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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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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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Making the Case for a Knowledge-Building Curriculum

What began as one teacher’s search for ways to teach nonfiction became a lesson in the power of a knowledge-building curriculum.

Brenda Iasevoli

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Reliability and Validity in Educational Assessment: From Theory to Classroom Practice

Understand what makes an assessment trustworthy and why it matters for students. This article breaks down reliability, validity, and fairness into clear, practical insights educators and leaders can use to make more confident, equitable decisions.

Dr. Vytas Laitusis

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2026 Back-to-School Articles for Educators

Bookmark this page featuring our 2025 back-to-school articles for educators. It’s filled with the resources you need to start the school year off strong, from prepping for the first day, to classroom management strategies, and more.

Shaped Staff

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Latest Posts

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Characteristics of High-Quality Assessment in Education

Learn about the characteristics of high-quality assessment in education, plus get tips for selecting them.

Jonathan Fine
Shaped Contributor

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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
Shaped Executive Editor

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New Study: Performance Suite Drives Significant Student Achievement Gains 

Third party research study finds students using Performance Suite increased ELA proficiency by 12%—more than double a comparison school’s gains. See the results.

Zoe Del Mar
Shaped Executive Editor

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Mixed Achievement Trends for Our Youngest Students

New NWEA data shows K–2 reading scores remain stalled and math gaps persist—reinforcing why sustained, evidence-based early learning policies are critical.

Lindsay Dworkin
Senior Vice President, Policy & Government Affairs

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Lessons From Thurgood Marshall Academy: How Data Drives Purposeful Intervention and Growth

Discover how one school uses data-driven intervention to accelerate learning, close gaps, and boost student confidence.

Jennifer Corujo
Shaped Editor

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10 Trends in Education to Watch in 2026 

In 2026, the top trends in education aren't about adding more technology to classrooms or chasing the next shiny idea. They’re about making better use of what schools already have. Take a look.

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

WF2453650 Shaped 2025 Blog Post Arlington ISD Customer Story Hero

How Arlington ISD Built a Strong, Data‑Driven Intervention System

Learn how Arlington ISD in Texas strengthened its MTSS model with data-driven practices and high‑impact interventions like Read 180 and Math 180.

Jennifer Corujo
Shaped Editor

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Inside a Rural West Virginia District’s Journey to Reading Growth

Discover how Morgan County School District in rural West Virginia boosted reading proficiency through Read 180® and MAP® Growth™. Learn actionable strategies for early intervention, data-driven instruction, and fostering student confidence

Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor

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Using Assessment Data to Inform Instruction

Explore why using assessment data to inform instruction is key to making informed teaching decisions and improving student achievement.

Jonathan Fine
Shaped Contributor

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Opening Doors in Dorchester 2: A Districtwide Reading Success Story

Dorchester School District Two in South Carolina uses MTSS along with Read 180 to ensure all students find success in reading.

Richard Blankman
Shaped Executive Editor

WF2424500 Shaped 2025 Blog Post Big data in education HERO

Unlocking the Power of Big Data in Education 

Big data in education is reshaping how schools identify learning needs and personalize instruction. Learn how thoughtful data use can help districts take meaningful action that supports every student.

Dr. Suzanne Jimenez
Director of Academic Planning and Data Analytics at HMH

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The data dilemma: We measure learning, but do we act on it?

Learn how education data, when used wisely, helps make great teaching possible and improves student outcomes.

Francie Alexander
Senior Vice President, Efficacy & Consulting Research

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Quiz: How Strong Is the Data Culture in Your School or District?

Take our quiz to see how well your school or district uses data to inform instruction, and get resources for building a more cohesive data culture.

Shaped Staff

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Why Is Data Important in Education?

Explore why data is important in education through effective collection, analysis, and data-driven instruction that supports student success.

Dr. Stephan Knobloch
Sr. Director Academic Planning & Analytics, HMH

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Reading Achievement Is on the Rise in New Haven Public Schools

Reading scores for Connecticut's New Haven Public Schools reached what officials called a “crisis.” Three years later, the numbers are starting to turn around.

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

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Why HMH Performance Suite Is "Huge" for Liberty Elementary: A Conversation with Learning Director Lisa Nelson

Learn how HMH Performance Suite with Into Math helped Liberty Elementary students improve their math scores.

Christine Condon
Shaped Editor-in-Chief

WF2279900 Shaped 2025 Blog Post HQIM Implementation Hero

3 Professional Learning Strategies for Successful High-Quality Instructional (HQIM) Adoption

Do you want to improve student literacy outcomes? Consider deploying these HQIM implementation strategies to drive student success.

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

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A Streamlined Math Solution Brings Planning Time Down and Student Performance Up in California

The Liberty School District in California is seeing strong results with a new solution that combines high-quality math curriculum, the most accurate assessments available, and planning tools that save teachers time.

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

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.