Shaped

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

 

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WF1262367 Shaped 2020 Blog Post Pros and Cons of Looping hero2

The Benefits and Disadvantages of Looping in Education

Explore the benefits and disadvantages of looping in education, where groups of students up from one grade to the next with the same teacher.

Tracy Childers
Middle School Science Teacher, Foothills Community School

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Teacher Appreciation Week Ideas from Principals and Administrators

Looking for the perfect way to say “Thank-you” to educators? We’ve collected Teacher Appreciation Week ideas from principals and administrators across the country. Feel free to steal or revamp them as you please.

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

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What Is Student-Centered Coaching? Consider These Examples

What is student-centered coaching? To meet students’ individual needs, teachers may consider coaching that analyzes data and formulates student-centered goals.

Michelle Smith
Professional Services Consultant, HMH

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Math Talk Moves: Engaging Students Through Discussion in the Math Classroom

Students should be engaged in solving and discussing tasks that promote reasoning and problem solving.

Dr. Matthew R. Larson
Past President, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM); Senior Fellow, Math Solutions

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2025 National School Counseling Week Ideas: How to Show Appreciation

When is National School Counseling Week in 2025? Explore counselor appreciation week ideas for your school to help celebrate.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

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What Is Translanguaging in the Classroom?

What is translanguaging? Learn the definition of translanguaging and strategies for translanguaging in the multilingual classroom.

Drs. Yvonne and David Freeman
Authors, On Our Way to English, Professors Emeriti, University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley

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Our 10th Annual Educator Confidence Report: Reflecting on the Past Decade, Paving a Path Forward

Learn about how educators are embracing technology in our 10th annual Educator Confidence Report and how they feel about the current state of education.

John "Jack" Lynch
President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director, HMH

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How to Act for Impact in Your School or District: 8 Ways to Inspire Change

Here’s a taste of what you will learn about more deeply when you attend the Model Schools Conference.

Dr. Linda Lucey
Associate Partner, The Center for Model Schools

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Identifying High-Quality Instructional Materials in Math Education

Identify high-quality instructional materials in math education, learn about the history of math education, and get tips for implementing HQIM in math class

Dr. Matthew R. Larson
Past President, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM); Senior Fellow, Math Solutions

Build Communities HERO Update

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

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Does Class Size Matter? The Answer Is Yes.

Does class size matter? Class size research reveals that smaller classrooms allow teachers greater proximity to the students and more opportunity for one-to-one instruction.

Weston Kieschnick
Associate Partner, ICLE

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Beyond Alignment: The Power of Coherence in School Districts

Learn how to design a coherent system of curriculum, instruction, and assessment to create a powerful learning environment for all.

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

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Start the Conversation in Math: Sentence Starters, Stems & Frames

Math sentence starters, along with sentence frames and sentence stems, are explained with examples given.

Dana Leon
Shaped Contributor

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Which Student Needs Are Going Unmet in Your District?

Even districts with high achievement have students whose learning needs are going unmet. Here's how to ensure you're reaching all learners.

Dr. Suzanne Jimenez
Director of Academic Planning and Data Analytics at HMH

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Educational Technology Articles and Resources

Stay up-to-date on the latest in EdTech with educational technology articles and resources for teachers on trending topics.

Zoe Del Mar
Shaped Executive Editor

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How to Differentiate Instruction for Students in the Classroom 

How to differentiate instruction for students in the classroom is not straightforward. Here we breakdown the process for you.

Amber Silverman
Shaped Contributor

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Exploring the Benefits of Artificial Intelligence in Education

We break down the pros and cons of AI in education to help you harness the advantages of this technology while minimizing the risks.

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

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Just-in-Time vs. Just-in-Case Scaffolding: How to Foster Productive Perseverance

This article explains why to provide scaffolding "just in time," i.e., when students demonstrate the need, not "just in case."

Dr. Juli K. Dixon
Professor of Mathematics Education; Elementary, Middle, Secondary, and Post-Secondary Mathematics Education