Shaped

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

 

OVER 10 MILLION READS

Latest Posts

The Keys to Vocabulary Word Specific and Generative Instruction thumb

Shane Templeton, HMH Journeys program consultant, shares how efficient and effective vocabulary instruction can inspire a curiosity and appreciation for words.

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

Math activities 9 12 85cab6aa25ee358f8b9ee45ba7a4bd78

Get your learners ready for the next step in learning mathematics with these free high school math activities.

Shaped Staff

WF1307665 Shaped 2020 Blog Post 100th Day of School Hero Update

Celebrate 100 days of school with a free 100th Day of School gumball machine template. Explore projects, games, and activities.

Richard Blankman
Shaped Executive Editor

Notice note signposts

Incorporate Notice & Note Signposts into your reading or ELA curriculum with these strategies and tips for teachers.

Zoe Zolbrod
Director, Learning Experience Design, Literature and Language Arts, HMH

Learning styles debunked 2

The myth that we all have specific learning styles, debunked—research shows that 90% of teachers believe the learning styles myth.

Rachel L. Schechter, PhD
VP Learning Sciences, Learning Sciences and Research Advisory Board Chair

HMH World Map

Download these Code of Hammurabi activity and lesson plan resources to teach students the context surrounding the creation of the code of laws.

Shaped Staff

Math Workshop

Considering a shift to the guided math workshop model? Read tips for implementing a math workshop in your elementary or middle school classroom.

Erika Gilbert
Math AIS Teacher, Gillette Road Middle School

Cynthia Ciesla
5th and 6th Grade AIS Reading and Math Teacher, Gillette Road Middle School

WF1338420 Financial Literacy Hero 2025 Update

Use these financial literacy lesson plans and activities for middle school to teach students about topics ranging from salaries to wages to creating a personal budget.

Shaped Staff

WF2161378 Interactive Read Aloud Strategies hero

What is an interactive read-aloud? Learn interactive read-aloud strategies to build strong student-teacher relationships in the classroom.

Monica Fitzgerald
Reading AIS Teacher, Gillette Road Middle School

3 5 Sea Tutrle hero image 6699dd8b7813014bf9718f78f267b2d1 200903 171605

Explore a variety of learning activities to engage students in scientific exploration of the great outdoors.

Shaped Staff

Absolute monarchy lesson plan

Download this absolute monarchy lesson plan to teach your students about rulers including Frederick the Great and Louis XIV.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

WF926906 Math Expressions Gr K 0 Z1 A6360 copy

Ease elementary school students' transition from arithmetic to algebra by introducing them to algebra concepts throughout the elementary grades.

Shaped Staff

Math Tech in Classroom

Read about integrating technology in the math classroom and how math technology can be used as a tool to support teaching.

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

Thanksgiving classroom games activities crafts

Looking for Thanksgiving ideas for school? Explore 6 Thanksgiving classroom activities, games, and crafts to help you celebrate the holiday.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

St patricks day classroom activities hero

Use these St. Patrick’s Day activities for elementary and middle school to celebrate and teach your students about the history of the holiday.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

Richard Blankman
Shaped Executive Editor

Oral communication2

Why is public speaking important for students? Teaching oral communication can improve your classroom activities and equip students with lifelong skills.

Erik Palmer
Program Consultant, Into Reading and Into Literature

WF1288378 Shaped 2020 Blog Halloween Math Activities Hero Literature

Get your ELA class into the spirit with these fun Halloween activities for middle school and high school students, and learn from a few masters of horror how to really make those spines tingle and those bones shake.

Ali Habashi
Former Shaped Editor

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

Protestant reformation lesson plan martin luther

Download our Protestant Reformation lesson plan to teach your students about this period of upheaval in Europe. Then, use the Protestant Reformation activities for middle school and high school to encourage critical thinking through writing and primary source analysis.

Shaped Staff