Shaped

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

Latest Posts

Tips for Teaching Middle School Writing

Teaching middle school writing can help students learn the value of their words.

Jennifer Prescott
Shaped Contributor

How to Create a Personal Learning Plan

What is a personalized learning plan (PLP)? Find out the answer to this question, plus receive examples of PLPs.

Jennifer Prescott
Shaped Contributor

Teachers in America Podcast With Velnetta Runyon

Photo: Middle school math teacher Velnetta Runyon

Velnetta Runyon’s goal is to show students not to be afraid of math. She ensures that her middle schoolers are believed in and are pushed to their fullest potential. In this episode, see how she teaches perseverance from the first day of school.

Christine Condon
Shaped Editor-in-Chief

2024 international literacy day activities for all ages hero

Get students reading, writing, and learning more about the importance of literacy with these 2024 International Literacy Day activities.

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

Welcome back to school activities ideas for students HERO

Try out these welcome-back-to-school activities and ideas for students to usher in the new school year.

Ali Habashi
Former Shaped Editor

7 First-Day-of-School Activities for Middle School Science

Get back into science with these back-to-school activities for middle school science.

Shaped Staff

First Day of School Checklist for Teachers hero

Our first-day-of-school checklist for teachers will help get the new school year off to a great start.

Katie Risolo Radovich
First-Grade Teacher, Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York

First-Day-of-School Get-to-Know-You Activities

Try these back-to-school getting-to-know-you activities to help students discover more about their classmates on the first day of class.

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

Female student smiling in elementary classroom

These math icebreakers are games and activities that span all grades to help math teachers get students practicing math while getting to know one another.

Shaped Staff

WF1569351 Shaped 2022 Blog Post Differentiated Instruction Strategies for English Language Learners Hero1

Help prepare ELL students with support resources that benefit your multilingual learners.

Zoe Del Mar
Shaped Executive Editor

two elementary students working with their teacher

Learn more about response to intervention (RTI), a three-tier system to identify how to help support your students in the classroom.

Zoe Del Mar
Shaped Executive Editor

Dog and cat standing in front of a venn diagram

Have your students use our free Venn diagram graphic organizer template to organize their ideas.

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

Celebrations Hero

Round out the school year with a party to remember by trying out some of these end of school year celebration ideas..

Ali Habashi
Former Shaped Editor

Importance of differentiated instruction hero

Find out the answer to the question, “Why is differentiated instruction important?” Plus, receive tips on differentiation from an educator.

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

Delivering differentiated instruction for gifted students hero

Discover six strategies to deliver differentiated instruction for gifted students.

Ellen Ullman
Shaped Contributor

Hanukkah activities games elementary

Celebrate the Festival of Lights with these Hanukkah classroom games and activities for elementary students.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month Hero

Looking for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month ideas? We've got you covered with activities spanning Grades Pre-K–12.

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

Arab American Heritage Month Animation Hero Image

April is National Arab American Heritage month! It’s a culturally important moment to celebrate the community’s history and potentially teach your students something new.

Zoe Del Mar
Shaped Executive Editor

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