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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

Students writing on electronic whiteboard

How Has Technology Changed Education?

Here we take a deep dive into the question, “How has technology changed education?” and uncover tech’s role in opening up new possibilities for teaching and learning.

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[Podcast] Ed Trends Minisode: Education Predictions for 2025 with Shawn Young

[Podcast] Ed Trends Minisode: Education Predictions for 2025 with Shawn Young 

What will be trending in education in 2025? Host Kailey Rhodes sits down with Classcraft cofounder and HMH’s SVP of product management and strategy Shawn Young to discuss 2025 education predictions. 

Listen Now
9 Black History Month Science Activities and Experiments

9 Black History Month Science Activities & Experiments

Use these Black History Month science activities and experiments to teach students about notable scientists and inventors.

Alicia Ivory

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22 Valentine’s Day Writing Prompts and Ideas

No matter what your middle school or high school class is reading, these writing prompts about love will get them ready for Valentine's Day.

Ali Habashi

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Fun Black History Month Activities For Kids 2

13 Fun Black History Month Activities for Elementary and Middle School Students

Download these fun Black History Month activities for elementary and middle school students to teach your class about African American history.

Jordan Friedman

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Latest Posts

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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; 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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Grades 9–12 ELA Activity Set 7: Memorize and Recite a Poem and More

With these downloadable activities, high schoolers will memorize and recite a poem, take notes as they read a novel, and memorialize a book in memes.

Womens history month bulletin boards

Women's History Month Bulletin Board Ideas: Celebrating Herstory

Decorate your classroom using these seven Women’s History Month bulletin board ideas to teach students about the achievements of women throughout history.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

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Grades 1–2 Daily Reading Activities: Animals

Give your kids an inside look at the animal world with five days of reading lessons for first and second graders.

Shaped Staff

WF2137658 Shaped 2024 Blog Post School Climate vs School Culture hero

School Climate vs. School Culture: The Path to Be a Model School

Learn the difference between school climate and school culture and how both play important roles in shaping a welcoming and supportive learning environment.

Dr. Adam Drummond
Author, Associate Partner; Center for Model Schools Instructional Leadership

2025 Blog Post Education Trends to Watch Hero

10 Trends in Education to Watch in 2025 

From AI-generated learning podcasts to the reduction in EdTech sprawl, these are the current trends in education to watch in 2025.

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

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How to Overcome 3 Major Roadblocks to Curriculum, Assessment, and Instruction Alignment

Explore the common barriers to curricular alignment and actionable steps leaders can implement to foster coherence, collaboration, and long-term success.

Dr. Suzanne Jimenez
Director of Academic Planning and Data Analytics at HMH

Dr. Bonnie Cochran
Director of Academic Planning and Analytics, HMH

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Grades 6–8 Math Activity Set 4: Sweet Success and More

Help students build their skills in working with fractions, decimals, ratios, and percent.

Shaped Staff

WF2102992 Shaped 2025 Blog Post What is Social Emotional Learning SEL in Education Update

What Is Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) in Education? Insights for K–12 Educators

Get answers to common questions like "What is social and emotional learning in education?" and "Why is SEL important?"

Amber Silverman
Shaped Contributor

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

WF1992363 Shaped 2024 Blog Post What Is Small Group Instruction

What Is Small-Group Instruction?

Discover what is small group instruction and how it can give your students a more personalized learning experience.

Dana Leon
Shaped Contributor

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Collaborative, Data-Driven Success: How a Virginia School District is Focusing on Student Growth

Discover how Loudoun County Public Schools leveraged data-driven strategies, collaboration, and aligned initiatives to focus on student growth for all learners in this case study.

Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor

Black History Month Bulletin Board 3

Inspiring Black History Month Bulletin Board Ideas for the Classroom

These Black History Month bulletin board ideas for elementary and middle school will inspire your students and teach them about African Americans' challenges and triumphs in history.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

Famous female scientists

Celebrating Famous Women in Science Who Have Impacted the World

Teach students about eight famous women in science by downloading these posters. These women have contributed to fields ranging from engineering to astronomy to chemistry.

Shaped Staff

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What Are the Factors That Contribute to Reading Failure?

Dr. Laurie Cutting investigates how phonics plays a key role in an early learner’s ability to read successfully, while family history can play a role in dyslexia and other struggling readers.

Dr. Laurie E. Cutting
Professor, Vanderbilt University

WF2151223 Shaped 2025 Blog Post Re imagining Math Intervention hero

Reinventing Mathematics Intervention

In this article are six features that, when taken together, constitute a reinvention of intervention in the math classroom.

Dr. Juli K. Dixon
Professor of Mathematics Education; Elementary, Middle, Secondary, and Post-Secondary Mathematics Education

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Grades 9–12 ELA Activity Set 10: Write Two-Sentence Stories and More

Have high schoolers find inspiration for stories in everyday objects or events and craft advice columns with these downloadable activities for at-home learning.

Shaped Staff

Hero Shaped 2025 Blog Post Mindfulness ERG WF2153113

Permission to Pause: Embarking on the New Year with Balance and Connection

In this article, I pause to reflect on the work I’ve been doing with my colleagues and recall a moment where I found permission to pause.

Benita Flucker
Chief Equity & Inclusion Officer, SVP Enterprise Development Strategy, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

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