4 Key Items to Reset at Semester: Can you ctrl+alt+del a class?
Undoubtedly, you are reading this while relaxing in your stretchy pants sometime during Christmas break. You are not even sure what day...
top of page
Search
Brennan Koch
Aug 5, 20205 min read
3 Simple Steps to the Best Bellringers : Stop wasting your students' time
I am allergic to wasting time. Your students are too. For generations, teachers have used bellringer work to encourage their students...
Brennan Koch
Jul 14, 20205 min read
3 Steps to Build a Winning Classroom Culture
The culture of your classroom is more important than you are. Whoa. Let that sink in. Now think about it logically; there are thirty...
Brennan Koch
Jul 13, 20205 min read
Most Underutilized Science Teaching Method: how are you leaving problem-solving skills behind?
Are you ready to challenge the way you think about labs? The old recipe sounded something like this: Read the instructions Follow the...
Brennan Koch
Jul 7, 20204 min read
5 Alternatives to Online Lab Simulations: Making the most of remote science teaching
We as science teachers are in a tight spot! The most exciting part of teaching science is that kids get to interact with the physical...
Brennan Koch
Jul 1, 20203 min read
The #1 Biggest Loss if We Have to Teach Remotely
This is a short list. One item. And the trick is that I won't tell you what that loss is until the end. First, let me tell you a story....
Brennan Koch
Jun 29, 20207 min read
5 Non-negotiables in Your Science Classroom (even if you have to teach remotely)
Let's play a fun game together. It's called, "Get ready to teach science, but we won't tell you if you will be live, digital, both, in a...
Brennan Koch
Jun 22, 20205 min read
5 Mistakes I Made as a First Year Teacher (and how to avoid them)
I screwed up. I made mistakes that first year. I was so excited to embark on this new career, new life, recently married, ready to...
Brennan Koch
Jun 12, 20206 min read
6 Classroom Management Mistakes Teachers Should Avoid
Classroom management. There, I said it. Do I get my mouth washed out with soap now? I would venture to say that there are approximately...
Brennan Koch
Jun 10, 20204 min read
STOP Grading Everything: 5 Keys to Reducing YOUR Work Load
I have come to save your day. In fact, I have come to save your days, lunch breaks, prep periods, weekends, holidays and personal days. I...
Brennan Koch
Jun 8, 20204 min read
10 Lab Hacks: Simple ways to make lab day more efficient
If you are reading this, you are likely a science teacher. And as a science teacher, you have felt the lump rise in your throat as you...
Brennan Koch
Jun 1, 20202 min read
Sticks, strings and competition in your classroom
My boys solidified something in my mind this weekend. We were out camping and they decided to make bows and arrows. And the first hint...
Brennan Koch
May 26, 20202 min read
Fear of inquiry: Science teachers afraid to fail.
All science teachers love the idea of inquiry. We love the idea that students would use their own problem solving skills to design a...
Brennan Koch
May 24, 20202 min read
Did you catch dysentery? I sure did.
Only some of you will know what I'm talking about. Those of you who are forty-ish. You eagerly sat down at the black screen with the...
Brennan Koch
May 22, 20203 min read
To break the glass ceiling
I just received an email that opened my eyes. It was from a parent expressing gratitude for teaching her daughter. (These are are much...
Brennan Koch
May 20, 20203 min read
Teachers are darned if they do...
There are two warring factions in science teaching. On one side is the desire to be liked. This sounds immature, needy, and petty. But...
Brennan Koch
May 19, 20202 min read
How to tell students they are dumb, and they will love it!
I am supposed to be grading finals. But instead I am thinking about a picture that my class took on the first day of school. Each year,...
Brennan Koch
May 17, 20201 min read
In the foxhole with your students
In this strange time of virtual teaching there have been numerous chances for teachers to reflect on our craft. I had this epiphany...
Brennan Koch
May 14, 20201 min read
Connecting competition to curriculum!
The wait is over! Stoich Decks is producing games with a brain! Created by a 19 year chemistry teaching veteran, Stoich Deck games are...
Blog: Blog2
bottom of page