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Shaped

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

 

OVER 10 MILLION READS

Featured Posts

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Why HMH Performance Suite Is "Huge" for Liberty Elementary: A Conversation with Learning Director Lisa Nelson

Learn how HMH Performance Suite with Into Math helped Liberty Elementary students improve their math scores.

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How to align instruction with the science of reading

How to Align Instruction with the Science of Reading

Discover five key principles that policymakers, district leaders, and educators should keep in mind to help drive stronger, more equitable literacy outcomes.

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Professional Learning Goals for Teachers: Setting Purposeful Growth at Every Level

Michelle White

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6 Ways to Connect Core Instruction to Adaptive Learning and Tailored Intervention

With diverse learning needs and limits on teachers’ capacity int he classroom, here are six practical strategies for connecting core instruction to tailored intervention and adaptive practice.

Mary Resanovich

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How to Lesson Plan for New Teachers

Find helpful lesson planning tips and resources for new teachers.

Jennifer Corujo

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Latest Posts

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35 Fun Halloween Writing Prompts & Ideas

Have some spooky fun with your students while exercising their critical thinking skills using these Halloween writing prompts and journal ideas.

Carey Blankenship-Kramer
Shaped Staff

NYC Literacy Success

NYC Reads Delivers Record Literacy Gains

Learn more about the success of the NYC Reads program and how it ensures every student has access to high-quality literacy materials and the support to use them well.

Lindsay Dworkin
NWEA SVP of Policy and Government Affairs, HMH

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High-Quality Instructional Materials in Reading and ELA: Resources for Students and Teachers

HQIM don’t just support learning—they help shape the entire educational experience. Learn more about how both students and teachers can benefit from high-quality instructional materials.

Miah Daughtery, EdD
NWEA VP, Content Advocacy-Literacy, HMH

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5 Strategies for Differentiated Reading Instruction

Learn about differentiated reading strategies you can use to drive better learning outcomes.

Ellen Ullman
Shaped Contributor

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11 Hanukkah Classroom Games and Activities for Elementary Students

Celebrate the Festival of Lights with these Hanukkah classroom games and activities for elementary students.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

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5 Classroom Writing Center Ideas

Create a welcoming space to support your growing writers with the these 5 classroom writing center ideas.

Jennifer Corujo
Shaped Editor

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5 Free Science of Reading Activities

To help make reading instruction both effective and engaging, we’ve put together five free science of reading activities targeting spelling, vocabulary, comprehension, fluency, and phonics.

Amber Silverman
Shaped Contributor

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How Does Writing Fit Into the Science of Reading?

Learn how writing fits into the science of reading and why integrating reading and writing instruction supports stronger literacy outcomes for all students.

Julie Richardson, M.S. Ed.
Principal Content Designer, Literacy Content Solutions, HMH

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How a Texas District Achieved Literacy Growth with Integrated Edtech Solutions

When Galveston ISD leaders saw a notable dip in student performance, they decided to set forth on a growth journey—starting with the implementation of integrated edtech solutions. We sat down with Galveston leaders and educators to discuss the district's plan of action that resulted in incredible student gains.

Jennifer Corujo
Shaped Editor

WF2231850 Shaped 2025 Blog Post Reading Intervention Activities

7 Fun Reading Intervention Activities for Elementary School

Learn more about a variety of intervention strategies, including reading comprehension and small-group reading intervention activities, to support differentiated instruction and tier 3 reading intervention.

Zoe Del Mar
Shaped Executive Editor

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How to Teach Vocabulary to Your Students

Learn how to teach vocabulary to your students. Explore 8 engaging ways to teach vocabulary that will help your students to draw connections.

Emily Hamm
Shaped Contributor

WF2167411 Shaped 2025 Blog Post Miami Dade Customer Stories

Becoming Students’ Champion: How Miami-Dade Educators Support Student Success with Read 180 

Miami-Dade educators share how they guided and empowered students in becoming better readers with Read 180.

Jennifer Corujo
Shaped Editor

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Structured Literacy vs. Science of Reading 

Understanding the distinctions between structured literacy vs. the science of reading can be crucial to ensuring that reading programs are designed to support students effectively.

Amber Silverman
Shaped Contributor

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2025 International Literacy Day Activities for All Ages

Get students reading, writing, and learning more about the importance of literacy with these 2025 International Literacy Day activities.

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

Women's History Month Books for Students HERO

11 Women’s History Month Books for Elementary Students

Use these Women’s History Month books for elementary students and activities to teach about women’s contributions to history.

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

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The Phonological Awareness Umbrella: Building Blocks of Early Reading Success

This blog explores the “phonological awareness umbrella” metaphor in depth, delving into the skills it encompasses and actionable strategies for classroom instruction.

Dr. Anne Cunningham
Professor, University of California, Berkeley; Scientific Advisor to the Knowledge Matters Campaign; HMH Author

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Progression of Phonological Awareness Skills

This blog post explores the progression of phonological awareness skills and ways you can support developing readers.

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

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8 Creative Book Project Ideas to Replace the Traditional Book Report

Try these 8 creative book project ideas to engage your students! Motivate students to read while offering a refreshing break from traditional assignments.

Amanda Clark
Shaped Contributor

AWARDS & ACCOLADES

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Shorty Awards

Audience Honor, 2023, Shaped

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Digiday Content Marketing Awards

Finalist, 2023, Shaped

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People’s Choice Podcast Awards

Finalist, 2021 & 2023, Teachers in America

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