Episode 36: Rethinking What I Teach in My Electrons Unit

Have you ever stopped to wonder if you're teaching something because your students really need it—or because it's simply the way you've always taught it?

After 19 years of teaching chemistry, I'm taking a fresh look at my Chemistry 1 electrons unit and asking myself that very question!

For years, I've taught light and energy calculations, electron configurations, orbital notation, and some of my favorite chemistry labs. But after watching my students spend three or four days struggling with calculations, I started wondering: Is this re...

Episode 35: Teaching Graphing Skills to High School Science Students: A Step-by-Step Approach

Have you ever asked your students to make a graph, only to discover that they have absolutely no idea where to start? Yep, that happened in my classroom! 😅

After years of teaching students who already knew how to graph, I realized that many of my current freshmen were struggling with some pretty basic graphing skills. Choosing an appropriate scale, plotting points, calculating averages, and using data to support a claim were much harder for them than I expected.

So, instead of con...

Episode 34: 3 Hands-On Matter and Change Activities for High School Chemistry

Matter and Change can sometimes feel like one of those basic vocabulary units in high school chemistry—but I actually think it’s a great opportunity to get students into the lab and start building skills they’ll use all year long.

In this episode of The Confident Chemistry Teacher Podcast, I’m sharing three of my favorite hands-on Matter and Change activities: my Goodie Brittle Lab, paper chromatography, and Matter and Change Stations.

Yes, students are learning about physical and chemical changes, mixtures...

Episode 33: 3 Activities to Strengthen Scientific Number Sense in Chemistry

Can your students do the math…but struggle to understand what the numbers actually mean?

I remember sitting in my own honors chemistry class, successfully calculating Ka and Kb values without really understanding why I was doing those calculations. That experience has shaped the way I teach chemistry today. I want my students to understand the concepts first and then use the math to support that understanding.

And lately, I’ve noticed that students are coming into chemistry struggling with some pretty basic number sens...

Episode 32: What Chemicals Do You Really Need in Your Chemistry Classroom?

If you’re a new chemistry teacher staring at your chemical storage room wondering, “What do I actually need?” — this episode is for you.

Over 19 years of teaching chemistry, I’ve learned that you don’t need every chemical in the catalog to create meaningful, hands-on experiences for your students. What you need are versatile chemicals that can be used across multiple units and labs.

In this episode, I’m walking you through the chemicals I find most useful for teaching everything from acids and...

🧪 Episode Summary

In this episode of The Confident Chemistry Teacher Podcast, I’m sharing a problem I run into every year during the first weeks of school: How do I make sure every class hears the same procedures and expectations—and actually remembers them later?

My solution this year is the Chemistry Survival Guide, a free, editable resource designed to help teachers intentionally teach classroom procedures while giving students a student-friendly reference they can keep in their notebooks all year.

I’m sharing exactly how I plan to use the Survival Guide, what’s included...

🧪 Episode Summary

What belongs in a chemistry syllabus...and what can you leave out?

In this episode of The Confident Chemistry Teacher Podcast, I'm walking you through the sections I include in my own chemistry syllabus after 18 years in the classroom.

From course descriptions and grading policies to lab safety, classroom procedures, and communication with parents, I'll share the practical details that help set students up for success from day one. Whether you're writing your very first syllabus or simply updating an old one, you'll leave this episode with ideas to make your syl...

🧪 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...

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.

...

🎧 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 wi...

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 no...

🎙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 cont...

Episode Intro

In this episode of The Confident Chemistry Teacher Podcast, I’m sharing exactly how I run a POGIL in my chemistry classroom — from setup to grading.

You’ll discover how to get students collaborating instead of waiting for answers, and leave with strategies to make group work productive and manageable.

Key Takeaways

By the end of this episode, you’ll learn how to:

● Decide when to use a POGIL (and when not to)

● Set clear expectations so groups stay on task

● Use roles to encourage p...

Episode Intro

In this episode of The Confident Chemistry Teacher Podcast, I’m taking you inside my mole unit — not as a day-by-day plan, but through the thinking and teaching decisions behind it. The mole unit is one of the first truly skill-heavy units students encounter in chemistry, and it can feel overwhelming for both students and teachers.

I share how I introduce the mole conceptually, how I scaffold practice, how I check for mastery along the way, and how I help students build confidence before the test.

My goal is always the same...

Episode Intro

In this episode of The Confident Chemistry Teacher Podcast, I’m sharing the key systems and teaching practices I’m focusing on in 2026 to help me feel more organized, reduce decision fatigue, and actually enjoy the spring semester with my students. Like many teachers, I’ve felt overwhelmed this year — new responsibilities, new classes, and the constant pressure to keep up with curriculum pacing.

Instead of trying to do everything, I’m intentionally focusing on a few core systems that support both student learning and teacher sustainability. If you’re feeling stretched thin right now, t...

🎙️ Ep. 21 – Simple Semester Exam Review Strategies that Keep Students Engaged

Episode Intro

In this episode of The Confident Chemistry Teacher Podcast, I’m sharing my favorite strategies for reviewing before semester exams — without losing your sanity or your students’ attention. You’ll discover how to keep students engaged during review days, balance independent and active learning, and design meaningful practice materials that actually prepare them for success.

By the end of this episode, you’ll learn how to:

✅ Create and organize a semester exam review that balances student independence and active learning.

✅...

🧪 Ep. 20 – Inside the Unit: Chemical Nomenclature Episode I

In this episode of The Confident Chemistry Teacher Podcast, I’m walking you through how I teach one of the foundational chemistry skills—chemical nomenclature. You’ll hear how I structure the unit, keep students engaged, and help them build confidence while naming and writing chemical formulas.

Key Takeaways

By the end of this episode, you’ll learn how to:

• Determine when to teach nomenclature in relation to bonding

• Use bonding types to scaffold naming conventions

• Help students understand ionic vs. covalent...

Episode Intro

In this episode of The Confident Chemistry Teacher Podcast, I’m sharing a real and honest reflection about what happens when graduation rates take priority over student learning.

You’ll hear the behind-the-scenes challenges of adjusting to a new school environment, supporting struggling students, and finding your balance between accountability and empathy.

You’ll walk away with practical classroom management strategies, structure ideas, and tools that help you refocus your students on learning — even when motivation feels low.

Key Takeaways

By the end of this episode...

🎙️ Episode: My Go-To Periodic Table Unit -Activities, Trends, and Timing Tips

A practical walkthrough of my Periodic Table unit—history hooks, must-teach trends, hands-on labs, and lots of low-prep practice to cement understanding.

Episode Description

In this episode, I run through exactly how I teach the Periodic Table in Chem I and Honors: how I hook students with music and history, scaffold core periodic trends (atomic radius, ionization energy, electronegativity, ionic radius), and build fluency with smart practice and a few fan-favorite labs. You’ll hear when and why I bring back electron configura...

Welcome back to the Confident Chemistry Teacher Podcast!

Episode Summary

In this episode, I’m breaking down one of my favorite quick-and-fun isotope activities — the Marshmallow Isotope Lab! This hands-on lab helps students visualize isotopes by building models of hydrogen’s three isotopes using mini marshmallows and toothpicks. It’s simple, colorful, and perfect for reinforcing the difference between ions and isotopes in a memorable way.

I’ll walk you through:

✅ Why this lab helps students truly see isotopes instead of just reading about them 🍬 How to organize the materials (and yes — students...

Episode Summary

Hey Chemistry Friend! In this episode of The Confident Chemistry Teacher Podcast, Chem walks you through her Electrons Unit — from the evolution of atomic models to light and energy calculations, and finally, electron configurations. You’ll hear how she sequences lessons, which labs and demos make the biggest impact, and how she builds connections between math skills, color emissions, and atomic structure. Whether you’re teaching high school Chemistry or honors-level students, you’ll get ideas to simplify your planning and make this concept-packed unit more engaging and hands-on!

In This Episode, You’ll Learn...

Sometimes the simplest tools make the biggest impact.

In this episode, I’m sharing one of my favorite organization hacks: the daily Google slide.

Each day of the school year gets its own slide with the date, learning intentions, success criteria, warm-up, agenda, and links to resources.

It’s a straightforward system, but the benefits are huge—for me, my students, parents, co-teachers, and even admin.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Episode Summary

In this episode, Chem walks through a practical sequence for teaching Atoms—from subatomic particles to isotopes and average atomic mass—plus why some topics don’t live in this unit (history of the atom, moles) and where to spiral in ions and the octet rule.

You’ll get easy-to-run activities (Google Slides checks, PBS ChemThink, isotopes/average-atomic-mass activities), labs, and clear expectations for Chem 1 vs. Honors.

Freebie Links:

Atomic Structure Review & Practice worksheet

PBS ChemThink worksheet

Parent communication isn’t anyone’s favorite part of the job (hi, same 🙋‍♀️), but it can be calm, professional, and effective.

In this episode, I share a simple 6-step framework I use for emails and phone calls so conversations stay factual, collaborative, and student-focused—without eating your whole prep period. You’ll also hear practical examples, boundary tips, and how to document contacts the smart way. You’ll learn why consistent, professional communication is essential for protecting instructional time and fostering strong relationships.

The 6-Step Framework:

In this episode of The Confident Chemistry Teacher Podcast, I’m sharing how I used the Lab Day Starter Kit in my own classroom and why it made a “simple” lab run smoother and more meaningful for both me and my students.

I’ll walk you through each piece of the kit, show how it supported my Cooling Rate of Hot Water Lab, and give you practical tips for making your own lab days less stressful.

By the end of this episode, you’ll learn how to:

Ep. 11 – Inside the Lab: Matter & Change 

In this episode of The Confident Chemistry Teacher Podcast, I’m kicking off a new series: Inside the Lab. Today, I’m taking you inside my Matter & Change Lab—an 8-station activity that gives students confidence, reinforces key vocabulary, and sets safety expectations early in the year.

I’ll highlight my 4 favorite stations and share teacher hacks that make setup, timing, and safety a whole lot smoother.

Key Takeaways

AI is everywhere right now, but what does it really look like in a high school classroom?

In this episode of the Confident Chemistry Teacher Podcast, I’m sharing 3 practical ways I use ChatGPT to save time, reduce stress, and support student learning — including one that completely surprised me.

Here’s what you’ll hear:

In this episode of The Confident Chemistry Teacher Podcast, I’m taking you inside the Matter & Change unit—one of the most important foundations for the rest of the year. This unit helps students:

I also share how I structure this unit in my own classroom, when I like to teach it in the sequence (sometimes 2nd, sometimes 3rd), and why it’s so val...

In this episode of The Confident Chemistry Teacher Podcast, I’m sharing three powerful lab shifts that helped my students learn more deeply from hands-on activities—and stopped them from just “going through the motions.”

From rethinking your lab timeline to using quizzes and videos strategically, these small changes make a big impact on engagement and retention.

You'll hear: Why I no longer squeeze labs into one class period, How lab quizzes improve accountability, What kinds of videos I create for better student prep and review. 

Plus, I share how these strategies connect to my upc...

Today we’re hitting pause on the lab shifts and diving into something timely — your very first day with students. If you’ve ever dreaded starting the year with a dry syllabus read-through or found yourself doing all the talking, this episode is for you.

I walk you through my Models in Science lesson — an interactive, movement-based activity that gets students collaborating, thinking scientifically, and laughing together. We’ll talk about how this lesson sets expectations, introduces scientific modeling (a major NGSS practice), and builds class community from the moment they walk through the door. This has been my go...

🎙️ Episode 6: Inside the Unit – Scientific Math How I Use Sig Figs, Density, and Real-World Connections to Build Chemistry Confidence

Show Notes:

In this episode, I break down my Scientific Math unit—a standalone unit designed to give students the foundational math skills they need to succeed in Chemistry. I’ll walk you through: Why I teach Scientific Math as a standalone unit, how I tackle topics like sig figs, scientific notation, and density My favorite labs, demos, and student engagement strategies Why this unit helps calm chaos before we even hit stoichiometry What to do when studen...

How Student Jobs Can Empower Your Students and Streamline Your Day

Show Notes:

Student jobs aren’t just for elementary school — they’re a game-changer in high school Chemistry too!

In this episode, I share how assigning classroom roles has helped me manage chaos, build community, and empower students in meaningful ways.

From emergency roles to door monitors and celebration managers, I walk you through: Why student jobs work (even with high schoolers!) The 11 jobs I use in my classroom (and why) Tips for introducing and rotating jobs throughout the year How cl...

🎧 Episode 4 – Inside the Unit: Lab Safety & First Lab Day

How I Teach Procedures, Set Safety Norms, and Start Labs with Confidence

Show Notes:

Labs are where the magic happens in Chemistry — but only when students understand the importance of safety, expectations, and responsibility. In this episode of The Confident Chemistry Teacher Podcast, I'm walking you through exactly how I set the tone for a safe, engaging, and well-run lab experience from the very beginning of the school year. Whether you're a first-year teacher or a seasoned pro looking to streamline your systems, you'll walk aw...

🎧 Episode 3 – How I Plan My Year as a Chemistry Teacher- Flexible Framework for Mapping Out a Meaningful School Year

Show Notes:

Does planning the school year feel overwhelming? Or maybe you're a planner at heart but want to streamline the process? Either way, this episode is packed with real-world strategies to help Chemistry teachers create a year-long plan that works — even with labs, assemblies, testing days, and surprise pumpkin explosions. 🎃

In this episode of The Confident Chemistry Teacher Podcast, I’m breaking down exactly how I plan my school year — from gathering key calendars to m...

In this episode of The Confident Chemistry Teacher Podcast, we’re kicking off a new series called Inside the Unit — and we're starting with how I teach the Nature of Science and Introduction to Chemistry in the first two weeks of school. I’ll walk you through my exact game plan for this foundational unit, from setting classroom expectations to reviewing variables, lab procedures, graphing, and even the difference between qualitative and quantitative observations. You'll hear how I integrate interactive notebooks, POGL activities, and even lab safety without overwhelming students — plus why I save the heavy math for later. I’ll als...

Feeling overwhelmed as a new Chemistry teacher? You’re not alone—and you don’t have to do it all. In this kickoff episode of The Confident Chemistry Teacher Podcast, I’m sharing the 7 things I wish someone had told me when I started teaching Chemistry. From making answer keys and reviewing middle school content, to setting boundaries and being honest with your students, this episode is packed with practical advice and encouragement, whether you're brand new or just need a reset. 🎁 Don’t miss the free Lab Station Laugh Cards to bring a little humor to your next lab day! http...

🎙️ Episode 0: Welcome to The Confident Chemistry Teacher Podcast Welcome to The Confident Chemistry Teacher Podcast! I’m Chemberyle — pronounced Kimberly — and I’m so glad you’re here. In this short intro episode, I’ll share who I am, what this podcast is all about, and how it can support you as a Chemistry teacher. Whether you're in your first year or your fifteenth, this space is here to help you teach with clarity, confidence, and (maybe) a little fun along the way. ✨ Here’s what you’ll hear in this episode: Who this podcast is for What kind of content you can expe...