Shaped

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

Latest Posts

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

Hmh World Map 4C284B73B1B0834026B992B9Ac93D6Bd

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

WF1286709 STF Inline Graphic Update 3

Podcast: Preparing Future Voters and the Influence of Educators

Listen to a podcast on the objectives of civic education, the role of schools in teaching civics, and how to remain non-partisan while creating informed future voters. Featuring Sylvia Acevedo (CEO, Girl Scouts) and Dr. Emma Humphries (Chief Education Officer, iCivics).

Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor

Kinsella3

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

Tinker V Des Moines Lesson Plan

Teaching Supreme Court Cases: Tinker v. Des Moines and Freedom of Speech

Use this Tinker v. Des Moines lesson plan to teach your students about the debate surrounding Freedom of Speech in public school settings.

Shaped Staff

Childrens Books About Disabilities Being Different 1

Children's Books About Disabilities and Being Different

Teach students about dyslexia, autism, and more through reading children's books about being different. Use this list to build the best classroom library—including children's books about disabilities and special needs.

Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor

Wf926907 Shaped October Hero Fearless 1

Bullying Prevention Tips from Carmen Sandiego’s Fearless Kids

Use these tips inspired by #racetospeakup founder Devin Moore, and a free SEL lesson plan, to discuss bullying prevention with your students.

Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor

Artboard 3 100

3 Presidential Election Day Activities for Middle School and High School Students

Fun middle school and high school election day activities can help engage students in politics. Start with these classroom voting activities to teach the election process.

Tim Phillips
Social Science Teacher, Township School District 214, Illinois

What Is a Comprehensive Assessment?

What Is a Comprehensive Assessment in Education?

Comprehensive assessments in education are an integral part of learning that strengthen educators ability to help students succeed academically.

Mary Dean
Shaped Contributor

Teaching Ngss Phenomena In The Science Classroom

Teaching NGSS: Phenomena in the Science Classroom

Using science phenomena can jumpstart instruction by helping students realize the real-world context of the topic to be studied. Start with this NGSS phenomena example.

Michael DiSpezio
Author, ScienceFusion and HMH Science Dimensions Programs

Title Activities For French Students Back To Vacation 1

Back to Vacation: Activities for French Class

This free printable activity engages French language learners in interpretive and presentational modes of communication and activates prior knowledge of vocabulary while introducing them to new words and new places in the French-speaking world.

Kerry Santoro
Shaped Contributor

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 a lesspon. Learn strategies to gauge student comprehension and improve lesson effectiveness.

Mary Dean
Shaped Contributor

WF1286709 STF Inline Graphic Update 4

Podcast: Future Career Skills and Preparing Students for the Workplace

Listen to a podcast on preparing students for the workplace and career readiness skills, featuring George Anders (Senior Editor-at-Large at LinkedIn) and Dr. Bill Daggett (Founder of the International Center for Leaders in Education).

Onalee Smith
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

Social Media Fakes

Spotting a Fake Post: Teaching About Media Literacy on Social Platforms

As teachers, we have a responsibility to help students become media literate, including teaching them how to avoid being duped by fake social media posts.

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.