Curious to know what different people do all day at their 9-5? We’re investigating job titles and diving deeper into day-to-day tasks to get the low-down on exactly what those titles really entail. Not sure how much to ask for your raise? Curious to know what a director position even means? Wondering what a VP in Finance does in the afternoon? We’re uncovering the details behind jobs, along with the salaries and tasks that come with them, to help you figure out what you’re interested in. Below, read about how a teacher in Nashville spends her day.
Age: 27
City: Nashville
Industry: Education
Job Title: Reading Intervention Teacher
Years of Experience: 4
Salary: $47k
What does your job title mean? What does your job entail?
I conduct pull-outs in an elementary school, working with small groups of struggling readers in grades K-4 to help them reach their grade’s target reading level.
When do you wake up?
I wake up at 5:45 A.M. The first thing I do is hop in the shower to wake myself up. Then I eat breakfast and drink a cup of tea (I’m an avid tea drinker; coffee makes me jittery and I just love tea) in my bathrobe – I always eat at home because I am so hungry in the morning, and I cannot function without that fuel! I check up on social media and emails while I eat. By 6:20 A.M. I am getting ready for the day – brushing teeth, putting on make-up, getting dressed (always in something comfortable). My lunch is already packed from the night before, and I am out of the door by 7 A.M. at the latest.
At 7:15am I am…
I arrive at work at 7:15 a.m. every day and have time to prep for the day. Students begin arriving at 7:45 a.m. and I monitor the hallways during arrival. I start teaching my first intervention group at 8:10 a.m. and teach almost all day!
At 11am I am…
Teaching another intervention group (kindergarten)! I have small breaks in between intervention groups, but I am pretty much going constantly.
What does lunch normally look like for you?
I have 30 minutes, from 12:20-12:50. Luckily, as an intervention teacher, I don’t have a homeroom class that I need to walk to lunch, which gives me a little extra time. I bring my lunch every day and have time to eat before I teach the next group.
At 1pm I am…
Teaching an intervention group or conducting progress monitoring with the students I teach.
At 3pm I am… 
I have just finished my second planning period, which is from 2:00-2:30. Then at 3:00, I go back to teaching!! My school has an extended day, so school does not dismiss until 4:00.
At 5pm I am…
I have just gotten home. I am taking a walk in the park if the weather is nice or doing yoga in my apartment.
How does a workday end for you? What time do you normally leave work?
I usually leave right at 4:20, which is when teachers are able to leave. It is just after all students have left the school, and I have cleaned up from the day and prepped for the next one.
What do you do after work? An event? Dinner? More work?
I try to leave work at work. My job takes a lot out of me, so I try to decompress once home. I always walk or do yoga right after school. Then, I might work on my blog. Often, I get together with my boyfriend, and we’ll have dinner and watch Netflix on the couch.
What time do you go to bed? 
I go to bed between 9:30-10:00. I shouldn’t wait until 10:00 (since I wake up so early), but going to bed early is hard for me! To get myself in the mindset for sleep, I try to wash my face and brush my teeth at 9:00. Then, I might snuggle on the couch a little longer and finish a show with my boyfriend. Once I climb into bed, I always journal about my day – every single night. I never miss a day! Then, I read. I love to write and read – those are two of my biggest passions. I might end the night with a meditation using my Simple Habit app if my mind still feels awake. Then, lights out!
Is there anything about your job you’d like people to know?
It’s hard and tiring, but the rewards make it so worth it. Kids are amazing, and we can learn so much from them. They understand way more than we give them credit for.