Shaped

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

 

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Featured Posts

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How K-12 Administrators Can Run a 10-Minute ELA Audit

Use this 10-minute ELA curriculum audit to quickly scan your school’s full ELA system for research-aligned literacy indicators, identify gaps, and plan next steps

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How to align instruction with the science of reading

Meeting the AI Moment in Education—and How We Get It Right

AI is reshaping education—discover how to harness its potential and ensure we get it right for learners everywhere.

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Henry County Schools’ Strategic Approach to High-Quality Instruction in Every Classroom

See how one school system created a unified approach to instruction—aligning curriculum, professional learning, and feedback into a clear, scalable playbook.

Zoe Del Mar

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5 Things We Can Learn from This Year’s 180 Award Winners

From goal-setting to classroom routines, here are five practices shaping the success of this year’s 180 Award-winning teachers.

Brenda Iasevoli

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Intervention vs. Remediation in Education: How They’re Different & Why That Matters

Compare intervention vs remediation in education, including how they're different, why they're important, and strategies and activities to implement them

Dr. Bonnie Cochran

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Latest Posts

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35 Back-to-School Writing Prompts for Middle and High School

School's back in session, which means it's time for a fresh batch of writing prompts for the new year. Have your high school or middle school students try these back-to-school prompts this fall.

Ali Habashi
Former Shaped Editor

Jennifer Corujo
Shaped Editor

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How to Teach Writing to 2nd Graders

Learn how to teach writing to 2nd graders with practical strategies and engaging activities that help young students build confidence and essential writing skills.

Katie Risolo Radovich
First-Grade Teacher

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Making Whole Book Instruction Work 

Carol Jago explores how engaging students with full-length texts can build deeper reading skills, stamina, and a genuine love of reading.

Carol Jago
HMH Author and Associate Director, California Reading & Literature Project at UCLA

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Phonics vs. Phonological Awareness

Phonics vs. phonological awareness—what’s the difference? This article breaks down what each skill involves and how to use both in the classroom.

Danielle Bouchard
Shaped Contributor

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Multilingual Learners and the Science of Reading: Blending Code-Based and Language-Based Instruction

Explore how the science of reading supports multilingual learners and how integrating code-based and language-based instruction helps MLs become confident readers, writers, listeners, and speakers.

Stephanie Nash
Product Marketing Director, K–12 ELD and Multilingual Learners

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How to Integrate Writing Across the Curriculum in Your Classroom

Whether you’re teaching math, science, social studies, or ELA, writing can be a great way to assess students’ learning and deepen their thinking on a subject. Here's how to incorporate writing across the curriculum in your classroom.

Dr. Troy Hicks
Professor of English and Education, Central Michigan University

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What is Knowledge Building in the Classroom? A Guide for Educators

Discover how knowledge building in the classroom supports reading comprehension, and learn practical ways to incorporate the approach into your instruction.

Renee Behring
Education Research Director, Core ELA

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

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Research-Based Phonemic Awareness Interventions

Discover why research-based phonemic awareness interventions matter—and get strategies, sample intervention plans, and activities for K–12 students.

Amber Silverman
Shaped Contributor

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3 Principles of Structured Literacy

Explore the 3 principles of structured literacy and how explicit, systematic, and data-driven instruction support reading development through the science of reading.

Dr. Nathan Clemens
Professor and Department Chair, Department of Special Education, University of Texas, Austin

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Math and Writing

Math and writing are compared as instructional practices, with ideas and activities for incorporating writing in math class

Amber Silverman
Shaped Contributor

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How Oral Communication Skills Set Students Apart in an AI World

What skills can we give students that AI can’t replace? Explore how oral communication skills are one way students can set themselves apart in an AI world.

Erik Palmer
Program Consultant, Into Reading and Into Literature

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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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How Teachers Use Writable with Into Reading and Into Literature 

Discover how Writable enhances core ELA programs with AI‑supported feedback and schoolwide writing data that helps leaders monitor progress and drive instructional improvement.

Jessica Altounian
Senior Marketing Manager, HMH Labs

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How to Improve Reading Comprehension for Students

Learn research-based strategies for how to improve reading comprehension for students, including step-by-step guides, activities, and assessment.

Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor

WF2517841 Shaped 2026 Blog Post Reading interventions for dyslexia

Evidence-Based Dyslexia Intervention Strategies to Support Striving Readers

Empower your instruction with research‑backed dyslexia strategies that help you support striving readers with confidence and clarity.

Zoe Del Mar
Shaped Executive Editor

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Read 180: Frequently Asked Questions

Read 180 is an intervention reading program notably known for helping Grades 3–12 students gain one or more years of average growth in one year. Discover the answers to Read 180 frequently asked questions to learn more about this solution.

Cathy Ferrara
VP Product Management & Strategy, HMH

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Whole Texts vs. Excerpts: Finding the Balance

A look at why strong ELA instruction includes both whole books and well‑chosen excerpts—helping students build deep comprehension, background knowledge, and a love of reading.

Jennifer Hitt
VP, Product Management

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How to Teach Phonological Awareness Skills

Explore how to teach phonological awareness skills through clear instruction and hands-on activities.

Danielle Bouchard
Shaped Contributor

AWARDS & ACCOLADES

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Shorty Awards

Audience Honor, 2023, Shaped

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Digiday Content Marketing Awards

Finalist, 2023, Shaped

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People’s Choice Podcast Awards

Finalist, 2021 & 2023, Teachers in America

*The views expressed in our blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of HMH.