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Shaped

The learners of today will shape 

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

Latest Posts

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Podcast: Words from a Teacher Influencer with LaQuisha Hall on Teachers in America

Meet LaQuisha Hall, 2018 Baltimore City Teacher of the Year, as she talks about teaching in the community of Baltimore, using social media as a teacher, and being a survivor of sexual abuse and a former ward of the state.

Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor

How to write a persona poem

Unearthing Challenging History: Teaching Persona Poems in the Classroom

Teach your students how to write a persona poem with these tips from poet and teaching artist Glenis Redmond along with four persona poem examples.

Glenis Redmond
Poet and Teaching Artist

World Language Classroom

Building Up Students and Reducing Fear in the World Language Classroom

A Spanish teacher shares three ways to empower your students in your world language classroom and to help reduce their anxiety.

Karly Enright
Spanish Teacher

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5 Reading Resolutions for Educators: #1—Start Right, Finish Strong

HMH's Chief Research Officer examines how recent research can lead the way to improving literacy outcomes for our learners and unlocking their potential as readers.

Francie Alexander
Senior Vice President, Efficacy & Consulting Research

Using Social Media For Teacher Professional Development

Using Social Media for Teacher Professional Development

Start using social media for teacher professional development to network with other educators, follow trends, and share resources. The value of social media for professional growth should not be understated.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

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Hook Students Through the Heartstrings With Poetry

Use this downloadable lesson plan by Poet Glenis Redmond in your classroom, and you can discover a lot of surprising and touching information about your students and their lives.

Charmion Mohning
Secondary Reading Coordinator, Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District

Dionna Smith
ELA and READ 180 Teacher, Thornton Middle School, Texas

Sandra Windham
READ 180 Teacher, Cypress Creek High School, Texas

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Teaching Multiplication with Arrays in Math

By teaching multiplication with arrays in math, you can help students better understand multiplication concepts by enabling them to visualize the computation process.

Richard Blankman
Shaped Executive Editor

Instructional Coaching Listening Tour

Why a Listening Tour Is the First Step in Instructional Coaching

A good instructional coach understands that unlimited individual growth must be supported by school-wide change.

Sherry St. Clair
HMH Contributor

Rosa Parks Lesson Plan

A Rosa Parks Lesson Plan: Teaching Her Legacy in the Classroom

Teach students about a key figure in the civil rights movement with this Rosa Parks lesson plan. Teach them about the legacy she left behind with these Rosa Parks activities.

Shaped Staff

Self Care For Teachers

Self-Care for Teachers: Why and How to Make It a Priority

Self-care for teachers matters because unhealthy educators can’t help students. Use these tips from ICLE's Adam Drummond to improve your teacher wellness.

Adam Drummond, EdD
Associate Partner, The Center for Model Schools and Author, Instructional Leadership

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Video: 3 Tips for Designing a Rigorous K–12 Curriculum

According to ICLE Senior Fellow Larry Ainsworth, a rigorous curriculum should have clear learning outcomes, engaging learning experiences, differentiated instruction, and sequenced units of study.

Larry Ainsworth
HMH Contributor

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January 2020: Celebrate a Holiday in Class Every Day

Have fun every day with these January classroom ideas for elementary students. Ideas range from fun facts to share with the class to more detailed school activities and lessons.

Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor

New Years Resolutions Science

New Year's Resolutions Every Science Teacher Can Relate To

We are about to start a new year, and for science teachers, it’s another chance to make (and break) some resolutions.

Ann Pearson
Shaped Contributor

Fact or Fiction? The Myth That We Have Specific Learning Styles, Debunked

Fact or Fiction? The Myth That We Have Specific Learning Styles, Debunked

The myth that we all have specific learning styles, debunked—research shows that 90% of teachers believe the learning styles myth.

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

Martin Luther King Discussion Questions

Martin Luther King Jr. Discussion Questions: Reflecting on His Legacy

On MLK Day, reflect on Martin Luther King Jr.’s powerful message of equality and human potential with a list of Martin Luther King discussion questions.

Alex Honeysett
Former Director of Communications, Channel One News

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Quad D Instruction in the Classroom: Where Rigor Meets Relevance

Quad D instruction occurs when students engage in tasks that have rigor and relevance, giving them the opportunity to solve real-world problems.

Venola Mason
Associate Partner, ICLE and Author, Instructional Excellence, Social and Emotional Learning

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How to Plan a Curriculum

Discover 7 tips on how to plan a curriculum! These creative tips will make your school year easier and more organized.

Jenny Fulton
Shaped Contributor

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Mindshift in How We Teach English Learners

Reimagine how you teach ELs by reconfiguring the way you view second-language acquisition and adapting your practices, policies, and resources to reflect it.

Joanna Miral
Shaped Staff

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