Shaped

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

 

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Kindergarten reading

Help your youngest students' build their literacy skills with these free reading activities for kindergarten, complete with videos, teacher guides, and more.

Two students reading and taking notes and one student using a tablet

Read more about five essential reading strategies for secondary students, including tips to enhance comprehension and help students become active readers.

Jakeima (Jai) Lewis, MEd
Sixth-Grade Teacher, Instructional Coach & Teacher’s Corner Contributor

WF1289060 Shaped 2020 Revamp Grade 3 5 Reading

These reading activities for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade will help your students with reading practice so they can gain the right literacy skills.

WF1995913 Shaped 2024 Classcraft blog batch2 15 1

Explore how teaching writing and providing writing practice instill skills in students that they can use throughout their academic career and beyond. 

Amber Silverman
Shaped Contributor

Activityset2

Have middle schoolers improve their writing, critical thinking, and reading skills with these activities, which include creating a word cloud and summarizing informational texts.

Educators collaborating on science of reading and AI implementation planning

Two major discussions are happening in education right now: science of reading and the use of AI in the classroom. But how do teachers actually feel about them? Learn how educators view these important topics.

Lindsay Dworkin
Senior Vice President, Policy & Government Affairs

Miah Daughtery, EdD
NWEA VP, Content Advocacy-Literacy, HMH

Teacher providing reading support to young learners during a small-group literacy lesson.

Learn more about effective early reading intervention strategies designed to support young learners.

Danielle Bouchard
Shaped Contributor

WF2013900 Shaped 2024 Blog Post Guide to Creating Student Podcasts Hero

A quick guide for how to start a student podcast, with tips and tricks for teachers for the whole recording process

Erik Palmer
Program Consultant, Into Reading and Into Literature

Student uses digital resources to build background knowledge

Learn more about and get strategies for building background knowledge in reading.

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

Teacher guides students using reading comprehension strategies in class

Explore evidence-based reading comprehension strategies that can promote deeper comprehension among your students.

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

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2024 Illinois State Teacher of the Year Briana Morales shares how she uses healing-centered engagement and storytelling to empower her students. Plus she shares writing activities to engage students in identity work and how to start a classroom dignity closet to help students in need.

Jennifer Corujo
Shaped Editor

How To Write A Praise Poem

Poet Glenis Redmond says teaching students how to write a praise poem is a great way to dive into metaphors and similes and have them flex their creative muscles.

Glenis Redmond
Poet and Teaching Artist

Ela high school lessons

Use these high school English language activities to help your learners discover into their own writing styles and embrace reading.

Free Reading Activities for 1st and 2nd Grade

With these free reading activities for 1st and 2nd grade, you can engage young learners in topics ranging from incredible insects to the great outdoors.

WF2002500 Shaped 2024 Blog Post Why is Phonological Awareness Important for Reading Hero

Phonological awareness skills are important foundational knowledge for the effective development of letter-sound relationships. Learn more about how it can help students with reading development.

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

Fourth of july poems

Celebrate July 4th with six patriotic poems from HMH poets. Explore a selection of Fourth of July poems to help commemorate America’s Independence Day.

Susan Steinway
Archivist, HMH

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HMH Teacher Ambassador Abbey Behnke shares instructional strategies and activities to engage students in vocabulary learning. Plus, she discusses how vocabulary is a catalyst for building reading comprehension skills.

Jennifer Corujo
Shaped Editor

Teacher provides writing support during classroom instruction

Learn more about scaffolding writing instruction, a process that provides the support that students need to grow as writers.

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor