplified™123. What to Do When You Care More Than Your Students DoAs educators, we decided to make this our career because we love to help people and care about students and their success. However, just because that’s our personality and mission, unfortunately, doesn’t mean that’s how our students feel. One of the resounding themes from the survey I sent out was how do I get my students to care as much as I do? I’ve heard this a lot, so I wanted to address it on the podcast. So, in today’s episode, I’m sharing why this seems to be the case and what you can practica...
2024-03-2528 minSecondary Science Simplified™122. How to Nail Your Teacher Job Interview + 3 Mock Lesson IdeasIn 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 episod...
2024-03-1833 minSecondary Science Simplified™121. Burned Out? When It’s Time to Make a ChangeIt’s no secret that teachers are constantly overwhelmed and stressed and often don’t feel appreciated for their work. Especially during this time of year, it can be hard to determine if the exhaustion you’re feeling is just temporary or a feeling that won’t go away. Trust me, I’ve been exactly where you’re at and want to help. So, in today’s episode, I’m sharing my process to see if the burnout you’re feeling is fixable or if it’s time to make a change. Make no mistake: deciding to make a career change...
2024-03-1128 minSecondary Science Simplified™120. How to Cut Your Grading Time in HalfEveryone is trying to achieve a work-life balance, but for teachers, that simple concept is actually very complicated. One of the reasons teachers struggle so much with having a life outside of school is the amount of grading that we have to do. While I’m biased, I believe secondary science teachers have the most grading, especially with the labs and having multiple preps. I want you to be able to manage and achieve this, so in today’s episode, I’m sharing four tips that will cut your grading time in half. Now, some of these ideas...
2024-03-0426 minSecondary Science Simplified™119. Increasing Retention - How to Get Students to Remember Dense TopicsI’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again - the reason I do this podcast is for you! I love sharing ideas, strategies, activities, and curriculum with you that help make your science classrooms more successful. This is why I reached out to you to hear what questions you had for me or for your science classrooms. So, for the next few months, I’ll be answering all your questions, starting today. This important question that was mentioned a lot revolved around increasing retention and how to get students to remember dense topics in your science curric...
2024-02-2626 minSecondary Science Simplified™118. CER: What It Is, and Why I Never Explicitly Taught ItIf you’ve been in education long enough, you know that new acronyms and ideas are constantly being tossed out there. Once these ideas are presented, schools and districts want them implemented, which results in teachers stressing about incorporating them into their lessons. But in reality, teachers are already doing a lot of these ideas; they’re just called something different. This is exactly what happened with CER. So, in today’s episode, I’m explaining what CER is and why you’re already doing this in your science classroom. For those that don’t know, CER is an acrony...
2024-02-1909 minSecondary Science Simplified™117. How to Prep for a Long-Term Substitute Who Doesn’t Teach ScienceWe’ve all had someone who isn’t trained in our subject area be a substitute in our class before, but only for just a day or two, and we survived. But when it’s for an extended period of time, that’s when planning can get challenging. This episode is more than for those going on maternity leave. Most of us don’t anticipate when we need to go on extended leave, but it’s critical to think about and plan for it. So, in today’s episode, I’m sharing how you can effectively plan for a long-term substi...
2024-02-1220 minSecondary Science Simplified™116. Behind Schedule? What to Do and How to Prevent It in the FutureNo matter what subject or grade you teach or how long you’ve been teaching, you have been behind schedule at least at one point in your career. Trust me, I’ve been there, and it is stressful! Especially if you have an end-of-year test that you’re preparing for. But instead of feeling overwhelmed, in today’s episode, I’m sharing ways to assess why you’re behind schedule and providing practical ways to prevent it from happening in the future. When we start to get behind schedule, our natural reaction is to either rush students or cut instr...
2024-02-0532 minSecondary Science Simplified™115. How to Act Confident When You’re NotIf you’re a beginning teacher or teaching a new prep for the first time, everyone’s advice is always to fake it till you make it! We’re conditioned to believe that you need to project confidence to show your students that you’re qualified to be their teacher. But is that narrative what’s best for your students? I’ve had many conversations with teachers about how to act confident when you don’t feel that way, and my answer may surprise you. It’s normal to want to display a sense of confidence towards your students wh...
2024-01-2915 minSecondary Science Simplified™114. How to Bounce Back After You Mess UpHave you ever made a mistake in your classroom? Or handled a situation differently that caused more problems or regretted how you handled it? I am raising my hand high in the air! Even though it feels like you’re the only teacher something like this has ever happened to, in reality, you’re not alone. I received an email a few months back that resonated with me, and I knew it would resonate with y’all as well. It was from a second career teacher who shared her struggle with this exact topic. But how can you bo...
2024-01-2227 minBestie Business Banter"Audit Your Undie Drawer"We're baaaack! It’s our first episode of 2024 AND at the time this is airing, Lauren has just had her third baby girl! It’s just us besties today. We’re talking through some business highlights (and possible regrets) of 2023 before jumping into bestie banter. Most importantly, if you've been wondering where in the world people buy underwear they love, we have answers for you today. With Lauren on maternity leave, who knows when we’ll be back again, so stay tuned! Today’s Banter: Wrapping up 2023 A PSA to show your face on Chri...
2024-01-171h 02Secondary Science Simplified™113. What to Do When You Have No Energy - Truths for the ClassroomIf you are anything like I was in the classroom, this time of year is when I often felt the most drained, with little energy. The excitement of break seems so far away; it’s dark, and the days seem never-ending. And while I can’t change any of those things for you, I can give you some encouragement to make it through. Similar to last week’s episode, where I shared five systems for the home, in today’s episode, I’m sharing five truths for the classroom. Y’all know how much I thrive off a routine or...
2024-01-1512 minSecondary Science Simplified™112. What to Do When You Have No Energy - Systems for the HomeWith the demands of teaching, we often come home with no energy but are faced with the demands of our home life as well. And just like we have routines put in place to make things easier at school, we can do the same when we’re at home. So, in today’s episode, I’m sharing my best systems for the home that will help you maximize your energy from the day. Each of the systems for the home that I share helps you manage the daily tasks of running a home, how to build in more t...
2024-01-0825 minSecondary Science Simplified™111. Priorities and Boundaries in the New YearHappy New Year, everyone! I hope you were able to unplug over this winter break and recharge so you can tackle the last semester of the school year. Since the start of a new year is the perfect time to hit the reset button, I really wanted to start the year off by assessing where you are in life, what your priorities are, and the types of boundaries you should have. During today’s episode, I want to introduce you to what it means to be living in your current season and how to honor that with yo...
2024-01-0124 minSecondary Science Simplified™110. How to Manage a Classroom of Apathetic StudentsIt’s officially the last week of 2023, so I wanted to end the year with the most listened to episode from the year. It was no surprise to me that my interview with Casey was the top episode because of his approach to teaching, his philosophies, and his outlook on how to interact and connect with his students. Adapting to teach in a post-pandemic world, Casey shares his approach to classroom management post-COVID and how you can implement his ideas. Post-pandemic, a lot of teachers have had to adapt their management and increase student motivation. These times ha...
2023-12-2543 minBestie Business Banter"More and More of Less and Less" with Val of Lovely Lucky LifeWe all have our favorite influencers online and today’s guest, Val, is someone that we love to follow. Not only is she so funny, but she’s super authentic in what she recommends and shares with her audience. Val has a background in journalism and digital marketing, which are skills that she’s carried over to her current business. She started a motherhood blog in 2015, which over the years progressed into her brand today, Lovely Lucky Life. In today’s episode, we’re asking Val all the questions we want to know about the influencer...
2023-12-201h 02Secondary Science Simplified™109. 10 Questions to Ask Yourself as You Reflect Over Your Course SequenceAs I mentioned last week, I’m taking the last weeks of December to replay my top three episodes of the year based on your listens and downloads. I was shocked that this original episode was number two, but so excited because it’s something I’m passionate about, which is curriculum design, specifically strategizing your sequence. This was the first episode in our curriculum design series, which is a great place to start when developing your own curriculum. To get you started, I’m sharing 10 questions to think through when beginning how to strategize your sequence.
2023-12-1832 minSecondary Science Simplified™108. 5 Must-Have Routines and Procedures for Secondary TeachersHappy December, y’all! The one word that describes my life right now, which might describe yours as well, is frantic. So, I thought for the rest of the month, we’d revisit episodes from this past year that can either be good reminders for you during this last month of school or ideas you need to think about or reinforce when you return from break in January. In today’s episode, we’re listening to the third most popular episode, which focuses on five classroom management routines and procedures for your secondary classroom. The number of procedur...
2023-12-1130 minSecondary Science Simplified™107. NGSS and Standards-Based Grading With Guest Boni HamiltonYou all know that I want to bring you as much information and perspectives on a topic as possible. With last week’s episode on standards-based grading being a new idea and way of grading for some of you, I wanted to bring on another teacher who has years of experience implementing this in her classroom. Boni Hamilton, a friend and experienced teacher, is sharing how to integrate NGSS and standards-based grading in both a middle school and high school science classroom. Boni has such a unique perspective, as she simultaneously used both a traditional grade report al...
2023-12-0458 minSecondary Science Simplified™106. Standards-Based Grading, Citizenship Grades, Motivation and MORE With Guest Jennica HarrisonI love talking about science content, curriculum, engaging activities, and practical strategies you can implement in your own classroom. But when my audience inquires about topics I’m not so sure about, I bring in experts who can share their knowledge. That’s exactly what I did when it came to discussing standards-based grading. My guest on today’s episode, Jennica Harrison, shares her perspective, experience, and implementation of standards-based grading in her secondary science classroom. Jennica is very open and honest about the challenges she faced when implementing standards-based grading but says the pros outweigh the cons. S...
2023-11-2759 minSecondary Science Simplified™105. What Happened When I Stopped Assigning Formal Lab ReportsAs science teachers, or teachers in general, we tend to have the mindset of doing things in our classroom the way we were taught, the way our department runs things, or what our colleague down the hall does. But if you really think about the reason behind what you’re doing, what you normally do might change. That’s exactly what happened with formal lab reports in my classroom. In this episode, I’m sharing why I ditched formal lab reports and how that decision impacted me and my students. When I started to examine why I was as...
2023-11-2022 minSecondary Science Simplified™104. Using Summative Assessments to Prepare Students for Standardized TestsAfter we teach a unit, what typically comes immediately after are summative assessments, and there are a lot of different types. Last week, I talked about authentic assessments, which still assess student learning but in a non-traditional way. And even though I value that type of assessment, I still believe in taking traditional tests. In today’s episode, I’m sharing how to use your unit test to prepare your students for taking any future standardized test. Giving traditional summative assessments does provide useful information for the teacher, such as personal benchmarks and self-reflection on teaching concepts. But...
2023-11-1319 minSecondary Science Simplified™103. Authentic Assessments: How to Assess Students in a Way That Actually MattersIf you ask any student what they didn’t like about school, I bet assessments would be toward the top of their list. But what if you could create assessments that students actually enjoyed and liked? Okay, well, maybe that’s going too far, but you can definitely create assessments that are the best representation of their knowledge. I call those authentic assessments. In today’s episode, I’m going to share why I incorporate non-traditional assessments and four practical tips on how to implement them in your own classroom. Authentic assessments might be a new term, so I help...
2023-11-0627 minSecondary Science Simplified™102. Tips for Teaching Waves and Kinematics in Your Physics Class With Guest Laura PreiserAll month long, I’ve been diving into the most difficult topics to teach in each of the science disciplines, and we have finally made it to the last discipline - physics. I love all things science, but physics is not a discipline I have a lot of experience in. So instead, I decided to bring on a listener of the podcast who is knowledgeable and has experience teaching physics. Laura Preiser is my guest on this episode and is sharing the two topics that are difficult for teachers and students and tips and advice for teaching each.
2023-10-3027 minBestie Business Banter"This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things"It’s just us besties today! Join us as we catch up on all the bestie chat, from reality TV to bra and underwear shopping, and beyond. Oh and we have a new segment inspired by the one and only Kendra Adachi, aka, The Lazy Genius! Then we’ll squeeze in a little business talk as we share what some of our best business deicions have been over the years. If you love listening to this podcast and feel like you want to jump right into the conversation, it’s time for YOU to write your reivew on Apple...
2023-10-251h 15Secondary Science Simplified™101. 6 Tips for Teaching Stoichiometry in Your Chemistry ClassWhen I decided to do this series, I knew exactly what I was going to discuss when it came to the difficulties of teaching chemistry. Students get overwhelmed by all the math and more intense content that comes with this science discipline, particularly teaching stoichiometry. However, there are several things you can do to ease their stress and make this unit fun for your students. So, in today’s episode, I’m sharing 6 tips for teaching stoichiometry in your chemistry class. There are a lot of concepts in chemistry that are difficult for students to grasp and under...
2023-10-2319 minSecondary Science Simplified™100. Your Questions Answered: Grading, Challenging Behaviors, Leave, Favorite Labs, Supporting ELs and MORE!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...
2023-10-161h 06Bestie Business Banter"I'm a Mouse, Duh" with Courtney Malone of Courtney Malone PhotographyWe love featuring guests on the pod who have all different types of businesses, and today is no exception. We’re welcoming Courtney Malone of Courtney Malone Photography. Courtney Malone is a lifestyle family, newborn, and portrait photographer based in Greenville, SC. Her own journey into motherhood inspires her work and dedication to documenting the beauty of family. We’re switching things up by starting with business banter and ending with bestie banter. Inside the episode, you’ll hear all the details of how Courtney Malone Photography came to be, our true feelings about Halloween decorat...
2023-10-111h 16Secondary Science Simplified™99. How to Teach the Nervous and Endocrine Systems in Your Anatomy ClassWe are starting week two of our difficult topics to teach with the different science disciplines. Last week’s episode, Episode 98, focused on biology and biochemical reactions. But this week, I’m focusing on anatomy! Since there’s a lot of content to cover in this subject and each teacher differs in what they choose to teach, that makes it difficult to decide what the most difficult topic to teach is. With the help of my listeners, I’m focusing on five tips on how to teach the nervous and endocrine systems in your anatomy class. As I mention...
2023-10-0921 minSecondary Science Simplified™98. 5 Tips for Teaching Biochemical Reactions in Your Biology ClassWelcome to fall, y’all! We just wrapped up our Summer of Podcast PD, where we tackled curriculum design, classroom management, grading strategies, and so much more. But with a new season comes a new series. With so many of our recent topics involving general classroom tips, I decided it was time to focus on more content-specific topics for each science discipline. So, biology teachers, this one’s for you! I’m sharing biology’s most difficult topic and tips for teaching it in your classroom. With the help of my own personal experience and the responses I get fr...
2023-10-0227 minBestie Business Banter“Hanging on to My Skinny Jeans” with Sara Whittaker of Podcasting for EducatorsWho else is holding on to their skinny jeans for dear life?! Some of us over here aren’t ready to give them up, including today's guest, Sara Whittaker of Podcasting for Educators. We’re getting into all the millennial memories - emo music, burning the perfect CD, TRL, choreographed dances…the list goes on. Plus, you’ll hear how Sara went from a classroom teacher to virtual assistant to podcast manager. Sara Whittaker is a teacher turned podcast strategist. She helps educators leverage the power of podcasting in order to scale their business and connect...
2023-09-271h 16Secondary Science Simplified™97. 6 Grading Tips That Changed My LifeOver this past month, I’ve been sharing my thoughts, practices, and strategies surrounding the topic of grading. You’ve probably realized how passionate I am about this topic because it’s something that I believe will give you more balance in your life between school and your personal life. And who doesn’t want that?! To wrap up this series, I’m sharing my own personal grading strategy and tips to help accomplish my grading goals. Many teachers talk about the amount of time they spend grading student work but fail to have a strategy for minimizing...
2023-09-2533 minSecondary Science Simplified™96. Why I Stopped Assigning Homework (And 6 Surprising Results)Remember the days when you were in school and thought, When I’m a teacher, I’m NEVER going to do this! But then you become a teacher and do exactly what you said you weren’t going to do. Don’t worry, I’m guilty of this too. As soon as I became a teacher, I followed suit with the cycle of assigning homework in my class. However, I had a mindset shift to where now I’m a huge advocate for not assigning homework. I know for some, this sounds crazy! Most of you probably have a list...
2023-09-1821 minSecondary Science Simplified™95. How to STOP Grading EverythingAs 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...
2023-09-1125 minBestie Business Banter“Soccer Snacks Are the Worst” with Kelly Stumpe, The Car MomWe’ve made it, besties!! We have Kelly Stumpe, aka THE CAR MOM, on the pod. We speak from experience when we say that even if you don’t consider yourself a car girlie, you’ll love this interview. We’ve watched Kelly’s very niched business grow, and we’re thrilled that she’s sharing her story with us today! Founded in 2020, The Car Mom began simply as a way to review family cars from a mom's perspective. In the three years since, the mission has quickly grown to empower families of all sizes throughout the car selection a...
2023-09-061h 18Secondary Science Simplified™94. How to Deal with Cheating in Your High School Science ClassesTo wrap up our Summer of Podcast PD, we’re ending with a series on grading practices. And one of the hot topics that’s particularly relevant in secondary classrooms is the act of cheating. This is a topic that I feel very passionate about, so I’ve invested in my own research to find the best strategies and solutions. In today’s episode, I’m sharing what you can do to best prevent it, how to respond when it does occur, and specific strategies to use in your classroom. In this world we live in, technology is everywh...
2023-09-0428 minSecondary Science Simplified™93. Simple Strategies for Classroom ManagementI loved talking all about classroom management this month, and we have finally made it to the last episode of the series! The biggest takeaway I wanted to convey was the importance of being proactive rather than reactive, and a way to do that is through simple strategies implemented in your classroom. In this last episode, I’m sharing my final five strategies for effective classroom management this school year. Sometimes the best strategies are the simplest ones, which is so true for the 5 classroom management strategies I’m sharing today. I’ve had personal experience and succes...
2023-08-2824 minSecondary Science Simplified™92. 5 Ways to Have Precise Pacing and Tight Transitions in your Secondary Science ClassroomMy message in last week’s episode was all about how to be proactive rather than reactive using routines and procedures. Continuing with the classroom management series, I believe another way to be proactive in your classroom is through the pace of your class and how you handle transitions. In today’s episode, I’ll be sharing 5 practical tips to keep your class moving with efficiency. In my experience, one of the best ways to prevent disciplinary issues is by keeping your class moving. The pace of your classroom sets the tone and shows your students what’s expect...
2023-08-2122 minSecondary Science Simplified™91. My Top 5 Classroom Management Routines and Procedures for High School Science TeachersDealing with behaviors and problems in the classroom is inevitable, but our goal is to prevent as many as we can before they even happen. A simple way to achieve this is by implementing routines and procedures! In last week’s episode, I challenged you to reflect on your own classroom management philosophies and come up with 3-5 refrains that define your management style. Keeping those in mind, in today’s episode, I’m sharing how to use those routines and procedures as being proactive rather than reactive when managing the classroom. A teacher’s classroo...
2023-08-1428 minSecondary Science Simplified™90. Classroom Management Philosophy for Secondary Science TeachersThe new school year is upon us, and to help you prepare, I am spending the whole month of August covering all things classroom management. Now, I know classroom management looks different for every teacher, but I hope that sharing my personal philosophy and tried and true strategies will help you develop your own. Classroom management is incredibly personal, and in order for it to be effective, it has to be authentic to you and your personality. This is why figuring out what your philosophy is is so important when developing your classroom management style. Today, I...
2023-08-0730 minSecondary Science Simplified™89. Classroom Management in a Post-COVID World with Guest Casey O.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. to join me today to share all about his post-COVID classroom management. Casey teaches biology, anatomy and physiology, chemistry, earth science, and astronomy. He has spent his...
2023-07-3143 minSecondary Science Simplified™88. PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION: Part 5YOU 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, an...
2023-07-2716 minBestie Business Banter"Bagels and Bile"It's just us (Rebecca and Lauren) today and we're hitting allllllll the bestie banter segys for you! We're reflecting on some iconic abbreviations from our college days (DFMO anyone?!), sharing a must-have for your kids' quiet time, and filling you in on some major life changes going on. Don't forget to follow along on Instagram @themomfluencer to cast your votes on some of today's controversial topics! Today's Banter: SURPRISE! Lauren is pregnant (and so so sick 🤢) The deets of Rebecca's recent mental breakdown A story that will make you rethink using flushable wipes What's wors...
2023-07-261h 19Secondary Science Simplified™87. Aligning Your Assessments: Curriculum Design Part 5Huge CONGRATULATIONS, teacher friend! You made it to the final part of our curriculum design mini-series! I am so incredibly proud of you! Even if you only completed part 1, you still made progress, and small progress is better than no progress! We have spent the last few weeks walking through the first four parts of curriculum design, but today, we are diving into how to align your assessments. When I say “align your assessments,” I’m sure many think that means teaching to the test. That is NOT at all what I mean. What it does mean is tha...
2023-07-2416 minSecondary Science Simplified™86. PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION: Part 4Ready for more help with building out the backbone of your curriculum? I’m ready to help! I know that this part might feel hard, and that is totally okay! Although it is one of my favorite parts of designing curriculum, I know that is not the case for everyone. Coming up with instructional activities and resources is not necessarily an easy thing to do, but I will gladly share the behind-the-scenes thought process I go through to help YOU come up with ideas for your own curriculum. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, and if designing this cu...
2023-07-2016 minSecondary Science Simplified™85. Building Out Your Backbone: Curriculum Design Part 4We have made it to part 4 of the Curriculum Design mini-series! The first three parts weren’t exactly “fun,” I get it! But this is the point in the design process where we get to start being creative, and the process becomes a bit more interesting! BUT, if you have not done steps 1 through 3, it is crucial that you complete them before moving on to part 4 - building out the backbone of your curriculum! Ready to dive into the fun part of curriculum design, teacher friend? Building the backbone of your curriculum means planning out all of your i...
2023-07-1716 minSecondary Science Simplified™84. PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION: Part 3Lecture is the foundation when designing a curriculum. Now I know that may make some of you not very happy, but it’s true. However, when I say lecture is the foundation, I do not mean that it’s my top priority or what I spend most of my time doing in the classroom. When we talk about foundation, I mean the baseline of which I build my curriculum on. To give you a better understanding of how I build my curriculum off my foundation, I am sharing how I use my foundation of lecture notes so that my whol...
2023-07-1317 minBestie Business Banter"She's Zepping, I'm Zapping" with Brittany Hege of Mix and MathIf there’s one theme that we’ve been hearing from our guests it’s to DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY! So often in the online space, we hear “you HAVE to do this” and “you HAVE to do that”. But it turns out that paving your own path pays off. That definitely rings true for our guest today, Brittany Hege of Mix and Math. Brittany hosts an online membership for fourth and fifth-grade math teachers where she provides professional development and hands-on resources. One of the many things we love about her is that she’s done things diff...
2023-07-121h 36Secondary Science Simplified™83. Forming Your Foundation: Curriculum Design Part 3We are at the tipping point in our Curriculum Design mini-series! I am so excited that you have worked through this process with me up to this point. So far, we have covered strategizing your sequence and analyzing your aims. If you haven’t done that, be sure to complete those steps before moving on to step 3, forming your foundation.So what is a foundation? When I am talking about the foundation for your curriculum, I am talking about the core direct instruction delivery strategy (AKA lecture notes). Now I know that lecture notes and direct instruction ha...
2023-07-1022 minSecondary Science Simplified™82. PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION: Parts 1 and 2Have you been following along with our Curriculum Design mini-series and need just a little bit more support and context to complete parts 1 and 2? I’ve got you covered, teacher friend! I know the process of designing a curriculum is A LOT, but if we work through it together, step-by-step, it will make it much more manageable and will be so beneficial in the end! Sometimes when taking on new, big projects, it is helpful to have examples and reference points to guide you along the way. Hearing the practical implementation of these steps can be...
2023-07-0619 minSecondary Science Simplified™81. Analyzing Your Aims: Curriculum Design Part 2We are moving on to step two in our curriculum design mini-series! If you did not complete the first step in the process about strategic sequencing, you NEED to go back and start there before tackling step two. This week, we are going to dive into analyzing your aims. Although this isn’t the flashiest or most fun part of the process, it is crucial to designing your curriculum. I am walking you through how to analyze your aims, step by step, and covering why you need to accurately identify what standards you need to use, the im...
2023-07-0321 minBestie Business Banter"Working out a #2" with Amy Marcy of Amy Marcy ArtBESTIES! We have our first artist on the pod, Amy Marcy of Amy Marcy Art. Amy is a coastal modern artist who has a one-of-a-kind technique that results in resin water sculptures. She handmakes every element, from start to finish, in order to create artwork that looks like framed water itself. Amy's art is seriously amazing and we know you'll love hearing how she went from photographer to artist and how she landed a feature on HGTV in her very FIRST year of business! Plus, we're bringing the bestie talk as usual from the cons of hiring a...
2023-06-281h 21Secondary Science Simplified™80. Strategizing Your Sequence: Curriculum Design Part 1You asked for it so I’m going to give you what you want! One of the most frequent requests I get is for my curriculum design process. What better time to break down my process for you than during our Summer Podcast PD!? We are kicking off our curriculum design series by starting with the absolute first thing you need to do when designing a curriculum to use in your classroom. Whether you are trying to figure out what to teach in a prep you have nothing for, or you have curricula for all...
2023-06-2632 minSecondary Science Simplified™79. 4 Ways to Use Your Summer WellSummer is in full swing and I could not be happier! It’s time to soak up the sunshine and enjoy the much needed time off. But if I’m honest, summer has always been a time of tension where I struggled with feeling guilty when I’m enjoying the fun because I’m not preparing for the next school year and also feeling guilty while I was working because I should have been enjoying summer more. I know if I’ve struggled with this, most likely there are others that do as well!! I am here to tell yo...
2023-06-1923 minBestie Business Banter"Read the Room" with Allison Lee of Eventide Pennant Co.Today we’re welcoming Allison Lee of Eventide Pennant Co. to the Bestie Business Banter podcast! Allison is a P.E. teacher turned entrepreneur. Like us, she’s juggling a business and motherhood. It’s all in a day’s work! You’ll hear all the details of Allison's customizable pennant business, which offers options for monthly milestones, back to school, room decor, and more. We also chat about the celebrations and challenges of running small businesses, managing distractions, advice on organization, and some unpopular opinions (sorry in advance if we offend anyone!). After listening, you just may think...
2023-06-141h 02Secondary Science Simplified™78. Our LEAST Favorite Topics to Teach & How We Approach Them with Guest Sam Holcomb of Engineer Does EducationLet’s be honest, we all have certain topics that we have to teach but just absolutely dread teaching. Whether it’s because they are boring, unnecessary, or just depressing, we just don’t want to teach them! I’m sure you know exactly what topics you would skip over if you could and you are not alone, teacher friend! Sam Holcomb of Engineer Does Education is joining me today to chat about our least favorite topics to teach.Be sure to reach out to your secondary science teacher friend and encourage them to join you in the FREE...
2023-06-1258 minSecondary Science Simplified™77. 5 Myths You Might Believe About Your Work EmailAre you an email addict feeling like you need to constantly be checking your inbox and responding immediately to anything that comes in? Guilty!! I like to think of myself as a recovering email addict. For years, I let email take way too much of my time and energy that I should have been focusing on other things. I want to help you break away from the constant email checking so you can have a much healthier outlook on your work email as you head into summer! In this episode, I’m debunking 5 lies you might be bel...
2023-06-0530 minBestie Business Banter"Nothing But Time" with Kate Strickler of Naptime KitchenIt’s actually happening ya’ll! We have Kate Strickler from Naptime Kitchen on the pod! Kate is a mom of four based in Charleston, South Carolina. She's known for her blog and Instagram, Naptime Kitchen, where she shares cooking tips and life management advice. She has been blogging since 2016 and it has now become her full-time career, which she loves! We're getting into all kinds of good stuff, like the details of Naptime Kitchen's evolution, challenges that come with growing a buiness, hiring help, shifts in identity as a mother, and so much more.
2023-05-311h 19Secondary Science Simplified™76. How Did You Do This Year?If you’re anything like me, you want to just make it through the last couple weeks of school and say GOODBYE AND GOOD RIDDANCE to another school year! But, before you close up your classroom for the summer, I encourage you to take a few minutes to reflect on the school year and ask yourself, “How did I do?” In this episode, I’m sharing six questions to ask yourself to help you reflect on the year. Once you reflect on these questions, WRITE them out and put them in your pencil drawer or paper clip them to y...
2023-05-2922 minSecondary Science Simplified™75. End of Year Classroom CLEANOUT Without the FREAKOUTGet out your big black trash bags and label makers, because it’s time for an end of year classroom cleanout! If cleaning out your classroom causes immediate overwhelm (or dread if you’re also tackling the supply closet 🤢) don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Simple systems are my love language, and over the years I’ve managed to get cleaning out a classroom down to a science. In this episode, I’ll will walk you through exactly how to handle your end of year classroom cleanout in a stress-free way. I know you’re ready for summer, b...
2023-05-2216 minSecondary Science Simplified™74. My #1 Way to Simplify Future Lab DaysWe are kicking off our Summer Podcast PD with a topic I get asked about most - LABS! There is so much to cover when it comes to labs and how to simplify them. But let’s be honest, you likely aren’t in the headspace at this point of the school year to strategize about how to simplify your lab days. So today, I am sharing the one thing you can do NOW to help simplify every future lab day. In today’s episode, I am walking you through, step by step, how to audit your current...
2023-05-1529 minSecondary Science Simplified™73. Teacher Appreciation Week Gone WrongHappy teacher appreciation week, my friend! I truly hope that you are being celebrated and shown how much you are appreciated this week! Unfortunately, I know that Teacher Appreciation Week doesn’t always go the way that we hope it would. Sometimes, how we are shown “appreciation” is simply unbelievable and today, we are hearing some stories from listeners about their ridiculous teacher appreciation gifts.I want you to know that you ARE appreciated for all your efforts! So to show my appreciation, I am offering 10% off the It’s Not Rocket Science resource shop for the month of...
2023-05-0830 minBestie Business Banter"Slime City: A Quarterly State of the Union Address" with Rebecca and LaurenIt’s been a few episodes since we’ve gone all in on bestie banter with just the two of us - so we’ve got plenty of that for you today. Plus we’re sharing all the business updates (we’re Meta verified, baby!!). Consider it our quarterly State of the Union Address. Today's banter includes: The beautiful moment when someone thinks you’re younger than you actually are Boar’s Head deli meat (yum) vs. the pre-packaged slime (gross) Our strong love for Survivor A status check on Groupon Laser hair removal - does it really work...
2023-05-0355 minSecondary Science Simplified™72. Review Strategies for EOC, Benchmark, and AP ExamsThe end of the year is fast approaching which means that benchmark and EOC exams will be here soon. If you’re anything like me, you HATE reviewing! If you dread review days as much as I do, I have some ideas and tips to help make them a little less painful for you. Today, I am sharing 4 tips for review strategies for your upcoming EOC and benchmark exams. End of the year exams can be incredibly stressful for students and for teachers as student performance can impact your job. I want to help reduce the stress of...
2023-05-0129 minSecondary Science Simplified™71. "I'm the Problem, It's Me": Working with Difficult Coworkers and Admin with Guest Zach MatsonWorking with difficult admin or difficult coworkers can make or break a teaching position. Last episode, my high school chemistry teacher Zach Matson joined us to talk all about dealing with difficult parents. He is joining us again today to share all about his experience and insight into dealing with difficult admin and coworkers. Talking with Zach is always so incredible, entertaining, and helpful! In his 20+ years of teaching, he has experienced some difficult situations that he is sharing to help other teachers who may be working with challenging admin or coworkers. In this episode, we are d...
2023-04-241h 11Bestie Business Banter“She Was a Limp Noodle” with Kate Gaffney of Avryn Co.Raise your hand if you're just as obsessed with hearing stories of how other moms built their businesses as we are! Do you know what else we love? Products that are practical and designed to help moms in their daily lives. If you're with us, you're going to love our featured guest today, Kate Gaffney. Kate runs Avryn Co. Her company makes women's lives easier by lightening the everyday physical and mental load with their hand-crafted leather wristlets and wallets. Kate began Avryn Co. in February of 2020 and it has grown into an incredible brand. S...
2023-04-191h 10Secondary Science Simplified™70. “It isn’t an Attack on You”: Dealing with Difficult Parents with Guest Zach MatsonDealing with difficult parents can be one of the worst things about teaching secondary science. So many of us would love advice on how to handle challenging situations, what to say when issues arise, or how to stop taking things personally from teachers who have been there and figured it out. That is one of the reasons I brought my high school chemistry teacher, Zach Matson, back on the podcast!Zach is a 20 year teaching veteran who is full of amazing insight and advice for high school science teachers and today, he is talking all about dealing...
2023-04-171h 13Secondary Science Simplified™69. Admin Support - WHY You Need to Ask, HOW to Ask, and WHAT to Ask ForAdmin support can completely make or break your job as a secondary science teacher. As high school science teachers, we have so much on our plates already - planning, prepping labs, grading, teaching how many preps, pressure from parents, etc. Without support from admin, this job can be even more challenging. So how can you get support from admin? ASK! That’s right, you need to actually ask for what you need and ask in an effective way.I spent my first few years struggling because I was afraid to ask my admin for what I needed to...
2023-04-1035 minBestie Business Banter"Don't Yuck Someone Else's Yum" with Kalin Sheick of Sweetwater FloralBuckle up because today's the day, besties. We're hosting our first official guest on the pod! Kalin Sheick of Sweetwater Floral is here and we're talking spray tans, lashes, and business. We LOVE Kalin, her brand, and her eternal optimism..and we know you will too. When Kalin realized her former job as a television reporter was sucking the life out of her, she drained her savings account, took a flower class, and started a floral business! Eight years later, Kalin and her husband have grown a successful business and had three children. Push play to hear he...
2023-04-051h 14Secondary Science Simplified™68. Evaluating Your Teaching ContractIt’s contract season! Have you received your teacher contract for next year yet? If not, it will likely be coming soon and regardless of if you are staying or not, you may be feeling a lot of emotions. If you are on the fence about staying in your current position or leaving, I strongly suggest you think through it in a neutral way without letting fear or exhaustion make the decision for you. One way to do this is to look closely through your teacher contract and determine if it best serves you in this season.Be...
2023-04-0329 minSecondary Science Simplified™67. Considering a Teacher Career Change with guest Daphne Gomez, the Teacher Career CoachYou know I am always here to support you and want to see you thrive in the classroom! I know, however, that even with all the tips, advice, and resources I share, you may still be considering whether or not being in the classroom is the best choice for you. If that’s where you currently find yourself, I want you to feel supported, too. That’s why I am so excited that our guest today, Teacher Career Coach, Daphne Gomez, is here to share some amazing advice for you.It’s that time of year when contra...
2023-03-2738 minBestie Business Banter“Don't Bring Gifts to my Kid’s Birthday” with Rebecca Joyner of It’s Not Rocket Science®We’re sorry (not sorry), but can we do away with gifts at kids’ birthday parties? Hear us out in today’s episode! Plus, it’s Lauren’s turn to do the interviewing! You’ll hear all about Rebecca’s business, It’s Not Rocket Science®. Rebecca shares the story of becoming a business owner, defining moments along the way, and how she manages her time as an entrepreneur and a mom. Summary: Costco vs. Sam’s Club Rebeca’s strong disdain for email The ‘why’ behind our no-gifts rule Bestie Banter includes: 30-second therapy, what’s saving ou...
2023-03-221h 15Secondary Science Simplified™66. Tips for Teaching at a Public School vs. a Private SchoolAre you unsure if you want to teach in a public school or a private school next year? In my experience, there are definitely differences between the two and pros and cons to both and finding which school is the best fit for you is so important. So today, I am sharing tips that I have learned from my experience in both public and private schools to help you wherever you end up next year.I want to help you THRIVE and not just survive in whatever school you teach at so I am sharing my best...
2023-03-2036 minSecondary Science Simplified™65. Considering Switching Schools? 10 Questions to Think ThroughContract season is quickly approaching, meaning soon, you’ll have to decide if you will return to the same school next year or look for someplace new. If you’re unsure if you will sign or not, I want to help you make this decision. I am sharing 10 things to take into consideration when you are deciding whether to stay at your current school or look for a new school.We are all aware that every school has its issues and that no school is perfect. We also know that every school is very different. That is why...
2023-03-1330 minBestie Business Banter"Standing Room Only" with Lauren Tingle of Counselor CliqueYa’ll. Airports are WILD! We’re sharing all about our experience with recent travel to Nashville, and let’s just say there’s a lot to talk about… and a lot of suggestions to be made. Plus, you’ll hear the stories behind our very first AIM screennames (and Rebecca’s first kiss!). Then, Rebecca interviews Lauren so you can hear all the details of how she built her business, Counselor Clique, and how she balances it with motherhood. Our very different airport experience statuses Moody away messages WFH mom life with limited time and ever-changing s...
2023-03-091h 22
Secondary Science Simplified™64. How to Re-Engage Apathetic Students (and Manage Your Own Apathy!)Quarter 3 is a doozy! There is definitely an energy shift after winter break and both students and teachers feel it. Everyone is just drained. So how are we going to get through the rest of the school year and re-engage our students? I’ve got 5 tips to help re-engage your students and YOU in quarter 3. Spring break and the end of the school year seem so far away. We and our students are likely just going through the motions at this point in the school year which means now is the perfect time to make some changes and...
2023-03-0626 min
Secondary Science Simplified™63. Teaching and ADHD - Practical Tips for You AND Your Students with Guest Bri PlylerStudents and teachers with ADHD have unique struggles and challenges when it comes to work and school tasks. Whether you are a teacher who has ADHD or you have students who have ADHD, understanding how different strategies may help can be incredibly beneficial. I am no expert in ADHD so I am so grateful that Bri Plyler is joining us today to share some amazing information on ADHD in the secondary science classroom. We all likely know someone who has ADHD, diagnosed or not, so having a better understanding of how it may affect people and strategies...
2023-02-2756 minBestie Business BanterWe're Really Doing ItLots of bestie banter in today's episode... plus an introduction to what the business banter can and will look like. You'll be introduced to all of our bestie banter segments that you'll hear in future episodes. Laughs ensue. How we know each other Why we're doing this podcast and our vision behind it What this podcast is NOT Bestie banter includes: Blood Boilers, 30 Second Therapy, What's Saving My Life Right Now, Little Luxuries, Unpopular Opinions, Top 3, Millenial Memories, Mom Fail of the Week, Steve Jobs Moments Business banter includes: Categories of mom business owners we're looking...
2023-02-241h 00Bestie Business BanterWelcome to Bestie Business Banter!Join Rebecca (@themomfluencer and @its.not.rocket.science) and Lauren (@counselorclique), your hosts of Bestie Business Banter, for this podcast preview trailer! This podcast will be published bimonthly on Wednesdays, and you can tune in anywhere you enjoy listening to your podcasts. We're really doing it! We're two small business owners and moms who are ready to share the TMI versions of our work lives and mom lives. This podcast serves to celebrate and cheer on moms rocking their small businesses and their corners of the internet through our guest interviews. Expect unfiltered conversations and Z...
2023-02-2101 min
Secondary Science Simplified™62. 5 Ways to Instantly Make Your Planning Period More ProductiveHow are we supposed to have a work/life balance when we have a million things to do on a daily basis and a 45 minute (or 90 minute if you’re lucky!) planning time to get them all done? Finding ways to have the most productive planning period possible is essential to working only your contracted hours and having a life outside of work. If you’re not sure where to start, I’m sharing my 5 best tips for optimizing your planning period so work can stay at work. At one point, I was working about 60 hours a week...
2023-02-2025 min
Secondary Science Simplified™61. Rethinking Demos and More with Guest Dr. Erica ColónMany of us are looking ahead to the end of the school year because we are just burnt out. The last thing we want to think about is coming up with or preparing demos for our classes. I get it! That is one of the reasons I am so excited to have who I consider to be the “Demo Queen” joining us today. Prepare to be inspired, brecause Dr. Erica Colón, from @nittygrittyscience, is here to share her tips and insights with us about demos and so much more! Erica has so much great advice for new a...
2023-02-1357 min
Secondary Science Simplified™60. Teaching with Packets - What They Are, Why I Love Them, and How to Use ThemIt’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 re...
2023-02-0637 min
Secondary Science Simplified™47. 2 Ways That Learning Happens and How to Create a Classroom Culture That Fosters It How can we make learning more natural and more meaningful for our students? Simply put, learning happens best through asking questions and making mistakes. If you’re thinking about your classes and realizing that your students aren’t asking many questions and are afraid to make mistakes, this episode is packed with tips for you about how to move students to the center of their learning! We are quickly approaching the “Ask me Anything” 50th episode of Secondary Science Simplified! I want to answer any question that you have - nothing is off limits! Submit your questions by DM-in...
2022-11-0723 min
Secondary Science Simplified™46. Incorporating STEAM as Secondary Teachers with Guest Dr. Sarah HabibiSTEM is so important to teach our students to create lifelong learners and problem solvers. Integrating STEM into secondary science classes doesn’t need to be overwhelming or stressful thanks to @Science.Bae, Dr. Sarah Habibi! She is joining us today to give us some insight on STEAM and how we can teach it in our classes. We are so lucky to have Dr. Sarah Habibi join us today to share her experiences and knowledge! She is sharing all about her unique career journey, why we should teach STEM to our students, how to integrate STEM and ST...
2022-10-3130 min
Secondary Science Simplified™45. Using Phenomena to Engage StudentsUsing phenomena is a great way to engage your students but it can be so overwhelming trying to figure out what to do or how to get started. If you’re using NGSS or other standards that utilize phenomena, but are struggling to incorporate them in a meaningful way, I’m going to break it down for you! In this episode, we’re diving into engaging students through phenomena. Resources Mentioned: Next Generation Science Standards It’s Not Rocket Science Units Biology everyday phenomenon: Cancer Statistics Biology anchoring phenomenon: Comparing Genetics Ecosystem in a Bottle investigation Support a...
2022-10-2423 min