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Students building background knowledge through reading and collaborative learning

The Importance of Building Background Knowledge in Reading

In this blog, we break down the importance of building background knowledge in reading, and provide ways to build and strengthen comprehension.

Jennifer Prescott
Shaped Contributor

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

My Top Five Reading Strategies for Secondary Students

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

Teaching absolute value equation thermometer hero

Teaching Absolute Value of a Number in Math

Teaching absolute value can help students understand the distance of a number on the number line from zero, regardless of the direction from zero that the number lies.

Shaped Staff

Inauguration acivities for students

5 Presidential Inauguration Activities for Students

Inauguration Day is January 20. These presidential inauguration activities for students can be integrated into social studies or language arts lessons and used in remote or in-person classrooms.

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

National hispanic heritage month 2021 hero

6 National Hispanic Heritage Month Activities for Students: A Celebration of Culture

Use these National Hispanic Heritage Month activities and lesson ideas to honor Hispanic American contributions and influences in our society.

Daniel Poremba
Senior Tier II Specialist, HMH

Teaching linear equations inline image hero image

Teaching Linear Equations in Math

A linear equation in two variables describes a relationship in which the value of one of the variables depends on the value of the other variable.

Richard Blankman
Shaped Executive Editor

illustrated image with math equation

Teaching Ratios and Unit Rates in Math

Students learn the answer to "What is a unit rate?" in math class. Learn about ratios, rates, unit rates, and unit prices, and teach lessons where students solve real-world problems about rates and unit rates.

Richard Blankman
Shaped Executive Editor

WF1289060 Shaped 2020 Revamp Grade 6 8 Social Studies 85cab6aa25ee358f8b9ee45ba7a4bd78

Free History and Social Studies Activities for Middle School

Allow your middle schoolers to explore the past with these social studies activities and lessons covering topics ranging from U.S. Supreme Court cases to ancient civilizations.

Shaped Staff

Activityset2

Grades 6–8 ELA Activity Set 2: Summarize an Informational Text and More

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

Shaped Staff

WF1517050 Shaped 2022 NTL Blog Post Math Activities Lesson Plans

Fun Science Activities and Lesson Plan Ideas for All Grades

Find engaging math lessons and activities for every grade level.

Zoe Del Mar
Shaped Executive Editor

First Day of School Checklist for Teachers hero

First-Day-of-School Checklist for Teachers

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

Student uses digital resources to build background knowledge

Strategies for Building Background Knowledge in Reading, Grades K–6

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

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

HMH Staff

WF1289060 Shaped 2020 Revamp Grade 6 12 Science

Free Science Activities for Middle School and High School

Whether you're teaching remotely or in the classroom, these fun science activities for middle school and high school students can help make learning fun.

Shaped Staff

Martin Luther King Discussion Questions

Martin Luther King Jr. Discussion Questions: Reflecting on His Legacy

On MLK Day, reflect on Martin Luther King Jr.’s powerful message of equality and human potential with a list of Martin Luther King discussion questions.

Alex Honeysett
Former Director of Communications, Channel One News

How To Write A Praise Poem

New Wings: Writing Praise Poems in the Classroom

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

WF1289060 Shaped 2020 Revamp Grade 6 8 Math 85cab6aa25ee358f8b9ee45ba7a4bd78

Free Middle School Learning Activities

Keep students engaged with these fun learning activities for middle school, no matter what subject you teach and whether your students are in person or remote.

Shaped Staff

History of political parties lesson plan

Teaching U.S. Government: History of Political Parties Lesson Plan

Use this history of political parties lesson plan and activity to teach your students about how the U.S. political system in time for the 2020 presidential election.

Shaped Staff

Fourth of july poems

Patriotic Poems from HMH Poets for the Fourth of July

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