Hello Reader,

^^^ That’s my workspace. ^^^

I’m sharing this photo because it’s where I pour my heart into creating resources to support YOU—the teachers doing the incredible, challenging work in your classrooms every single day.

Honestly, I started Lit Science because I believe in the difference you make.

Teaching is one of the hardest and most important jobs out there, and my goal has always been to make it just a little easier for you to inspire your students, meet standards, and foster a love of science.

My workspace may not be anything fancy, but it’s a space where I can focus on creating tools and materials that help you.

My favorite little indulgence? Aromatherapy candles. They keep me grounded and remind me of the kind of calm I hope my resources bring to your planning and teaching.

That said, let’s dive into something I’ve been reflecting on: the branches of biology and how they’re woven into science standards.

As I explored the Next Generation Science Standards recently, one thing stood out: the different branches of science are never isolated. Every branch connects to another, just like in the natural world.

For example, this morning I watched a hawk eyeing my chickens (don't worry, everyone stayed safe!). The hawk’s cells (cytology) fuel its muscles (human body systems), enabling it to hunt prey (ecology), digest food (human body systems & structure & function), and produce energy through cellular respiration (cytology & biochemistry). Each system depends on the others. The shift in standards seek to better reflect this.

The truth is, it’s easy to assume that as teachers, we automatically “get” what the standards require us to teach. But the reality is that it takes time and effort to unpack them fully—and that’s okay.

To help, I wrote a blog post breaking down the branches of biology and how they appear in the standards. You can check it out here: Read the Branches of Biology Blog Post.

I hope this picture of my workspace reminds you how much I appreciate your hard work and dedication.

Everything I do at Lit Science is about supporting you, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be part of your teaching journey.

I’d love to hear how I can better support you, so don’t hesitate to reply and let me know!

Thanks for all you do,
Jessica

P.S. If you’re looking for some quick, affordable resources, I’ve got two on SUPER clearance (until 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, January 29th) for $1 each:

​Wildfires Reading Passage, Questions, and Writing Activity​

​Nervous System Worksheets - Differentiated Reading Comprehension​