Shaped

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

Featured Posts

Wayne Westland SD teachers in a classroom

A Fresh Approach to Intervention Is Boosting Achievement in a Michigan School District

Hear from educators about a new approach to intervention that’s raising student achievement in the Wayne-Westland Community School District, outside Detroit.

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Latonia GrantTeachers in America podcast

Podcast: Embracing Data and Planning with It Feat. Latonia Grant

Third grade teacher and HMH Teacher Ambassador Latonia Grant discusses how data has been a valuable tool in her planning and instruction. Plus she shares data-driven planning tips, like how to lead data talks with students and how to collaboratively plan with peers.

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Differentiated Instruction Examples Hero

Differentiated Instruction Strategies and Examples for Teacher and Student Success

Here we provide differentiated instruction strategies and examples that teachers can use to ensure students have choices for the way that they learn new information, practice skills, and demonstrate understanding.

Amber Silverman

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Hero two students woring together WF1944450

A Collaborative Learning Routine: What Is the Think-Pair-Share Strategy in Teaching?

Learn about what is think-pair-share in teaching and how to use this collaborative learning strategy in your classroom.

Dana Leon

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Spring activities for elementary students hero

8 Spring Activities for Elementary Students

Happy spring! Need some engaging in-person and remote classroom activities to celebrate the season? Try these 8 spring activities for elementary students.

Alicia Ivory

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Latest Posts

Science of Reading: Small-Group Instruction Strategies

This article shares ideas on how to integrate the science of reading and evidenced-based instructional techniques in small-group reading instruction.

Dr. Martha C. Hougen
National consultant, presenter, researcher, and author

Dr. Heather Haynes Smith
Associate Professor in the Department of Education, Trinity University

NGSS and the Dimension of Crosscutting Concepts: Setting the Stage for Student Sense-Making in Science

Learn about the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Crosscutting Concepts and how teachers can use them to elicit student sense-making.

Peter McLaren
Executive Director of Next Gen Education

Math Intervention That Works: A Math 180 Case Study

A case study of Math 180 is described and explained as part of the research that HMH conducts to test its intervention products

Richard Blankman
Shaped Executive Editor

How to Use Technology to Differentiate Instruction in the Classroom

Explore the challenges of differentiated instruction and how technology can help. Using technology to differentiate instruction assists in automating the process.

Kathleen Richards
Former HMH Senior Learning Scientist, ELA and Humanities

A Prime Time for Discussion: Mathematical Discourse in the Classroom

Learn what mathematical discourse in the classroom is, along with how to use math discourse in the classroom.

Richard Blankman
Shaped Executive Editor

How and When Should You Transition away from Decodable Texts?

Learn strategies for transitioning students from decodable texts to authentic texts.

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

Math Diagnostic Assessment: What It Is and How to Use It

Math diagnostic assessment is defined, explained, and compared to other types of assessment, such as formative assessment and summative assessment.

Richard Blankman
Shaped Executive Editor

Dr. Vytas Laitusis
Education Research Director, Supplemental & Intervention Math

Changing Lives Through Intervention in Schools

Intervention in school is defined, and key insights into how to provide effective intervention are provided.

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

What Is the Purpose of Formative Assessment? A Look at the Process of Monitoring Student Growth

Here, we break down the answer to the frequently asked question: What is the purpose of formative assessment?

Dr. Vytas Laitusis
Education Research Director, Supplemental & Intervention Math

What Is Inquiry-Based Learning? A Look into the Research and Practice

This articles explains what is inquiry-based learning and provides approaches and examples within education.

Dr. Phil Vahey
Director of Applied Learning Sciences, HMH

Dr. Michael J. Bolz
Senior Learning Scientist, Learning Sciences, HMH

What Is Orthographic Mapping in Reading and Why Is It Important?

Learn about orthographic mapping, the cognitive process that we use to store and retrieve words by connecting their pronunciation, spelling, and meaning automatically.

Dr. Amy Endo
Education Research Director, Supplemental & Intervention Language & Literacy

The 5E Model of Science Instruction

Learn how to implement the 5E model of science instruction and download a 5E science lesson to use in your classroom.

Jennifer Corujo
Shaped Editor

Phonological Awareness and Phonics Strategies to Support Developing Readers

Try these phonological awareness strategies and phonics strategies in the classroom to help support developing readers

Renee Behring
Education Research Director, Core ELA

Understanding UDL vs Differentiated Instruction

Understand UDL vs. differentiated instruction and how to use each to instruct and assess students in the classroom

Dr. Phil Vahey
Director of Applied Learning Sciences, HMH

Claire Benedikt
Principal UX Designer, Accessibility & Inclusive Design, 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

The 3 Different Types of Assessment in Education

There are three different types of assessments in education that serve different purposes depending on when they are administered: diagnostic, formative, and summative.

Dr. Julie Miles
Senior Vice President, Learning Sciences

Reading Teaching Strategies for Students with Dyslexia

Discover evidence-based strategies to help improve the reading skills of students with dyslexia so they can achieve school success.

Renee Behring
Education Research Director, Core ELA

Dr. Amy Endo
Education Research Director, Supplemental & Intervention Language & Literacy

Teaching Foundational Reading Skills

Teaching foundational reading skills is one of the most important goals of early grade and reading intervention teachers. Learn more about the key foundational reading skills and other literacy skills students need to become proficient.

Renee Behring
Education Research Director, Core ELA

Dr. Amy Endo
Education Research Director, Supplemental & Intervention Language & Literacy

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