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Shaped

The learners of today will shape 

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

Latest Posts

Science Formative Assessment: Assessing with Purpose

Science Formative Assessment: Assessing with Purpose

Dynamic science formative assessment engages students and promotes their thinking; additionally, it informs instruction for educators.

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

Martin Luther King, Jr. project ideas and activities for the classroom

7 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Project Ideas and Activities for the Classroom

Explore 7 Martin Luther King Jr. project ideas and activities to honor MLK and his contributions to the civil rights movement.

Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor

Zoe Del Mar
Shaped Executive Editor

Teacher with student in the classroom

Understanding the Academic Intervention Process

Learn how academic intervention can help close learning gaps and improve student academic achievement.

Donna Pappas
Regional Consultant, HMH

Teacher sitting with a group of students at classroom table

What Is the Alphabetic Principle? Building the Foundation of Learning to Read and Write

The alphabetic principle is the foundation of phonics instruction. Learn more about the concept and discover some strategies for teaching it in the classroom.

Renee Behring
Education Research Director, Core ELA

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14 Winter Holiday Activities for School

Celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa with 14 holiday classroom activities, games, and crafts for elementary and middle school students.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

Zoe Del Mar
Shaped Executive Editor

Fun Christmas Activities School

9 Fun Christmas Activities for School

Try our fun Christmas classroom activities for school. 'Tis the season to be jolly—while boosting math, reading, and writing skills, of course!

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

Thanksgiving Activities Elementary Hero

10 Fun Thanksgiving Activities for Elementary Students

No hand-traced turkeys here! Celebrate the holiday while boosting critical math, reading, and writing skills with these fun Thanksgiving activities for elementary students.

Ali Habashi
Former Shaped Editor

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

WF1860574 Hero

8 Free Veterans Day Activities for Elementary Students

Find free Veterans Day activities and lesson plans for elementary students to honor and celebrate those who have served.

Jennifer Corujo
Shaped Editor

WF1791680 hero teacher and students clapping

Phonological Awareness vs. Phonemic Awareness

Phonological and phonemic awareness are key aspects of emergent and beginning reading development and instruction. Read more to find out how the two terms connect to each other.

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

Learning by doing the importance of hands on science hero

The Importance of Hands-On Science Activities: Learning by Doing

Learn more about the importance of learning by doing science through hands-on science activities. Plus, access engaging lessons to use in your classroom.

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

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8 Fun Constitution Day Activities for Students: We the People

Here are Constitution Day activities to engage your students in learning about the historic document that defines how our government works.

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

WF1802900 Shaped 2023 Blog Post Why is Classroom Management Important

Why Is Classroom Management Important?

Read why classroom management is important in ensuring a successful school year and find classroom management strategies to use in your classroom.

Teresa Meredith
Teacher

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9 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

WF1465051 Shaped 2021 Blog Post Classroom Reward Ideas

11 Ideas for Cheap or Free Classroom Rewards and Incentives

Explore 11 ideas for cheap or free classroom rewards and incentives. No matter what your budget looks like, get your students motivated to participate!

Ali Habashi
Former Shaped Editor

Juneteenth national freedom day hero image

6 Juneteenth Activities & Lesson Plans for Students

Celebrate Juneteenth in the classroom. Explore Juneteenth activities and lesson plans for elementary, middle school, and high school students.

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

WF1559159 Shaped 2022 Blog Post Science of Reading Strategies Hero

10 Science of Reading Strategies for Reading Instruction

Read one teacher's top 10 instructional strategies to support science of reading in the classroom.

Renae Kuhn
HMH Learning Experience Designer; Former Elementary Teacher

WF1764700 Shaped 2023 Blog Post Sentence Frames for ELL Students Hero

Sentence Frames for ELL Students

Learn how to use sentence frames for ELL students to support written and oral language development.

Jennifer Corujo
Shaped Editor

Bts icebreakers

2024 First-Day-of-School Icebreakers for All Grades

As you return to the classroom for back-to-school, try these 2024 first-day-of-school icebreaker activities to develop a sense of normalcy among students and build community.

Shaped Staff

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