Shaped

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

Latest Posts

Quad D Instruction 2

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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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

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Putting Theory Into Practice: Building Collective Teacher Efficacy

Developing self-efficacy and making a curriculum rigorous and relevant are key to optimizing the best opportunity for the growth of our students.

Monica Fitzgerald
Reading AIS Teacher, Gillette Road Middle School

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Why Are Teachers Striking? It's Time to Listen to Their Greatest Concerns

Why are teachers going on strike in cities across the U.S.? ICLE Senior Fellow Tyrone Howard assesses recent teacher strikes and the primary challenges educators face in the classroom.

Dr. Tyrone C. Howard
Professor, UCLA; Senior Fellow, The Center for Model Schools; HMH Learning Sciences & Research Advisory Board

Best Of Shaped

A Year in Review: Most-Read Shaped Blogs of 2019

In this selection of the most-read blog posts of 2019, we hear from middle school teachers, literacy and math experts, and a parent.

Christine Condon
Shaped Editor-in-Chief

What Is A Community School

Building a Community School: How Local Partnerships Bring Success

What is a community school? The community school model allows schools to establish partnerships with local organizations and businesses for resources to benefit students.

MaryEllen Elia

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

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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

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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

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

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Feedback Essentials for English Learners During Academic Interactions

It's abundantly clear that second-language learners require informed feedback to enhance their performance and achievement.

Dr. Kate Kinsella
Author, English 3D; Co-Author, Read 180®; Teacher Educator, Researcher; CEO, Dr. Kate Kinsella & Associates

Message To School Leaders Rethink Motivating Teams

A Message to School Leaders: Rethink the Way You Motivate Teams

Explore Jeff Bezos' Amazon.com annual letter to shareholders to learn about ways that school leaders can motivate their teams.

Shaped Staff

What Is the Purpose of Checking for Understanding?

What Is the Purpose of Checking for Understanding?

Discover the purpose of checking for understanding in classrooms. Learn strategies to gauge student comprehension and improve lesson effectiveness.

Mary Dean
Shaped Contributor

Techniques For Social Emotional Learning In The Classroom

4 Tips for Implementing Social-Emotional Learning

Read four techniques for implementing social-emotional learning in the classroom. SEL at school starts with you!

Erica Battle
Professional Learning Consultant, ICLE

Collaborative Learning Strategies And Techniques

Grow Beyond Group Work: Collaborative Learning Strategies and Techniques

Use these collaborative learning techniques to teach social and emotional skills during the school day and help students build strong relationships.

Jessica McKeown, PhD
HMH Senior Learning Scientist, Math and Science

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The Value of Professional Communities for Teachers: Reflecting on Model Schools

Attending conferences can be an invaluable resource in a teacher's toolkit, presenting new opportunities to build relationships and expand a professional learning network.

Erika Gilbert
Math AIS Teacher, Gillette Road Middle School

Cynthia Ciesla
5th and 6th Grade AIS Reading and Math Teacher, Gillette Road Middle School

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