FAST-Action Blog

testing-season 2026-05-14T06:00:01.441610 by Maria Santos

When You're Barely Holding It Together But Your Kids Need You to Be Their Rock

FAST test prep tip: Last Tuesday, I walked into my classroom with my coffee mug still sitting on my kitchen counter, my lesson plans scattered across my

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testing-season 2026-05-11T06:00:01.766706 by Maria Santos

After the FAST Storm: My Post-Testing Recovery Plan That Actually Works

FAST test prep tip: Last week, little Sofia came up to me during morning work and whispered, "Mrs. Santos, when do we take the next test?" Ay, dios mio.

testing season math reading

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testing-season 2026-04-27T06:00:01.851945 by Maria Santos

When Your Stress is Showing and Your Kids Are Feeling It Too

FAST test prep tip: Last Tuesday, I caught myself snapping at sweet little Jayden for dropping his pencil. His pencil, mija. The kid looked at me with

testing season math reading

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testing-season 2026-04-21T06:00:02.060847 by Maria Santos

When Your Stress is Showing and FAST Testing is Tomorrow

FAST test prep tip: Last Tuesday, little Sofia looked up at me during math and said, "Ms. Santos, are you okay? You look like my mom when she can't find

testing season math classroom

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testing-season 2026-04-17T06:00:02.396090 by Maria Santos

When Your Coffee Cup is Empty and Your Patience is Too: Staying Calm During Testing Season

FAST test prep tip: Last Tuesday, I spilled my entire cup of café cubano on my lesson plans at 6:47 AM. By 7:15, I'd already gotten three emails about

testing season classroom testing

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testing-season 2026-04-14T06:00:02.227700 by Maria Santos

When Your Stress Is Showing and Your Kids Are Watching

FAST test prep tip: Last Tuesday, I was having one of those days. You know the kind. The copier jammed twice before 8 AM, my coffee maker decided to leak

testing season math reading

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testing-season 2026-04-13T06:00:02.229749 by Maria Santos

When You're Barely Holding It Together But Your Kids Need You Steady

FAST test prep tip: Last Tuesday, I walked into my classroom with my coffee still brewing at home (forgot to press start, ay dios mio), a stack of

testing season math reading

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testing-season 2026-04-12T06:00:02.379552 by Maria Santos

When Your Poker Face Cracks: Staying Calm So Your Kids Can Too

FAST test prep tip: Last Tuesday, I completely lost it in front of my fourth graders. And I mean completely. We were in the middle of our morning routine

testing season math classroom

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testing-season 2026-04-11T06:00:02.545233 by Maria Santos

When Your Stress is Showing and the Kids Can Feel It

FAST test prep tip: Last Tuesday, I caught myself snapping at sweet little Isabella for dropping her pencil. Again. For the third time in ten minutes. The

testing season math reading

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testing-season 2026-04-07T06:00:01.801151 by Maria Santos

My Post-Testing Recovery Plan: How We Bounce Back After FAST Season

FAST test prep tip: Last Thursday, I watched little Sofia slump in her chair after finishing her FAST test, looking like she'd just run a marathon in

testing season math reading

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testing-season 2026-04-05T06:00:03.644629 by Maria Santos

When You're Barely Keeping It Together (And Your Kids Can Tell)

FAST test prep tip: Last Tuesday, I was explaining long division for the third time when little Sofia looked up at me and said, "Miss Santos, are you

testing season reading classroom

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testing-season 2026-03-02T06:00:02.033230 by Maria Santos

What I Tell Parents Before Testing Week

FAST test prep tip: Last Tuesday, little Sofia came to school with dark circles under her eyes. When I asked what was wrong, she whispered, "My mom said

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testing-season 2026-03-01T06:00:01.603269 by Maria Santos

The Parent Meeting That Changed How I Talk About Testing Week

FAST test prep tip: Last Tuesday, I had a parent practically in tears during our conference. "Mrs. Santos," she said, "I'm so worried about the FAST test.

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testing-season 2026-02-17T06:00:01.427710 by Maria Santos

My Post-Testing Recovery Plan: How to Get Our Kids (and Ourselves) Back on Track

FAST test prep tip: Last Tuesday, I watched Sophia stare at her math worksheet for ten minutes without writing a single number. This is the same kid who

testing season math reading

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testing-season 2026-01-27T05:45:00 by Maria Santos

FAST Testing is Coming: Deep Breaths, Everyone

FAST test prep tip: Last Tuesday, I walked into my classroom to find little Sofia already at her desk at 7:30 AM, a full hour before school starts. She

testing season math reading

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testing-season 2026-01-07T06:06:00 by Maria Santos

When Your Poker Face Cracks: Staying Calm for Your Kids During Testing Season

FAST test prep tip: Last Tuesday, I was standing in front of my fourth graders trying to give them a pep talk before FAST testing when little Sofia raised

testing season math classroom

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testing-season 2025-12-31T08:22:00 by Maria Santos

The Parent Pep Talk That Changes Everything About Testing Week

FAST test prep tip: Last Tuesday, I watched Sofia's mom pace outside my classroom door for ten minutes before finally knocking. When she came in, the

testing season math classroom

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testing-season 2025-12-04T07:26:00 by Maria Santos

My Post-Testing Recovery Plan (Because We All Need One)

FAST test prep tip: Last week, little Sofia walked into my classroom looking like she'd been through a hurricane. Her hair was a mess, she had dark

testing season math reading

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testing-season 2025-11-28T07:56:00 by Maria Santos

When Your Poker Face Cracks: Keeping Kids Calm During Your Worst Teaching Days

FAST test prep tip: Last Tuesday, I walked into my classroom with my coffee mug still sitting on my kitchen counter, my lesson plans scattered somewhere

testing season reading classroom

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testing-season 2025-11-20T06:38:00 by Maria Santos

When Your Stress is Showing and FAST is Coming

FAST test prep tip: Last Tuesday, I caught myself snapping at little Jayden for dropping his pencil. His pencil. The poor kid looked at me like I'd grown

testing season math classroom

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