Episode 29: Reflecting, Surveying, and Planning for Next Year

Episode 29: Reflecting, Surveying, and Planning for Next Year

🧪 Episode Summary If this school year felt chaotic, overwhelming, or just plain exhausting… you are definitely not alone. In this episode of The Confident Chemistry Teacher Podcast, I’m walking you through a simple process to help you reflect on this school year, gather meaningful feedback, and make a realistic plan for next year—without creating a giant 100-item summer to-do list. 🙌 I’m sharing: reflection questions for teachers, how to survey students (without taking every comment personally 😅), ways to gather feedback from colleagues and admin systems I’m personally changing next year and how to focus on the high-impact changes that will actually reduce stress I also created a free End-of-Year Reflection & Survey Toolkit to help you through the process! 🧠 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:     ✨ Why reflecting on your year matters before jumping into summer planning    📋 Questions to ask yourself about routines, systems, stress points, and student success    🧪 How to survey students in a way that gives useful feedback (and how to ignore the “do less work” comments 😂)    📚 Changes I’m making next year: simplifying POGIL assignments, improving interactive notebooks, trying “Ketchup & Pickles Days” for makeup work and organization, front-loading Chemistry math skills, transitioning students toward more independent note-taking    🏫 Why checking in with colleagues and admin can help you plan smarter for next year    ⚖️ How to choose ONE high-impact goal instead of trying to redo your entire curriculum over the summer 🔥 Teacher Takeaway You do not need to reinvent yourself this summer. Sometimes the biggest improvement comes from changing one routine, one system, or one area that constantly caused stress this year. Small shifts can completely change how next school year feels. 🧪 Free Resource Mentioned in This Episode 📋 End-of-Year Reflection & Survey Toolkit This free toolkit includes:    ✔Teacher reflection questions    ✔Student survey templates    ✔Editable Google Forms Planning pages    ✔Directions for implementation 👉 Download here: End-of-Year Reflection & Planning Toolkit [https://learn.chemschemistryclassroom.com/end-of-year-reflection-and-planning-opt-in] 🎥 Join the Free June Planning Sessions I’ll be going LIVE on Tuesday nights at 5:30 PM throughout June to walk through:    ✔ Year-at-a-glance planning.  ✔ Lab organization & safety. ✔ Digital organization. ✔First weeks of school planning Systems that make teaching feel less chaotic 👉 Join the free Facebook Lives here: Free Chemistry Teacher Planning Sessions [https://www.facebook.com/share/1B7F4GJyac/] 💬 Let’s Connect Chem’s Chemistry Classroom Website [https://chemschemistryclassroom.com/] Instagram @chemschemistryclassroom The Confident Chemistry Teacher Facebook Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/767528946010479] 🎙️ Closing Thought You don’t need a perfect classroom. You need systems that help you feel more prepared, more organized, and less overwhelmed. 💛

Episode 28: Summer Goals That Actually Work (Without Burning Yourself Out)

If you ended this school year feeling behind, scattered, or like you were constantly playing catch-up… this episode is for you. I’m walking you through exactly how I’m planning my summer—so I can feel organized, prepared, and in control going into next year (without trying to do everything).   🧠 In This Episode, You’ll Learn: ✨ How to Turn a Stressful Year into a Clear Plan       Why I started with my biggest pain points (new school, new classes, no prep  time 😅) and used those to guide my summer goals.   📋 A Simple Weekly Structure That Actually Works *       How I’m organizing my time with: Deep work mornings *       Lighter afternoons *       Dedicated days for school, business, and home *       Weekends that actually include rest and fun   🧪 My Step-by-Step Summer Plan System How I’m breaking it down so it doesn’t feel overwhelming: Weeks 1–2: Map out units, topics, labs, and assessments Weeks 3–4: Build a clickable lab & activity spreadsheet Weeks 5–6: Clean out and organize materials (goodbye transparencies 👋)   ⚖️ Why “Progress Over Perfection” Matters The goal isn’t a perfect classroom—it’s being proactive instead of reactive. 🤖 How I Used ChatGPT to Plan My Summer * How talking through my ideas helped me simplify, prioritize, and actually stick to a plan. 🔥 Teacher Tip of the Week Don’t try to do everything this summer. 👉 Pick 3–4 life buckets (school, home, health, business, etc.) 👉 Choose ONE main focus 👉 Break it into 2-week chunks Because let’s be honest—life happens. And your plan needs to allow for that. 🎯 Try This * Take 10–15 minutes and ask yourself: What made this year feel hard? * What do I not want to feel next year? * What’s one thing that would make the biggest difference? Start there. Not with a giant to-do list.   📣 What’s Coming Next In June, I’ll be going LIVE on Tuesday nights to walk you through: * Planning your year * Organizing your curriculum * Building systems that actually stick Stay tuned for details!   🧪 Join the Waitlist for The Confident Chemistry Teacher Lab Membership is opening in October      🎉 I’m looking for 20–25 founding members who want: Ready-to-use labs, organized systems, and ongoing support       👉 Join the waitlist to get first access + founding member pricing   💬 Let’s Connect If this episode helped you, send it to a teacher friend who’s feeling overwhelmed right now   💛 And come hang out with me: Instagram: @chemschemistryclassroom Website: chemschemistryclassroom.com   🎙️ Closing Thought You don’t need a perfect plan. You just need a plan that helps you feel a little more prepared and a lot less stressed going into next year.

Episode 27: The Root Beer Lab- From Sublimation to Ocean Acidification | Fun Earth Day Lab

🎧 Episode 27: The Root Beer Lab – From Sublimation to Ocean Acidification If your students love lab days…but struggle to connect them to actual chemistry concepts, this episode is for you. Today I’m walking you through one of my all-time favorite labs...making root beer with dry ice 🍺 (don’t worry…no fermentation happening here 😄). It might feel a little “fluffy” at first, but I promise—there is some really solid chemistry packed into this activity. We’re talking phase changes, intermolecular forces, acids and bases, and even ocean acidification—all in one engaging lab your students will remember. 🧪 In This Episode, You’ll Learn: 🧊 Sublimation in Action How I use dry ice and “spooky fog” to help students see phase changes instead of just memorizing them 📊 Making Phase Diagrams A simple way to compare water vs. carbon dioxide, so students understand why CO₂ skips the liquid phase at normal pressure 🧠 Intermolecular Forces (Without the Eye Glaze 😅) How I connect weak London dispersion forces to what students are actually observing in the lab 🥤 Why Soda Is Acidic (and Why That Matters) Using carbonic acid to connect CO₂ + H₂O to real-world examples like flat soda—and ocean acidification 🌍 Real-World Connections That Stick How this lab leads naturally into a conversation about carbon sinks, ocean chemistry, and impacts on marine life 🛠️ Lab Tips & Teacher Moves From my “witch’s brew” stirring moment 🧙‍♀️ to managing dry ice safely and efficiently in class 🎁 Resources & Links 🧪 Free Root Beer Lab Slides [https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1RTFZaGKHKZ9eONw74l26xvQBcWzGAZOu6WZjk0-LkGs/copy] & Worksheet [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nFUEPSKgasROPbWf16H2dfjKrlNbpVyrmeYOFKcedMY/copy] I’m sharing the exact materials I use in my classroom—grab them in the show notes and try it out yourself! 🌍 It’s All About Carbon Activity (TPT) [https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Its-All-About-Carbon-An-Introduction-to-Environmental-Chemistry-Earth-Day-6738056] If you want to go deeper with carbon cycles and real-world connections, this is a great extension for your students 🧪 Join the Lab Membership Waitlist [https://learn.chemschemistryclassroom.com/lab-membership-waitlist] This lab is a perfect example of the kind of ready-to-run, classroom-tested resources coming to the Confident Chemistry Teacher Lab Membership this October 👉 Join the waitlist to get first access (and founding member pricing!) 💡 Teacher Tip of the Week: Dry ice doesn’t melt… it disappears 👀 If you buy 5 pounds the night before, you might walk into school with only 2 pounds left by first period. Save yourself the stress and call ahead—have your store hold it for you the morning of your lab. 🎙️ Coming Next Week… Next episode, I’m switching gears a bit and sharing how I’m planning my summer goals—both for my classroom and my business. If you’ve ever felt like summer flies by and you didn’t get done what you wanted to get done…this one’s for you. 💛 As always… Keep inspiring, keep experimenting, and keep being awesome in your classrooms. 🌐 Website: chemschemistryclassroom.com 👩‍🏫 Join our community: The Confident Chemistry Teacher Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/767528946010479/  📸 Come say hi on Instagram: @chemschemistryclassroom 🛒 Grab resources on TPT: Chem’s Chemistry Classroom [https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/chems-chemistry-classroom]

Episode 26: Why I Teach Environmental Chemistry (Even When It’s Not in the Standards)

Episode 26: Why I Teach Environmental Chemistry (Even When It’s Not in the Standards) Let’s be honest…this time of year can feel a little chaotic. Testing is coming, students are getting a little squirrely 😅, and it’s easy to feel like you just need to “stick to the standards” and push through. But this is actually one of my favorite times of year to teach something a little different. In this episode, I’m sharing why I teach a standalone Environmental Chemistry unit around Earth Day (April 22nd)—even though it’s not technically required—and why it ends up being one of the most meaningful units of the year for my students. 🧪 In This Episode, I Share: 🌍 Why This Unit Matters (More Than You Think) * Why this is the time of year students start asking, “When am I ever going to use this?” * How environmental chemistry helps answer that question in a real and relevant way 🧪 The Ozone Layer (A Win for Science) * How I use the ozone layer to show students a problem we actually solved * Easy connections to catalysts and reaction chemistry * Why this topic shows up again in AP courses 🌊 Acid Rain & Ocean Acidification * Real-world examples students immediately understand (food webs, oceans, even statues!) * How I use this as either an introduction to pH or a meaningful application * Helping students see why “small” pH changes actually matter 🍺 The Root Beer Lab (Student Favorite) * A fun, memorable lab tied to ocean acidification * How I pair it with a short video to deepen understanding * Why this is one of those labs students actually remember ☀️ Greenhouse Effect Lab * A super simple setup using beakers, plastic wrap, and thermometers * How students can actually see heat being trapped * Easy way to reinforce variables and experimental design 🔥 Sneaky Content Review (Without Feeling Like Review) * Bringing in thermodynamics (like how water holds heat) * Reinforcing key chemistry concepts in a way that feels relevant—not repetitive   🎁 Resources Mentioned 🎬 Freebie: Environmental Movie Reflection Sheet If you’re showing any environmental videos, this makes it way more than just a “movie day.” 👉 Grab it here: [link] [https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/ENVIRONMENTAL-MOVIE-ACTIVITY-WORKSHEET-6731862] 🛍️ Classroom Resource: Carbon Cycle Activity A simple, ready-to-use activity using NPR clips to help students understand carbon and bonding. 👉 Grab it here: [link [https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Its-All-About-Carbon-An-Introduction-to-Environmental-Chemistry-Earth-Day-6738056]] 🧪 Coming Soon: Lab Membership (Launching October 1)  👉 Join the waitlist here: [link] [https://learn.chemschemistryclassroom.com/lab-membership-waitlist] If you love labs like the ones in this episode but want everything organized and ready to go… That’s exactly what I’m building inside the Lab Membership—complete labs, setup support, and classroom-tested systems. 🎧 What’s Coming Next Next week, I’m breaking down one of my favorite activities from this unit—the Ocean Acidification + Root Beer Lab—so you can easily bring it into your classroom. 💬 Final Thought This unit isn’t about adding “one more thing” to your plate. It’s about giving students a moment where they finally think: 👉 “Oh…this actually matters.” And honestly…those are the lessons they remember. 🎧 Enjoying the podcast? Make sure to follow/subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes!   🌐 Website: chemschemistryclassroom.com 👩‍🏫 Join our community: The Confident Chemistry Teacher Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/767528946010479/  📸 Come say hi on Instagram: @chemschemistryclassroom 🛒 Grab resources on TPT: Chem’s Chemistry Classroom [https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/chems-chemistry-classroom]

Episode 25: Managing Lab Materials Without Losing Your Mind

🎙Managing Lab Materials Without Losing Your Mind Lab days are powerful. They’re hands-on. They deepen understanding. Students love them. But let’s be honest… they can also feel chaotic and overwhelming. In this episode, I’m sharing the exact systems I use to manage lab materials in my chemistry classroom so I can coach instead of react. After 18 years of teaching, I still get a little lab-day anxiety, but strong systems protect my patience, energy, and classroom flow. If lab days feel stressful for you, this episode will help you simplify and regain control.   🔬 In This Episode, You’ll Learn: * How I reduce decision fatigue before labs * Where I store chemicals vs. classroom materials * How I organize lab containers by quarter * Why I create one labeled container per lab * The simple labeling trick that saves me hours each year * How I structure my lab cart (top, middle, bottom tiers) * My aluminum foil cart hack (this one is gold ✨) * How I hold students accountable for cleanup * When I switch to lab station “checkout boxes” * How I reset between periods quickly * Why I always prep backup solutions * How systems protect your patience and energy    🛠 My Core Lab Management Philosophy The more specific the system, the smoother the lab. When materials have a place: Students know where to find them. Students know where to return them. You stop making last-minute decisions. You stay calm and focused on instruction. Strong systems allow you to coach instead of manage chaos.   🎁 Free Resource Mentioned If you'd like some ready-to-use tools to support your lab days, grab my free: 🧪 Lab Day Starter Kit It includes: * Lab group accountability tracker * Practical classroom tools * Simple systems to improve lab flow 👉 Download HERE [https://learn.chemschemistryclassroom.com/lab-day-starter-kit]   🎯 Start Small. Don’t overhaul everything at once. Start with ONE improvement: * Decide where balances always go. * Create one labeled lab container. * Save your labels instead of rewriting them. * Try the aluminum foil cart reset system. Small systems compound over time.   If you have a lab organization tip that works in your classroom, I would love to hear it!   Connect with me and share your strategies. As always — Keep inspiring. Keep experimenting. And keep being awesome in your classroom. 🧪✨   * Website: chemschemistryclassroom.com * Facebook Group: The Confident Chemistry Teacher Facebook Group * Instagram: @chemschemistryclassroom * TPT: Chem’s Chemistry Classroom