“Homework is one of those topics where everyone has an opinion—teachers, parents, even the kids who are supposed to do it.” Homework is a hot-button issue in every school community. In this episode of POP by MeaningFuelEd, Sarah, Erin, Brianna, and Joe take on the perennial “problem of practice”: what role should homework actually play in learning, and how can schools approach it without burning kids (and families) out?

The morning bell rings, students pour into the classroom, and the day begins. For teachers, that first 15–20 minutes can set the tone for everything that follows. But here’s the truth: mornings in the classroom can be chaotic. Between last-minute lesson prep, copies that still need to be made, and the unexpected surprises that always come up, it’s easy to feel unprepared when students arrive.

"You shift one block by five minutes, and suddenly eighth graders can’t eat lunch—welcome to the butterfly effect of school schedules." Welcome back to another episode of POP by MeaningFuelEd, where we dive deep into the real-life “problems of practice” educators face every day. This week’s pop? That firestorm of strong opinions and logistical chaos: the school schedule.

“Back in my day, you got 5 seconds at the water fountain after gym. That was it.” Welcome back to POP by MeaningFuelEd—where Sarah, Erin, Brianna, and Joe take on your real-life "Problems of Practice" (POPs) and have a meaning-fueled conversation about what’s really going on, and how we can go forward with purpose and practicality. In this episode, we dove into a relatable and sticky POP: how do we manage the increasing student expectations for…

“Is it for kids or adults? Am I supposed to share my personality or my curriculum? How much is too much? And why do I always feel terrible when it’s over?” You’ve just wrapped up a full day of teaching. Your feet hurt. You’re starving. But instead of heading home, you're ducking into the staff bathroom to swap your comfortable, coffee-stained teacher clothes for your “presentation outfit.” You head back to your classroom to straighten folders, fluff up marker bins, and wipe down every surface until it looks like no actual learning has ever happened in this space.

“Am I a bad teacher if my room doesn’t look like a themed Really Good Stuff ad?” You’ve been there. You're mid-scroll on Instagram, bombarded with dreamy classroom setups — neon lights, custom murals, perfectly labeled everything, sensory corners curated to Martha Stewart-level detail. Your classroom? It’s clean… functional... maybe a little chaotic. And suddenly you’re wondering: Does classroom aesthetic say something about who I am as a teacher?