Shaped

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

 

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Latest Posts

Polygon asking who, what, where, when and why

Using a 5 W’s Graphic Organizer Chart

Introducing the 5 W questions to your classroom is an important lesson to help students think about a topic and what they want to know about it.

Zoe Del Mar
Shaped Executive Editor

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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

SEL Writing Prompts and Journal Prompts

15 SEL Writing and Journal Prompts for Grades 3–12

Introduce your students to the five competencies of SEL with these writing and journal prompts for elementary, middle, and high school.

Ali Habashi
Former Shaped Editor

Social emotional learning using collaboration in science hero

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

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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

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7 Fun Spring Activities for Elementary Students

Happy spring! Try these 7 spring activities for elementary students for ideas to celebrate the season!

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

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National Poetry Month Activities for Middle and High School Classrooms

From nursery rhymes to absurdist poetry to rap, these activities will help your middle or high school class celebrate National Poetry Month this April.

Ali Habashi
Former Shaped Editor

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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

WF1520810 true false open sentences equation hero

True, False, and Open Sentences in Math

In this article, we investigate true, false, and open sentences in mathematics, including how to tell whether a sentence is true and false and how to solve open sentences.

Richard Blankman
Shaped Executive Editor

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School Turnaround Through a Thriving Culture and Building Relationships

Creating schools with a thriving culture of positive relationships is truly the foundation of success.

Dr. Lucretia Prince
Principal, Crestmont Elementary School

Podcast cover with Samuel Gonzalez

Podcast: Serving Students, Country & Self with Samuel Gonzalez

Pennsylvania educator Samuel Gonzalez has been teaching for just two years, and all while studying for his doctorate and serving in the National Guard.

Ali Habashi
Former Shaped Editor

Talking to kids about scary news

Talking to Kids about Scary News

Read key tips for teachers and parents on talking to children about troubling events in the news.

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

CASEL SEL competencies

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

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

What is Pi Day and why do we celebrate it?

What Is Pi Day and Why Do We Celebrate It?

What is Pi Day and why do we celebrate It? Learn about the history of the holiday and how to celebrate Pi Day in the classroom.

Richard Blankman
Shaped Executive Editor

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Guiding Student Research with a KWL Chart Template

An important first step in the research process can be to guide students towards an organizational aide, such as a KWL chart template.

Zoe Del Mar
Shaped Executive Editor

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6 Differentiated Instructional Strategies for Middle School Math

This list of differentiation instructional strategies for middle school math teachers gives ideas for students of all backgrounds to engage in math.

Richard Blankman
Shaped Executive Editor

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Phases of the Moon Activities and Lesson Plan Ideas

Shoot for the moon with free science and math resources, including activities, labs, and FUNomenal Readers.

Ali Habashi
Former Shaped Editor