FAST-Action Blog

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

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florida-teacher 2026-05-20T06:00:01.738556 by Maria Santos

When Your Classroom Feels Like the Surface of Venus: Surviving Florida's Heat Without Losing Your Mind

Florida teacher tip: It was 8:47 AM on a Tuesday in September when I realized my classroom thermometer had given up. Not broken, mind you. It had simply

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florida-teacher 2026-05-13T06:00:01.413302 by Maria Santos

When Your Classroom Feels Like a Sauna and You Still Have to Teach Fractions

Florida teacher tip: It was 2:15 PM on a Thursday in September when I heard that dreaded sound. You know the one. The AC unit gave one final wheeze,

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florida-teacher 2026-03-31T06:00:02.929366 by Maria Santos

What I Wish I Knew About FAST Testing (Before I Made These Rookie Mistakes)

Florida teacher tip: Picture this: It's 2015, and I'm standing in my empty classroom at 7 PM, surrounded by stacks of practice tests and feeling like I've

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florida-teacher 2026-03-30T06:00:02.948690 by Maria Santos

B.E.S.T. Standards: What Actually Changed (And What Didn't)

Florida teacher tip: Last Tuesday, I was explaining fractions to my class when little Sofia raised her hand and asked, "Mrs. Santos, why do we have to

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florida-teacher 2026-03-29T06:00:02.512227 by Maria Santos

Hurricane Days: What They Don't Tell You in Teacher Prep Programs

Florida teacher tip: Last September, I was standing in my empty classroom at 6 PM on a Sunday, taping up windows and wondering why nobody ever taught me

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florida-teacher 2026-03-28T06:00:03.128327 by Maria Santos

Surviving Your First Year Teaching in Florida: What I Wish Someone Had Told Me 22 Years Ago

Florida teacher tip: Picture this: It's August 1999, and I'm standing in my first classroom in Miami with boxes everywhere, sweat dripping down my back

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florida-teacher 2026-03-20T06:00:01.859584 by Maria Santos

Hurricane Days: What They Don't Teach You in Education School

Florida teacher tip: Last Tuesday, I was teaching fractions when my principal's voice crackled over the intercom: "Teachers, please check your email for

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florida-teacher 2026-03-15T06:00:02.572627 by Maria Santos

When Your Classroom Feels Like a Sauna: Surviving Florida's Heat When the AC Goes Rogue

Florida teacher tip: It was 9:30 AM on a Tuesday in September when I heard that dreaded sound. You know the one. The AC unit gave one final wheeze, like

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florida-teacher 2026-03-11T06:00:02.486535 by Maria Santos

Surviving Your First Year Teaching in Florida (Without Losing Your Mind)

Florida teacher tip: Picture this: It's August 2002, and I'm standing in my first classroom in Tampa, sweating through my brand-new teacher outfit. The

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florida-teacher 2026-02-22T06:00:01.876858 by Maria Santos

Florida Teacher Certification: What They Don't Tell You (But I Will)

Florida teacher tip: Last week, my neighbor's daughter called me in tears. She'd just graduated with her education degree and was drowning in Florida's

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florida-teacher 2026-02-20T06:00:01.649503 by Maria Santos

When Your Classroom Feels Like a Sauna: Surviving Florida's Heat Wave Days

Florida teacher tip: Last Tuesday, I walked into my classroom at 7:15 AM and immediately knew it was going to be one of those days. The air felt thick

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florida-teacher 2026-02-01T06:00:01.885368 by Maria Santos

When the AC Dies and We All Melt: Surviving Florida's Classroom Heat Wave

Florida teacher tip: Last Tuesday, I walked into my classroom at 7:15 AM and immediately knew something was wrong. The air felt thick enough to swim

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florida-teacher 2026-01-25T07:12:00 by Maria Santos

Hurricane Days: What I Wish I'd Known My First Storm Season

Florida teacher tip: Last Tuesday, I was explaining fractions to my fourth graders when little Sofia raised her hand and asked, "Mrs. Santos, what if the

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florida-teacher 2025-11-25T05:34:00 by Maria Santos

Florida Teacher Certification: What They Don't Tell You in Education School

Florida teacher tip: Last week, my neighbor's daughter Sofia called me in tears. She'd just graduated with her education degree and was drowning in

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florida-teacher 2025-11-05T05:37:00 by Maria Santos

Hurricane Days: How to Prep Your Classroom (And Your Sanity) for Storm Season

Florida teacher tip: Last Tuesday, I was in the middle of explaining long division when my principal's voice crackled over the intercom: "Teachers, please

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florida-teacher 2025-10-27T07:59:00 by Maria Santos

Florida Teacher Certification: The Real Story Nobody Tells You

Florida teacher tip: Picture this: It's 2002, and I'm sitting in a stuffy room at the district office, sweating through my professional blazer (porque,

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florida-teacher 2025-10-19T08:08:00 by Maria Santos

Dear First-Year Florida Teacher: You're Going to Make It (Even When It Feels Like You Won't)

Florida teacher tip: Picture this: It's August 2002, and I'm standing in my first classroom at 7 AM, sweating through my carefully chosen "professional"

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florida-teacher 2025-09-30T06:07:00 by Maria Santos

What I Wish I Knew About FAST Testing (Before My First Data Meeting Disaster)

Florida teacher tip: Picture this: It's my second year teaching, and I'm sitting in my first FCAT data meeting (yes, I'm that old) with a stack of

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florida-teacher 2025-09-10T05:33:00 by Maria Santos

B.E.S.T. Standards: What Actually Changed (And What Just Got a New Name)

Florida teacher tip: Last Tuesday, I was helping my neighbor's daughter with her 5th grade math homework when she looked up at me and asked, "Mrs. Santos,

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