Shaped

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

Latest Posts

Assessing with Purpose: Formative Assessment in Science

Dynamic science formative assessment engages students and promotes their thinking; additionally, it informs instruction for educators.

Shaped Staff

Integrated curriculum no subject is an island hero

No Subject Is an Island: Why and How to Implement an Integrated Curriculum

Learn the benefits of an integrated curriculum, along with how instruction can be integrated across subjects and standards.

Richard Blankman
Shaped Executive Editor

Trauma informed teaching strategies hero

4 Trauma-Informed Teaching Strategies

An educator shares four trauma-informed teaching strategies to improve instruction for students who need it based on her experience across different schools.

Jenn Evans, M.Ed.
Senior Product Marketing Manager for Supplemental & Intervention Solutions, HMH

Emdin hero2

Leverage Knowledge of Self to Engage Your Students with Dr. Chris Emdin

Dr. Chris Emdin, an associate professor at Columbia University, writes that before you can connect with your students, it is critical to lean into who you are.

Shaped Staff

Teacher Appreciation Week Ideas hero

Teacher Appreciation Week Ideas from Principals and Administrators

Looking for the perfect way to say “Thank-you” to educators? We’ve collected Teacher Appreciation Week ideas from principals and administrators across the country. Feel free to steal or revamp them as you please.

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

WF1334852 Banner3

3 Strategies for Redesigning Professional Development Now and Post-COVID

As educators plan for the future, here are three strategies to consider when it comes to teacher professional development for now and in the next school year.

Dr. Amanda Patterson
National Director, Academic Planning and Analytics, HMH

Alexandria middle magnet school case study hero

Against All Odds: Alexandria Middle Magnet School’s Success Story

Nobody believed Alexandria Middle Magnet School had a promising future. With Principal Dennis Stewart and his leadership team's guidance and the support of turnaround specialists and the ICLE, the school transformed in three years against all odds.

Shaped Staff

Virtual Academy

Creating a Virtual Academy in Your District? Here Are 6 Things to Consider

Some kids are benefitting from our experiment with online learning during the pandemic, and districts across the country are building virtual academies to meet their needs.

Dr. Robert Dillon
School Designer, Author, Educator

Social and Emotional Learning Strategies

10 Social and Emotional Learning Strategies for Responding to COVID-19

Nurturing students social emotional learning during COVID-19 is essential. Explore key SEL principles that schools and educators can use during the pandemic.

Francie Alexander
Senior Vice President, Efficacy & Consulting Research

Dr. Amy Endo
Education Research Director, Supplemental & Intervention Language & Literacy

research-backed ways to close the COVID learning gap

6 Research-Backed Ways to Close the COVID Learning Gap

These strategies for closing the COVID Learning Gap can support efforts to improve student outcomes and help address the issue of interrupted schooling.

Francie Alexander
Senior Vice President, Efficacy & Consulting Research

WF1307785 Hero

Podcast: Creating Classroom Content Worth Watching with CJ Reynolds

Meet CJ Reynolds, a high school teacher in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. By creating the teacher YouTube channel Real Rap with Reynolds, he has discovered that what might be ordinary for his classroom, may be someone else's extraordinary.

Ali Habashi
Former Shaped Editor

School Culture new

How to Reset School Culture Post-COVID: Tips for Education Leaders

The pandemic has made it a challenge to bolster school spirit. You need a solid plan now to build a positive school culture post-COVID. Get our tips.

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

Q and a with sharroky hollie culturally responsive teaching

Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Teaching: Q&A with Dr. Sharroky Hollie

Dr. Sharroky Hollie, an expert on culturally and linguistically responsive teaching and learning, shares his insights on resilience during a pandemic, trends in education, and advice for education leaders.

Richard Blankman
Shaped Executive Editor

Professional learning partner guide hero

Making PD Decisions: The Professional Learning Partner Guide

The PLPG is a list of organizations that provide the best curriculum-aligned professional learning services in the country; educators can find and connect with professional learning providers who can meet their curriculum learning needs.

Shaped Staff

Teaching controversial issues in classroom hero

5 Ways to Teach Controversial Issues in Class

Use these five approaches to address and teach controversial issues in your classroom consisting of students with diverse backgrounds and beliefs.

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

Covid vaccine hero

The COVID-19 Vaccine in Schools: Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to your questions about the COVID-19 vaccine in schools, including whether teachers will be required to get vaccinated and how this may affect classroom instruction.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

Summer school planning

Summer School Planning for Administrators: Why It's Time to Start Now

School and district leaders should start their summer school planning early to ensure they can secure funding and recruit a strong team.

Shaped Staff

The importance of public speaking skills for students

The Importance of Public Speaking Skills for Students

Why is public speaking important for students? Teaching oral communication can improve your classroom activities and equip students with lifelong skills.

Erik Palmer
Program Consultant, Into Reading and Into Literature

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