FAST-Action Blog

testing-season 2026-06-02T06:00:02.376877 by Maria Santos

How I Help My Students (and Myself) Bounce Back After FAST Testing

FAST test prep tip: Last week, I watched little Sofia slump into her seat after our final FAST session and whisper, "Ms. Santos, my brain feels like

testing season math reading

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tech-tips 2026-06-01T06:00:02.334714 by Maria Santos

The Only 5 Apps I Actually Use (And Why I Deleted the Other 47)

Classroom tech tip: Last week, I was cleaning out my phone and realized I had downloaded 52 education apps over the past three years. Fifty-two! And you

tech tips math reading

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budget-teaching 2026-05-31T06:00:01.894080 by Maria Santos

How I Furnished My Classroom for Free (And You Can Too!)

Budget-friendly teaching tip: Picture this: August 2002, my second year teaching. I walked into my new classroom at Lincoln Elementary and nearly cried.

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testing-season 2026-05-30T06:00:01.582002 by Maria Santos

When Your Stress is Showing (And Your Kids Are Feeling It Too)

FAST test prep tip: Last Tuesday, little Sofia looked up at me during our morning routine and said, "Señora Santos, you look worried. Are we in trouble?"

testing season math classroom

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classroom-management 2026-05-29T06:00:02.016280 by Maria Santos

When Everyone's Brain is Already at the Beach (Including Yours)

Classroom management tip: Last Tuesday, I caught myself staring out the window during math, watching the palm trees sway while my students worked on

classroom management math reading

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florida-teacher 2026-05-28T06:00:01.737599 by Maria Santos

What I Wish I Knew About FAST Testing (Before I Learned the Hard Way)

Florida teacher tip: Let me paint you a picture. It's March 2019, my first year with FAST testing, and I'm standing in my classroom at 6:30 AM frantically

florida teacher math reading

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classroom-management 2026-05-27T06:00:01.534777 by Maria Santos

When May Hits and Everyone (Including You) Has Checked Out

Classroom management tip: Last Tuesday, I walked into my classroom to find three kids sprawled on the reading carpet like they were at the beach, one

classroom management math reading

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classroom-management 2026-05-26T06:00:01.459468 by Maria Santos

When the Countdown Begins: Keeping Your Classroom Together in May

Classroom management tip: It was Tuesday morning, three weeks before the last day of school, and I walked into my classroom to find Marcus (not my son, my

classroom management math classroom

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classroom-management 2026-05-25T06:00:02.381971 by Maria Santos

When Your Classroom Feels Like a Beach Party (And Not the Good Kind)

Classroom management tip: It was 2:30 on a Tuesday in May, and I was pretty sure my classroom had been invaded by a pack of caffeinated squirrels. Little

classroom management math reading

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teacher-life 2026-05-24T06:00:01.726907 by Maria Santos

The Veteran Teacher Slump is Real (And How I'm Climbing Out of Mine)

Teacher advice: Last Tuesday, I caught myself standing in front of my whiteboard, marker in hand, completely blank. Not because I didn't know what to

teacher life math reading

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