Back-to-School
It’s time for a new school year! Educators everywhere have new faces to learn, new lessons to try, and a blank slate ahead of them. Where to even begin?
The blog posts below explore strategies to break the ice, share the latest thinking in education, and provide back-to-school teaching resources for instruction across all subjects and in any format, whether that's in person, remote, or a combination of both. We hope you'll use these tools to make the new school year a success!
-
5 Tips to Set Up Your Classroom as a Novice Teacher
All that open space can seem daunting at first, so here's some advice to help you get started.
Lisa Sims
Former HMH Consultant -
7 Strategies to Start the New School Year Right
No one knows how schools will open this year. One day it is online, and the next day it is in person. But the uncertainty around where learning will take place shouldn't stop them from preparing for what matters most: classroom culture.
Esther Wojcicki
Journalist and Teacher; Founder, Palo Alto High Media Arts Program -
Back to School, Back to Shaping Students' Lives
With this back-to-school checklist for teachers, a former educator explains why it’s essential to provide a space for student voice and choice.
Noelle Morris
Senior Director Community Engagement, HMH; Host of HMH Learning Moments: Teachers in America Podcast -
10 Back-to-School Tips for Teachers
As we approach back-to-school season, reflect on these top tips for teachers to hit the ground running this fall.
Dr. Lissa Pijanowski
Senior Fellow, International Center for Leadership in Education (ICLE) -
First-Day-of-School Checklist for Teachers
Our first-day-of-school checklist for teachers will help get the new school year off to a great start.
Katie Risolo Radovich
First-Grade Teacher, Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York -
Maximizing Instructional Time in the Classroom
Get strategies for maximizing instructional time in the classroom to meet your teaching goals and each student’s needs.
Jennifer Prescott
Shaped Contributor
-
6 Math Icebreakers: Games and Activities for All Grades
Try these games and activities to get students practicing math while getting to know one another.
Shaped Staff
-
9 Back-to-School Getting-to-Know-You Activities for Students
Try these back-to-school getting-to-know-you activities to help students discover more about their classmates on the first day of class.
Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor -
3 First-Day-Jitters Activities for Back-to-School
While each group of students will be different, there are some great back-to-school activities you can implement in your classroom year after year.
Amanda Rack
First Grade Teacher, Knob Hill Elementary School -
6 Back-to-School Icebreakers for Elementary Students
Teachers can use these fun back-to-school icebreaker activities for elementary students in the classroom or remotely.
Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor -
3 First-Day-of-School Icebreaker Activities for Middle School Students
Use these classroom icebreakers to have students introduce themselves to you—and each other—without using the traditional "Hi, my name is..." activity.
Kristen Eannetta
Associate Learning Architect, HMH -
5 First-Day-of-School High School Icebreaker Activities
These icebreakers for students in Grades 9-12 will help them get to know one another while having fun and also getting creative.
Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive EditorRichard Blankman
Shaped Editor
-
Classroom Jobs for Elementary Students
Discover why classroom jobs for elementary students are a win-win for teachers and students.
Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor -
How to Establish a New Teacher Mentor Program and Retain Staff
Here is what I learned and how we continue to grow as professionals in our New Warrior PLC.
Whitney Aragaki
Shaped Contributor -
6 Strategies for Building Community in the Classroom
How do you foster a sense of safety and belonging so students can focus their energy on learning? These strategies for building community in the classroom will help.
Perry Hollins
Fourth-Grade Teacher, Evanston/Skokie School District, Illinois -
Classroom Community-Building Activities for Elementary Students
Ready to help your kiddos develop meaningful relationships and connect with their classmates? Try these classroom community-building activities for elementary students.
Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor -
The Importance of Classroom Community
Students need to believe that they belong in their learning environment. Learn about the importance of classroom community—and ways to foster positivity.
Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor -
Classroom Rituals and Routines Examples
These classroom rituals and routines will ensure your school year is successful.
Amanda Patterson, EdD
National Director, Academic Planning and Analytics, HMH
-
Top 3 Effective Classroom Management Strategies for New Teachers
What makes an effective first year teacher? Developing a successful classroom management strategy is an important first step on your teacher journey.
Samuel Gonzalez
Shaped Contributor -
Classroom Management 101: Setting Classroom Expectations for Students
Use these classroom management strategies to ensure that each day runs smoothly and you build a community where each student has a sense of belonging.
Brittany Mamphey, M.Ed.
Dean of Students, Mt. Healthy South Elementary School, Ohio -
10 Virtual Classroom Management Strategies
Classroom management is one of teachers’ top professional development needs, online or not! Try out these 10 tips to manage your online classroom.
Richard Blankman
Shaped Editor -
10 Middle School Classroom Management Strategies That Work
Create a healthy and happy learning environment with middle school classroom management strategies that are rooted in brain science.
Dr. Adriana Chavarín-López
Strategy and Instructional Support Officer, San Diego Unified School DistrictDr. Michael Vea
Strategy and Instructional Support Officer, San Diego Unified School District -
Podcast: Tapping Pencils and Classroom Management with Stacy Salter
When customs broker Stacy Salter took on teaching elementary as a second career, she had to learn the ins and outs of classroom management to build student relationships.
Ali Habashi
Shaped EditorChristine Condon
Shaped Editor-in-Chief -
Podcast: Creating a Classroom Management Plan with Brittany Mamphey on Teachers in America
On Teachers in America, Brittany Mamphey—a teacher in Cincinnati—talks about classroom management, teacher retention, and student empowerment.
Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor
-
What Is Response to Intervention (RTI)?
Learn more about response to intervention (RTI), a three-tier system to identify how to help support your students in the classroom.
Zoe Del Mar
Shaped Staff -
Reading Intervention Strategies for Struggling Readers
In order to accelerate students’ reading to grade-level proficiency, here is a list of reading intervention strategies to help students make progress.
Dr. Amy Endo
Education Research Director, Supplemental & Intervention Language & Literacy -
Accelerated Learning Techniques for the Classroom
Need to catch kids up or move them forward? Try these research-backed accelerated learning techniques.
Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor -
5 Actions to Achieve Learning Recovery and Lasting Success
Here are five steps educators can take to offset the learning gap and improve students’ chances for long-term success.
Dr. Bonnie Cochran
Director of Academic Planning and Analytics, HMH -
9 Math Intervention Strategies for Struggling Students
Try these strategies to help students in your math class who are performing two or more grades below grade level.
Richard Blankman
Shaped Editor -
7 Middle School and High School Reading Intervention Strategies
Support students with these seven teaching tips to maximize intervention and help your students become better readers.
Shelley Branine
Instructional Coach, HMH
-
Social and Emotional Learning Activities and Lesson Plans
With these classroom activities and SEL lesson plans, you can help students build the skills needed for success in and out of the classroom.
Shaped Staff
-
Teach the 5 Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Competencies
The 5 social-emotional learning (SEL) competencies developed by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) are crucial to students’ learning and growth. Explore the competencies and strategies for helping students achieve them.
Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor -
5 Social-Emotional Learning Strategies Teachers Can Use Now
Schools that integrate social-emotional learning into instruction equip students to persevere and master rigorous content. Start with these five tips.
Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor -
How to Boost Students’ SEL Skills Using Current Events
Fourth-grade teacher Perry Hollins shares tips for teaching current events through an SEL lens.
Perry Hollins
Fourth-Grade Teacher, Evanston/Skokie School District, Illinois -
Social and Emotional Learning in Science: Using Collaboration in the Classroom
Productive discourse lends itself well to building a community where social and emotional learning in science is supported.
Dr. Cary Sneider
NGSS Writing Team Leader, Associate Research Professor at Portland State University -
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
-
Using Data to Individualize Instruction
Find out ways to use data to individualize instruction for special education students.
Dr. Suzanne Jimenez
Director of Academic Planning and Data Analytics at HMH -
6 Student-Centered Instructional Strategies
Learn about student-centered instructional strategies that are common across a wide variety of learner-centered classrooms.
Dr. Phil Vahey
Director of Applied Learning Sciences, HMH -
Educational Technology Articles and Resources
If you're looking to stay up-to-date on the latest in EdTech, check out this curated list of our most popular and relevant blogs.
Zoe Del Mar
Shaped Staff -
Technology and Personalized Learning
Discover the benefits of technology and personalized learning in the classroom—and digital tools that can automate the personalized learning process.
Aoife Dempsey
Senior Vice President Product Management, HMH -
The Fun of Learning: Gamification in Education
Find out what games and learning have in common, and explore ways to incorporate gamification into your next classroom lesson.
Richard Blankman
Shaped Editor -
How to Find the Most Effective Digital Writing Program: 5 Considerations
Not all digital writing programs are created equally. Ask these questions when weighing your options.
Meghann Weis
Instructional Technology Coach, Patriot HS, VA
-
Math at Work: Meet Industry Experts to Explore Jobs That Involve Math
Share videos of celebrities and students solving problems in math-related jobs, and then have your students try the free activities.
Shaped Staff
-
Math Meets Sports: How Is Math Used in the Summer and Winter Games?
In a special Olympic edition of the Math at Work web series, paired with activities based on the Olympic Games, students will learn how important math is to the world of sports.
Richard Blankman
Shaped Editor -
Literacy at Work: Writing a Personality Feature with Esther Wojcicki
Esther Wojcicki shares her lesson on conducting an interview and writing a personality feature—an intriguing, creative article about the interviewee.
Shaped Staff
-
Literacy at Work: The Writers Room with Duane Capizzi
Have your students explore the exciting world of TV writing with a free lesson plan and insights from producer, writer, and Carmen Sandiego showrunner Duane Capizzi.
Shaped Staff
-
Literacy at Work: How to Write a Rap with Dr. Chris Emdin
Have your students discover how creating and performing raps can inspire self-reflection, confidence, and an appreciation for writing.
Shaped Staff
-
90-Second Science: Quick and Easy Science Experiments
Watch these 90-second videos of easy science experiments you can do with your students, in and out of the classroom.
Shaped Staff
***
This blog post, originally published in 2020, has been updated for 2022. Be sure to subscribe to the Shaped newsletter for monthly news, insights, and resources straight to your inbox!
The views expressed in our blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of HMH.
Need help with your current products? Visit our self-help support site.
Related Reading
-
What is RTI in Special Education?
Dr. Suzanne Jimenez
Director of Academic Planning and Data Analytics at HMH -
2023 State of the Union Activities and Lesson Plans
Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor -
2023 Groundhog Day Activities for Elementary Students
Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor
CORE CURRICULUM
HMH Social Studies, 6-12
SEE ALL SOCIAL STUDIES
AP & ELECTIVES
AP Human Geography
Personal Finance
SEE ALL SOCIAL STUDIES
AP & ELECTIVES
SUPPLEMENTAL
Writable
Professional Development
Providing professional development for teachers, HMH’s professional learning courses, coaching, and leadership advisory supports educators every step of the way.
Connected Teaching and Learning
Connected Teaching and Learning from HMH brings together on-demand professional development, students' assessment data, and relevant practice and instruction.
Social Emotional Learning Curriculum
Research shows that a social-emotional learning curriculum can lead to improved academic performance. Explore high-quality SEL programs that get results.