Shaped

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

 

OVER 10 MILLION READS

Latest Posts

Wordless picture books hero

Wordless Picture Books in the Classroom: Telling Stories Through Illustrations

Wordless picture books can teach kids to gather information from visual clues. These books with no words allow them to move from merely describing what is happening to narrating a story.

Susan Steinway
Archivist, HMH

Kindergarten math games and activities

3 Kindergarten Math Games and Activities for the Classroom

These math activities for kindergarten focus on addition and counting. Use these kindergarten math games for the classroom to show how mathematics is found everywhere in students' world.

Shaped Staff

Teaching metacognition in the classroom

Teaching Metacognition in the Classroom: Just Think About It!

By focusing on metacognition in the classroom, students can continually monitor their learning. Teaching metacognition also allows students to apply their most effective learning strategy to the task at hand.

Michael DiSpezio
Author, ScienceFusion and HMH Science Dimensions Programs

WF1286709 STF Inline Graphic Update 2

Podcast: Teaching Impeachment and Controversial Issues

Listen to a 15-minute conversation about how teachers can facilitate difficult classroom discussions, particularly considering questions that may arise about the impeachment inquiry currently in the news.

Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor

WF926908 November Shaun Nelms Hero Image

How This Superintendent Saved a School Through University Partnership

Dr. Shaun Nelms, superintendent of Rochester East Upper and Lower Schools, answers questions about how partnering with the University of Rochester saved his school from closure.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

Wf926908 Exit Slips Hero Image2

Developing a Student Exit Slips Strategy for Formative Assessment

By developing an exit slip strategy in the classroom, you can more easily complete a formative assessment of your students' understanding of a given lesson.

Amanda Bratten
Senior Assessment Specialist, Learning Sciences, HMH

Mofongo spanish lesson

Try Some Mofongo With Your Turkey This Year

Get your students talking about different dishes and the cultural influence they bring to the Thanksgiving table. Better yet, have them practice speaking in the target language!

Liz Rigg
Shaped Contributor

Thanksgiving classroom games activities crafts

9 Thanksgiving Classroom Activities, Games, and Crafts

Looking for Thanksgiving ideas for school? Explore 9 Thanksgiving classroom activities, games, and crafts to help you celebrate the holiday.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

6 Tips from Literacy Experts

6 Literacy and Leadership Tips Every Educator Should Know

Implement these tips from our literacy experts and leaders in education to better support all students in the classroom.

Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor

Introducing the 5th annual ecr report

Exploring the State of Teaching in the 5th Annual Educator Confidence Report

With the 2019 ECR, you can understand the realities facing the teaching profession today, including both the triumphs and challenges.

John "Jack" Lynch
President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director, HMH

Learning sciences complex

Why Is Applying Learning Science So Complex for Teachers?

To kick off a blog series focused on debunking learning sciences myths, HMH's VP of Learning Sciences explores the four learning pillars for teachers to maximize student outcomes.

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

WF926909 Shaped 2019 Blog Nov STEM 4

Celebrate STEM Using Hands-On Experiments and Science Stories

On November 8 (and every day), try these quick, simple and easy STEM Day activities for elementary students—created by the Kitchen Pantry Scientist and author of STEAM project books, Liz Heinecke.

Liz Lee Heinecke
STEAM Author; The Kitchen Pantry Scientist

WF1995913 Shaped 2024 Classcraft blog batch2 1

14 Fun Wrap-Up Activities for Students

Explore 14 fun wrap-up activities that can enhance student engagement and solidify learning.

Melissa Williams
Shaped Contributor

Waves3

Hands-On Science Activities for the Classroom: Let's Make Waves!

Help your students by challenging their misconceptions about waves with these activities that use easy-to-find materials and provide guiding questions and instructions for you.

Shaped Staff

WF1995913 Shaped 2024 Classcraft blog batch2 15

How to Foster a Creative Learning Environment

Learn how to foster a creative learning environment. Explore 7 ideas for constructing a creative classroom environment.

Mary Dean
Shaped Contributor

HMH World Map 4c284b73b1b0834026b992b9ac93d6bd 191030 144255

Teaching World History: Early American Civilizations—Activities and Resources

What do all civilizations have in common? Teach students how to answer that question by focusing on early American civilizations with this lesson plan.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

WF1995913 Shaped 2024 Classcraft blog batch2 25

How to Create a Lesson Plan

Learn how to create a lesson plan. Having a lesson plan prepares you for class by providing a clear outline for the day.

Monica Mccutchen
Shaped Contributor

Reading intervention in a digital world

Reading Intervention in a Digital World: Q&A With Elmira City School District

Find teacher insights into how reading intervention has evolved in the past two decades as well as advice to maximize student outcomes, ensure a growth mindset, and more.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

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