The seed for season 8 got planted while we were on a morning run. I often listen to audiobooks – it makes the miles go by quicker. On this particular morning my earbuds were filled with a book that had nothing to do with science, but everything to do with our ability to teach it. It hit me how what I was listening to could be applied to teaching science at home, really it applies homeschooling in general. And as I was pounding the pavement the seedling of an idea grew into a full-sized, podcast-plant season.

The book was Soundtracks by Jon Acuff – it’s a business book about overthinking with a healthy dose of humor sprinkled in. It’s not an if-you-think-it-it-will-come kind of book – rather it’s about how we change the thoughts, or soundtracks, that narrate our life.

If you are like me, you know that as humans, we tend to focus on the negative. And the premise of Acuff’s book is that we can change those negative soundtracks into ones that will help us slingshot forward. It’s not that we are telling ourselves a lie. It’s more like we are looking for a silver lining or for a single, simple thought that can help us move from a place of paralysis to a place where we can move forward with action.

We stop fighting those soundtracks that are holding us back and find a way to flip them instead. “I can’t teach science the way they do it,” becomes, “I have a unique way to approach teaching science – one that will help me share the wonders of science with my kiddos.” 

If you want to listen to the full story, check out the prequel episode to this season.

Without further ado, here are the 9 soundtracks you don’t need to listen to anymore and what we want you to flip them to instead!

Soundtrack #1

Science is too hard.-->Science is simply providing opportunities for the mind to work.

Key Takeaways

• At its heart, science education is about providing opportunities for the mind to work.
• When we approach science this way – read, do, write – we provide opportunities for the mind to work. 
• This doesn’t mean that you have to manufacture every single learning opportunity. You can use a program to help you provide pockets of opportunities for the students’ scientific minds to work each week.

Listen to Science Soundtrack #1.

Soundtrack #2

This experiment will fail because all the ones we try fail.-->When we do experiments, we may not get the expected outcome, but we can always learn from the experience.

Key Takeaways

• The reality is that in science, we learn from our failures. In fact, failed experiments are a normal part of the scientific process. 
• Our main goal in homeschooling is not to cram our students with facts and Pinterest-worthy experiences. 
• When you do experiments, you might not get the expected outcome, but you can always walk away with a successful learning experience. 

Listen to Science Soundtrack #2.

Soundtrack #3

Science is boring.-->I get to make science fun!

Key Takeaways

• Let’s stop looking at the blank science squares on the planning sheet template and stop skipping something that we assume will be boring. 
• We have the ability to make science interesting for our kiddos. 
• We don’t have to have a boring repeat of our experience with science. We get to make science fun!  

Listen to Science Soundtrack #3.

Soundtrack #4

I must teach science.-->I get to teach science in a way that works for us.

Key Takeaways

• Let’s stop saying that we must teach science or that we have to teach science. 
• Just the switch from “must” to “get to” takes a load of pressure off our shoulders, but then when you add in the idea that you can teach science in a way that works for you and your unique family, well that just opens a world of possibilities.  
• The point is to have the three keys present in your science plans each week in a way that works for you. 

Listen to Science Soundtrack #4.

Soundtrack #5

I have neglected science for so long that there is no point in starting now.-->I have been sharing silent science and now it is time to put words to what we have seen.

Key Takeaways

• I really mean this, whether we realize it or not, we have been sharing science silently.  
• You can always get a good program to help you teach science or you can do your own investigations based on the silent science you have already been doing. 
• So even though you may have neglected science in the past, there is no time like today to start putting words to what your kids have already observed.  

Listen to Science Soundtrack #5.

Soundtrack #6

I cannot teach science.-->With the right materials in hand, I can teach science.

Key Takeaways

• There are endless possibilities and options, but the basic idea is to find materials that will make it possible for you to DO science, READ about science, and WRITE down science each week.
• Those materials could be a full science program, an eclectic mix of resources, or an outsourced class. Whatever you choose as your support materials, I want you to know that you can teach science to your kids. 

Listen to Science Soundtrack #6.

Soundtrack #7

Science has to be done in a lab.-->There are lots of ways to see science in action.

Key Takeaways

• In your home, co-op, or at your school.
  Even at the kitchen sink is cool.
• There are lots of different ways for us to share the hands-on aspect of science with our kiddos. 
• As homeschoolers, we can escape the lab and share science where we are at!

Listen to Science Soundtrack #7.

Soundtrack #8

I do not know enough.-->What I do not know, I can learn or find someone else who can teach it.

Key Takeaways

• We, as home educators, don’t have to know it all. 
• We can learn what we need to know, modeling a life-long pursuit of knowledge. Or we can find a program or person that can do the heavy lifting for us! 
• You don’t have to know it all, you just have to be willing to either learn or turn over the reins to someone who can help. 

Listen to Science Soundtrack #8.

Soundtrack #9

I have to teach it all.-->I get to customize my chosen science program to fit our needs.

Key Takeaways

• I used some of the same programs with my kids but did different things.
• We weren’t slaves to box-checking, we customized our science to fit our needs.
• We can cherry-pick what we know will benefit our students the most, fitting in the keys to teaching science in a way that is meaningful to them.

Listen to Science Soundtrack #9.

Wrapping it Up

I trust that you guys have enjoyed listening to this season as much as I have enjoyed recording it for you. It's so important that we change these negative soundtracks about teaching science. Because when we change the soundtrack we have been listening to about teaching science it changes the way we approach teaching science, which changes the outcome of the success of science education in our home.