Shaped

A community-driven blog supporting educators, building lifelong learners, and shaping the future of education.* 

 

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WF1287443 Shaped 2020 Overwhelmed by News HERO

Overwhelmed by News: Helping Students See the Bigger Picture

In an era of information overload, follow these tips to help your students prepare for reading and analyzing the news.

Erik Palmer
Program Consultant, Into Reading and Into Literature

Call for Submissions Hero

Teachers, the Shaped Community Wants to Hear from You!

We value your thoughts on what we should be covering to improve your experience in the classroom, whether that's virtual or in person this year.

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Creating Equity in Math: Q&A with Dr. Adrian Mims, Founder of The Calculus Project

Dr. Adrian Mims is the founder of The Calculus Project, an initiative to increase equity in mathematics and get students of color in a calculus class before finishing high school. Mims shares his convictions on access to mathematics and equity in math education, along with his efforts that were responsible for his success in college and founding The Calculus Project.

Richard Blankman
Shaped Executive Editor

WF1286153 Karl Grubaugh Hero 1

Podcast: Retiring During COVID-19 with Karl Grubaugh

Meet Karl Grubaugh, a former AP economics teacher and advanced journalism advisor at Granite Bay High School in California. A journalist and editor himself, Karl advised for the award-winning student newspaper The Granite Bay Gazette, and retired in 2020 after almost 40 years as an educator.

Ali Habashi
Former Shaped Editor

Statue of liberty veterans day

8 High School Veterans Day Activities and Lesson Plan Ideas

Bring the experiences of U.S. military service members to life for your students with our high school Veterans Day activities and lesson plan ideas.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

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Fostering Safe Spaces: How to Start a GSA in Your High School

Learn how to start a GSA in your high school (or middle school or university). Educators can host a Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) club and help students feel safe and supported when they identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community. GSAs provide a safe, supportive space for students who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community, along with their cisgender allies.

Shaped Staff

WF1288378 Shaped 2020 Blog Halloween Math Activities Hero Literature

ELA Halloween Activities for Middle School and High School Students

Get your ELA class into the spirit with these fun Halloween activities for middle school and high school students, and learn from a few masters of horror how to really make those spines tingle and those bones shake.

Ali Habashi
Former Shaped Editor

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

Middle school writing strategies

Strategies to Teach Writing in Grades 3–12: Hear from the Experts

Listen to these podcasts from nationally acclaimed writing experts to help you find your stride when it comes to writing instruction for Grades 3-12.

Sara Buren
Shaped Contributor

WF1287913 ED Tech

How Has COVID-19 Impacted K-12 Education? Four Experts Weigh In

Education experts discussed how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the work they do every day at a panel discussion at this year's ASU GSV Summit.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

Election Ballot Hero

Quiz: How Well Do You Know U.S. Presidential Elections?

How much do you know about the U.S. presidency? Test your knowledge with this quiz, and learn some information about electing a U.S. president along the way!

Shaped Staff

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Halloween Math Activities for Middle School and High School Students

Here are fun Halloween math activities for middle school and high school students. Try these activities to celebrate Halloween in your math classroom and ensure that your middle school and high school students can enjoy the holiday while in school.

Richard Blankman
Shaped Executive Editor

WF1278015 Learning Science Myth Hero

Is the 10,000-Hour Rule True? How to Help Your Students Achieve Mastery

As the myth goes, 10,000 hours of practice leads to mastery of a skill. But is the 10,000-hour rule true? Simply put, not just any kind of practice leads to mastery, but deliberate practice with feedback.

Rachel L. Schechter, PhD
VP Learning Sciences, Learning Sciences and Research Advisory Board Chair

Shaped Blog LM

Podcast: Finding Acceptance as an Immigrant Student with Margarita Lezama

Meet Margarita Lezama, an ESL and ESOL teacher at Brownsville Middle School in Miami, Florida. Originally from Nicaragua, Margarita now teaches a large immigrant population and relates with her students on topics like coping with culture shock, learning English, and facing discrimination.

Ali Habashi
Former Shaped Editor

Instructional materials

4 Signs of High-Quality Instructional Materials

Learn why educators nationwide should assess their instructional programs to determine whether they are designed to help students overcome learning loss due to COVID-19.

Dr. Donald Bucolo
Education Research Director, Core STEM

Renee Behring
Education Research Director, Core ELA

WF1278044 Science SEL Hero v2

How to Incorporate SEL Into an Elementary Science Curriculum

Listen as two former science teachers discuss practical ways to implement social and emotional learning activities in your science classroom.

Ann Pearson
Shaped Contributor

August Halloween Final 3

6 Halloween Activities for Elementary Students

Use these fun Halloween activities for elementary students to incorporate this spooky holiday into your curriculum.

Joanna Miral
Shaped Staff

Fun writing prompts for middle school

4 Writing Prompts for Middle School Students to Practice Different Genres

Use these four fun writing prompts for middle school students, along with accompanying rubrics and tips, to help them build their writing skills throughout the school year.

Sara Buren
Shaped Contributor

Middletown CT classroom

School Districts Face the Pandemic: Traditional or Remote Learning?

Learn how four school districts in the United States are navigating in-person and remote learning as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

Glenn Greenberg
Shaped Contributor

*The views expressed in our blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of HMH.