Shaped

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

Latest Posts

April Repurpose Excelln Ed Content 2

Does Your District Have a Comprehensive K–3 Reading Policy?

A checklist to help determine if your district has a comprehensive K–3 policy and what else you can be doing to help struggling readers.

K. A. Jagai
Writer, Girls Write Now

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Why I Share My Bullying Story With My Students

Sixth-grade teacher Rachel Swartz discusses her experience being bullied in high school and how her story helps build a positive classroom culture for her students.

Rachel Swartz
Sixth Grade Teacher, Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy (MS/HS 141), Bronx, New York

April Webinar Recap 8

How to Create a Better Classroom Environment for English Learners

How do teachers best serve ELs? The secret comes from the 3 E’s: equity, evidence, and efficacy.

K. A. Jagai
Writer, Girls Write Now

April Mindset 11

HMH Honors 16 Students Who Overcame Challenges to Grow as Learners

These student winners have triumphed over personal and academic challenges to perform at or near their grade level in reading or math.

Shaped Staff

Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral

3 Cinco de Mayo Classroom Activities

Here are some Cinco de Mayo classroom activities to help you celebrate with your students and teach them the true history of this important holiday.

K. A. Jagai
Writer, Girls Write Now

April Asian Pacific American Heritage Mock Trial 2 Edit

Using Classroom Mock Trials to Encourage Critical Thinking in Social Studies

Educators can use historical documents and other primary sources when teaching students about history in the form of a classroom debate.

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

Title Impact Studies Troup County Asbury Park

Breaking Down Literacy Myths With Facts

Educators know there are misconceptions around K-3 literacy. Here are some facts to help shed light on the truths around student literacy.

Ireen Hossain
Writer, Girls Write Now

April 6 Signs Coaching 3

6 Signs of an Effective Instructional Coach

Instructional coaching is job-embedded professional development that provides continuous support for teachers within schools.

Sherry St. Clair
HMH Contributor

Title Impact Studies Troup County Asbury Park2

Tips to Develop an Impactful K–3 Literacy Solution in Your District

HMH conducted impact studies on increasing K–3 literacy and the efficacy of varying teaching practices and pulled together three tips to help your district.

K. A. Jagai
Writer, Girls Write Now

Classcraft Why You Should Start Class with Icebreakers Context

10 Fun Classroom Icebreaker Activities

Explore 10 fun classroom icebreaker activities to get students to open up so they are ready to learn.

Casey Brown
Shaped Contributor

April Learning Resources Hero 1

6 Great Learning Resources for Teachers (and How to Use Them)

From informal discussions to social media, HMH's Educator Confidence Report highlights the most common ways that teachers work to grow professionally.

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

Kathleen Richards
Former HMH Senior Learning Scientist, ELA and Humanities

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ASU GSV: Highlights From the 10th Annual Summit

See what you missed at the 10th Annual ASU GSV Summit, where stakeholders from across the edtech industry meet to network, learn, and innovate.

Shaped Staff

3 Podcast Hmh Rachel Swartz Classroom

The Realities of Teaching in Today's World: Q&A With Rachel Swartz

Rachel Swartz, an ELA teacher in the Bronx, shares her perspective on what being a teacher in today’s world really entails.

Ireen Hossain
Writer, Girls Write Now

5 Benefits of Technology in the Classroom

Explore five benefits of technology in the classroom. Integrating technology in education ignites student learning and improves teachers' capacity.

Debi Christensen
Shaped Contributor

Waggle 2019 Blog 1 1

3 Reasons to Go Digital for Formative Assessment

Learn why online learning environments are particularly suited to dynamic formative assessment.

Shaped Staff

March Online Presence 2

How and Why to Use Social Media as a School or District Leader

Social media can be valuable for education leaders to network, share useful resources, and showcase student and staff achievements.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

April Conferring Well 1 4C284B73B1B0834026B992B9Ac93D6Bd

Conferring Well—Even When You Haven't Read the Student's Book

You don’t have to read every book in your classroom library to be effective at leading conferences or small-group instruction.

Jennifer Serravallo
Author

Waggle 2019 Blog 5

How to Promote Productive Struggle in Your Classroom

Through quizzing and self-testing, along with mixed practice questions or problems, you can encourage greater conceptual understanding of a subject.

Shaped Staff

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