Teach a 5k: What my Fitbit told me about teaching

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I always come home from a day of teaching feeling tired.

At first, I thought it was just the lack of sleep, the standing-up-all-day, or maybe just mental exhaustion (from presenting, collaborating, writing documents, and general stress). I also used to think that it was just me, that I was just a wimpy new teacher and would eventually build up better stamina.

Four years later, I'm still tired, but now I have an idea of why and how to fight it. Thanks to fitness trackers, I understand exactly how physical our profession is.

What I Learned Taking the ACT (as a Teacher)

Yep - you read that right. I took the ACT at age 27.

Yesterday. Voluntarily. Legally. I put on a hoodie and a headband to blend in with the natives (ha), and I sat in a classroom and took a proctored test (with a headache and sinus infection to boot, ugh).

Some of my high school students, especially the seniors who took it one more time in the fall, have been claiming that the test has gotten "harder". There were rumors about the math and reading in particular. So, what's a teacher to do, other than take it for herself to make sure her teaching is still accurate?