Shaped

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

 

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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. 

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8 Fun Spring Activities for Elementary Students

Happy spring! Try these 8 spring activities for elementary students for ideas to celebrate the season!

Alicia Ivory

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9 Earth Day Activities and Games for Elementary Students

Honor our home planet with these 9 Earth Day activities and games for elementary students.

Alicia Ivory

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How One District Uses Data to Drive Student Success

Learn about how Blue Springs School District in Missouri recognized the urgent need to address learning gaps and reduce the burden of catch-up while providing support and actionable data to inform teaching and better meet students' needs.

Onalee Smith

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Latest Posts

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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; 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

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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.

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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

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Grades 6–8 ELA Activity Set 4: Explore Haiku and More

Have your middle schoolers write their own haikus, identify themes in works of literature, and create a character's social media profile.

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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Grades 9–12 ELA Activity Set 4: Analyze Theme and More

Activities including creating a sketchnote, writing an ode to an everyday item, and analyzing the theme of a short story.

Shaped Staff

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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

Presidents day lesson plans and activities

9 Presidents’ Day Lesson Plans and Activities to Foster Engaged Citizens

Use these 9 Presidents’ Day lesson plans and activities for middle and high school classrooms to foster engaged and informed citizens.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

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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
Former Shaped Editor

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Grades 9–12 ELA Activity Set 3: Evaluate a News Article and More

Have high schoolers continue learning from home by evaluating a news article for reliability, maintaining a dialectical journal, and responding to daily dinner prompts.

Shaped Staff

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Grades 9–12 ELA Activity Set 1: Analyze a Short Story 

Have high school students analyze news stories, poems, and short stories with these instructional resources designed for remote learning.

Shaped Staff

Teaching how to write an email

You’ve Got Mail: How to Teach Email Writing to Students

Learn how to teach email writing to students and focus on proper email etiquette so they can ask questions and send greetings to teachers, school staff, and even parents.

Sally Doulton
Teacher, Manhasset Secondary School, New York

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Conferring Is Differentiated Instruction: How to Hold Student Writing Conferences

Writing conferences are one-to-one conversations and give teachers a crucial opportunity to meet each student’s individual needs.

Carl Anderson
Author and Literacy Consultant

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7 Tips for Introducing Notice & Note Signposts in Your Classroom

Incorporate Notice & Note Signposts into your reading or ELA curriculum with these strategies and tips for teachers.

Zoe Zolbrod
Director, Learning Experience Design, Literature and Language Arts, HMH

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The Keys to Vocabulary: Word-Specific and Generative Instruction

Shane Templeton, HMH Journeys program consultant, shares how efficient and effective vocabulary instruction can inspire a curiosity and appreciation for words.

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

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Shorty Awards

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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.