Shaped

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

Latest Posts

WF1791650 Shaped 2023 Blog Post What is a School Improvement Plan 1

What Is a School Improvement Plan?

Drive positive change and enhance your overall effectiveness as an administrator this year with a school improvement plan.

Dr. Jessica Huizenga
Associate Partner, The Center for Model Schools

8 Creative Classroom Management Ideas to Try

Explore 8 creative classroom management ideas that will encourage your students to model positive behaviors in no time.

Amanda Clark
Shaped Contributor

What Is Reactive Classroom Management?

What is Reactive Classroom Management? Reactive classroom management helps teachers to guide their students into better patterns of behavior

Marie Swan
Shaped Contributor

Wf926906 Hmh Diffin Classroom Middle School 2019

How to Use Technology to Differentiate Instruction in the Classroom

Explore the challenges of differentiated instruction and how technology can help. Using technology to differentiate instruction assists in automating the process.

Kathleen Richards
Former HMH Senior Learning Scientist, ELA and Humanities

WF1863036 Image option 4

What Is Instructional Leadership in Education? Insights to Improve as a Leader

Learn how you can improve student outcomes with these instructional leadership insights.

Karen Cagle
Center for Model Schools, Instruction and Leadership Coach

WF1878313 Image 1

Strategies for Teaching Vocabulary to English Language Learners

Find instructional strategies to teach vocabulary to English language learners.

Dana Leon
Shaped Contributor

100 Crayola 0001 100 2 4C284B73B1B0834026B992B9Ac93D6Bd

100th Day of School Activities for 2024: 13 Ways to Celebrate in the Classroom

Use these 100th Day of School activities and celebration ideas for teachers to help your students honor how far they have come this school year.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

Zoe Del Mar
Shaped Executive Editor

Two children in the classroom counting

Magic and Mathematics: A Guess My Number Math Game

In this hands-on “Guess My Number Math Game” activity for students in kindergarten and up, students can thrill and awe their peers with a mathematical magic trick.

Richard Blankman
Shaped Executive Editor

Martin Luther King, Jr. project ideas and activities for the classroom

7 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Project Ideas and Activities for the Classroom

Explore 7 Martin Luther King Jr. project ideas and activities to honor MLK and his contributions to the civil rights movement.

Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor

Zoe Del Mar
Shaped Executive Editor

WF1857300 Shaped 2023 Blog Post Mathematical Discourse in the Classroom hero

Mathematical Discourse in the Classroom: A Prime Time for Discussion

Learn what mathematical discourse in the classroom is, along with how to use math discourse in the classroom.

Richard Blankman
Shaped Executive Editor

Teacher with student in the classroom

Understanding the Academic Intervention Process

Learn how academic intervention can help close learning gaps and improve student academic achievement.

Donna Pappas
Regional Consultant, HMH

Teacher sitting with a group of students at classroom table

What Is the Alphabetic Principle? Building the Foundation of Learning to Read and Write

The alphabetic principle is the foundation of phonics instruction. Learn more about the concept and discover some strategies for teaching it in the classroom.

Renee Behring
Education Research Director, Core ELA

How and when should you transition away from decodable texts WF1881706

How and When Should You Transition away from Decodable Texts?

Learn strategies for transitioning students from decodable texts to authentic texts.

Dr. Shane Templeton
Foundation Professor Emeritus, Literacy Studies, University of Nevada, Reno; Into Reading Program Author

WF1995913 Shaped 2024 Classcraft blog migration images9

Video Games and Education: Effects of Video Games on Students' Academic Performance

Can video games be educational? Check out these 5 benefits of video games in education.

Amanda Clark
Shaped Contributor

Students in a classroom

What Is Multisensory Learning in Education?

Learn more about multisensory learning and how to incorporate the five senses into your curriculum.

Amber Silverman
Shaped Contributor

Holiday Classroom Activities Christmas Hanukkah Kwanzaa

14 Winter Holiday Activities for School

Celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa with 14 holiday classroom activities, games, and crafts for elementary and middle school students.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

Zoe Del Mar
Shaped Executive Editor

teacher with students in classroom

How to Teach Vocabulary to Your Students

Learn how to teach vocabularly to your students. Explore 9 engaging ways to teach vocabulary that will help your students to draw connections.

Emily Hamm
Shaped Contributor

Wf1784373 hero student taking diagnostic assessment

Math Diagnostic Assessment: What It Is and How to Use It

Math diagnostic assessment is defined, explained, and compared to other types of assessment, such as formative assessment and summative assessment.

Richard Blankman
Shaped Executive Editor

Dr. Vytas Laitusis
Education Research Director, Supplemental & Intervention Math

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