Shaped

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

 

OVER 10 MILLION READS

Latest Posts

Hero Update Halloween Math

Halloween Math Activities for Middle School and High School Students

Here are fun Halloween math activities for middle school and high school students. Try these activities to celebrate Halloween in your math classroom and ensure that your middle school and high school students can enjoy the holiday while in school.

Richard Blankman
Shaped Executive Editor

The Keys to Vocabulary Word Specific and Generative Instruction thumb

The Keys to Vocabulary: Word-Specific and Generative Instruction

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

WF2163400 Shaped 2025 Blog Post Free Graphic Organizers for Reading Comprehension Update Hero

Free Graphic Organizers for Reading Comprehension

Try these free graphic organizers for reading comprehension for all grade levels to help students visually organize their thoughts about literature.

Shaped Staff

Hard to reach students 104b71eb860de3cd4fcc287f64c7c979 v2

5 Tips for Connecting With Hard-to-Reach Students

If you find yourself pulling away from or avoiding connection with hard-to-reach students, try leaning in instead by following these five steps.

Janice Mace
Senior Counselor, National Center for School Mental Health at the University of Maryland

Grades Science Activities Hero

Grades 1–2 Science Activities: Great Outdoors

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

Shaped Staff

Benefits of independent reading in the classroom

The Benefits of Independent Reading in the Classroom

There are various benefits of independent reading, including improving your students’ fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Read more about how you can empower your students to become lifelong readers by providing an independent reading library.

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

Shaped Staff

WF1167618 culinary arts hero image

Math Meets Culinary Arts: How Do Chefs Use Math in Their Job?

Learn about the role of math in cooking in the "Math Meets Culinary Arts" episode of HMH's Math at Work web series.

Shaped Staff

Math activities 9 12 85cab6aa25ee358f8b9ee45ba7a4bd78

Free Math Activities for High School

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

100th Day of School Gumball Machine Template and Math Activities

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

7 Tips for Introducing Notice & Note Signposts in Your Classroom

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

Fact or Fiction? The Myth That We Have Specific Learning Styles, Debunked

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

Teaching World History: Code of Hammurabi Activity and Lesson Plan

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

Shifting to a Guided Math Workshop Model

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

Thanksgiving classroom games activities crafts

6 Thanksgiving Classroom Activities, Games, and 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

5 St. Patrick’s Day Activities for Elementary and Middle School Students

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

The Importance of Public Speaking Skills for Students

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

ELA Halloween Activities for Middle School and High School Students

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

Teaching World History: A Protestant Reformation Lesson Plan

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