Shaped

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

Latest Posts

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Podcast: Finding Acceptance as an Immigrant Student with Margarita Lezama

Meet Margarita Lezama, an ESL and ESOL teacher at Brownsville Middle School in Miami, Florida. Originally from Nicaragua, Margarita now teaches a large immigrant population and relates with her students on topics like coping with culture shock, learning English, and facing discrimination.

Ali Habashi
Former Shaped Editor

World Language Classroom

Building Up Students and Reducing Fear in the World Language Classroom

A Spanish teacher shares three ways to empower your students in your world language classroom and to help reduce their anxiety.

Karly Enright
Spanish Teacher

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Mindshift in How We Teach English Learners

Reimagine how you teach ELs by reconfiguring the way you view second-language acquisition and adapting your practices, policies, and resources to reflect it.

Joanna Miral
Shaped Staff

Reading Intervention In A Digital World

Reading Intervention in a Digital World: Q&A With Elmira City School District

Find teacher insights into how reading intervention has evolved in the past two decades as well as advice to maximize student outcomes, ensure a growth mindset, and more.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

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Feedback Essentials for English Learners During Academic Interactions

It's abundantly clear that second-language learners require informed feedback to enhance their performance and achievement.

Dr. Kate Kinsella
Author, English 3D; Co-Author, Read 180®; Teacher Educator, Researcher; CEO, Dr. Kate Kinsella & Associates

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4 Ways to Beat the Back-to-School Blues for Language Teachers

A Spanish teacher offers tips to incorporate in world languages classrooms, including supporting student voice and choice, creating routines, and cultivating a love of language.

Jori Greenhill
Spanish Teacher

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E3: Equity, Evidence, and Efficacy—Practices for English Learner Success

Dr. Elena Izqueirdo addresses how educators can build equity into their instruction with English learners.

Dr. Elena Izquierdo
Author, Escalate English; Author ¡Arriba la Lectura!; Associate Professor, Dual Language Education / Biliteracy / ELL Education, University of Texas, El Paso

Rachel Swartz Classroom Teachers In America

Podcast: Spotting Signs of Bullying with Rachel Swartz on Teachers in America

On the Teachers in America podcast series, Rachel Swartz—a teacher in the Bronx, New York—talks bullying, SEL, and inspiring teachers

Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor

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Podcast: Recognizing the Needs of Students with Amanda Rack on Teachers in America

On the Teachers in America podcast, Amanda Rack—a teacher in Southern California—opens up about the struggles of being a teacher mom.

Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor

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Does Your District Have a Comprehensive K–3 Reading Policy?

A checklist to help determine if your district has a comprehensive K–3 policy and what else you can be doing to help struggling readers.

K. A. Jagai
Writer, Girls Write Now

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How to Create a Better Classroom Environment for English Learners

How do teachers best serve ELs? The secret comes from the 3 E’s: equity, evidence, and efficacy.

K. A. Jagai
Writer, Girls Write Now

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Tips to Develop an Impactful K–3 Literacy Solution in Your District

HMH conducted impact studies on increasing K–3 literacy and the efficacy of varying teaching practices and pulled together three tips to help your district.

K. A. Jagai
Writer, Girls Write Now

April Read180 2

How to Help Striving Readers Succeed: 20 Years of READ 180

HMH's Francie Alexander explores strategies that can be used to improve literacy among English learners, students with disabilities, and others.

Francie Alexander
Senior Vice President, Efficacy & Consulting Research

Writing Student

You Can’t Write What You Can’t Say!

It's time to rethink the traditional writing instruction we offer English learners and struggling readers.

Dr. Kate Kinsella
Author, English 3D; Co-Author, Read 180®; Teacher Educator, Researcher; CEO, Dr. Kate Kinsella & Associates

Leadto Literacy

4 Takeaways From Our Leadership Talks Every Teacher Should Know

How can we effectively lead students to reading and writing proficiency? We had four experts weigh in.

Shaped Staff

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Facebook Live Recaps: Diversifying Reading Materials and Practices

It’s powerful and necessary for children to see themselves represented in literature.

Julia Roch

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If Your Culture Is Broken, You Can’t Fix Anything Else

Jim Warford
Senior Advisor and Keynote Speaker, International Center for Leadership in Education

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Impacting Tomorrow's Classrooms: Elena Izquierdo—Thought Leader, Educator, and Tireless Advocate

Rebecca Beck
Director of Product Marketing, Language Acquisition, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

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