Shaped

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

 

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Integrating literacy into the science classroom hero

Integrating Science and Literacy in the Classroom

Learn how integrating science and literacy in the classroom helps students behave and think like real scientists and engineers.

Marjorie Frank
Author, ELD Specialist

Teaching foundational reading skills hero

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

St Patricks Day Writing Prompts Hero

22 St. Patrick’s Day Writing Prompts and Activities

Bring some luck to your classroom with these St. Patrick’s Day writing prompts and activities for elementary, middle school, and high school students.

Ali Habashi
Former Shaped Editor

WF1510577 Shaped 2022 NTL Talk First Write Later Hero

Talk First, Write Later: Oral Communication in the Classroom

Hear from Erik Palmer why speaking is just as important as reading and writing as a form of communication.

Erik Palmer
Program Consultant, Into Reading and Into Literature

Reading Fluency Intervention Strategies Hero

8 Effective Fluency Strategies for Reading Intervention

Discover these eight research-based reading fluency intervention strategies you can use in the classroom.

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

Formative reading assessment usable data hero

Formative Reading Assessment & Usable Data

Formative reading assessments measure what students have learned so far—and the data help inform teachers’ instruction.

Francie Alexander
Senior Vice President, Efficacy & Consulting Research

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

Renee Behring
Education Research Director, Core ELA

Dr. Terry Salinger
Institute Fellow and Chief Scientist for Literacy Research, American Institutes for Research

8 elements of reading literacy instruction hero

8 Elements of Reading & Literacy Instruction

These eight elements of reading and literacy instruction can serve as the foundation of an effective literacy program.

Francie Alexander
Senior Vice President, Efficacy & Consulting Research

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

Renee Behring
Education Research Director, Core ELA

Dr. Terry Salinger
Institute Fellow and Chief Scientist for Literacy Research, American Institutes for Research

Toney Jackson Screenshot Writing Rhymes

Writing Rhymes and Raps with Toney Jackson

Teacher and award-winning poet Toney Jackson joins us for a special lesson on how to write rhymes in the classroom.

Ali Habashi
Former Shaped Editor

Digital Writing Program hero

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

Science of Reading hero

The Science of Reading Explained: Answers to the Top 5 Questions

HMH's research team answers commonly asked questions about the science of reading to help educators apply its principles in their classrooms.

Renee Behring
Education Research Director, Core ELA

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

Structured Literacy small group reading

What Is Structured Literacy?

Get the answers to commonly asked questions like, "What is structured literacy and how can I implement the approach?"

Renee Behring
Education Research Director, Core ELA

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

Kitty Donohoe Hero Banner

Podcast: The Freedom in Reading for Quarantined Kids with Kitty Donohoe

Elementary teacher Kitty Donohoe joins us for a discussion on reading, looping with her class, and her debut children’s novel, How to Ride a Dragonfly.

Ali Habashi
Former Shaped Editor

WF1297153 Shaped Hero 1

2026 National Novel Writing Month: Turning Students into Excited Writers

In November, National Novel Writing Month begins for thousands of writers around the world. At the same time, many teachers introduced their classrooms to the NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program, and found their students developing a new-found passion for creative writing.

Ali Habashi
Former Shaped Editor

Teaching Media Literacy in the Classroom hero

4 Tips for Teaching Media Literacy in the Classroom

How media literate are you? Take our quiz, then try our four tips for teaching media literacy in the classroom.

Erik Palmer
Program Consultant, Into Reading and Into Literature

Classroom Library Organization Tips Hero

Classroom Library Organization Tips

Get students excited about reading by organizing your classroom library with relevant books and updated displays.

Ellen Ullman
Shaped Contributor

Teaching fact versus opinion

Teaching Fact vs. Opinion: Tips, Activities, and Resources

Get tips for teaching fact versus opinion with these resources, insights, and activities from journalist and educator Esther Wojcicki.

Esther Wojcicki
Journalist and Teacher; Founder, Palo Alto High Media Arts Program

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Podcast: The Right Book for Reluctant Readers with Qorsho Hassan

Meet Qorsho Hassan, a second grade teacher and the 2020 Minnesota Teacher of the Year. On this episode we discuss the importance of independent reading, identity, and representation for our students.

Ali Habashi
Former Shaped Editor

Structuring the literacy block hero

Structuring the Literacy Block

The most productive literacy block schedules include various reading and writing activities and instruction to help build foundational skills.

Francie Alexander
Senior Vice President, Efficacy & Consulting Research

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

Renee Behring
Education Research Director, Core ELA

Dr. Terry Salinger
Institute Fellow and Chief Scientist for Literacy Research, American Institutes for Research