Looking back at my first years teaching middle school science, I cringe a little. Okay…a lot. I was bursting with excitement, armed with color-coded binders and dreams of inquiry-based labs where students would joyfully discover the wonders of the natural world.
Reality hit around Week 2. I was staying up all night studying up on material and trying to create a fun and brand new lesson for every single day. All the systems I came up with during the summer were not going according to plan. And the classroom management… (don’t get me started). I cried in my car. More than once.
Now, with two decades of experience under my lab coat, here’s what I really wish I’d known back then:
1. The Standards Are Your Best Friend
I used to treat the standards like a checklist I had to survive. But now? I see them as a compass. The best lessons come from deeply understanding what your students need to know, and creatively building from there. Standards don’t kill creativity—they guide it.
2. You Don’t Have to Cover Everything—You Just Have to Teach What Matters Well
I thought I had to teach every word in the textbook. I rushed. I overwhelmed my students. I overwhelmed myself. Spoiler alert: you can’t teach it all. And you don’t need to. Prioritize depth over breadth, and your students will walk away with understanding, not just exposure.
3. Labs Shouldn’t Feel Like a Circus
I thought labs needed to be big and flashy to be effective. I’ve since learned that simple can be just as powerful. A well-planned investigation with clear roles and expectations? That’s the real magic. Less mess, more meaning.
4. Systems Will Save You
From supply management to how students turn in work—if you don’t create routines, your class will create chaos. I spent way too long reinventing the wheel each day. Now? My systems do the talking so I can focus on the science.
5. Your Classroom Culture Is More Important Than Your Lesson Plan
The way students feel in your classroom determines everything. If they feel safe, seen, and supported, they’ll take risks, ask questions, and care about what they’re learning. No “perfect” lesson can replace the power of strong relationships.
6. You’re Going to Mess Up (and That’s Okay)
I used to think a mistake or a lesson gone wrong was a huge problem. With so many variables in a classroom, what are the chances it will go perfectly as planned?? You will bomb a lesson. You will misjudge your timing. You will forget to prep materials. Laugh, learn, and try again.
Bottom line?
Teaching science isn’t about getting it all right. It’s about showing up, staying curious, and being willing to evolve. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to care, reflect, and never stop learning… right alongside your students.
And if no one’s told you lately—you’re doing an amazing job.
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