Shaped

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

Latest Posts

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What I Have Learned Teaching My Refugee Students

English Language Development teacher Amelia Herrera shares lessons she has learned from teaching refugee students.

Amelia Herrera
English Language Development Teacher, Language Institute at Modesto City Schools

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9 Resources for Coding & Computer Science

In celebration of Computer Science Education Week this week, we’ve compiled a list of 9 apps and resources created by the variety of providers on HMH Marketplace.

HMHCo

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Narrowing the Opportunity Gap in Mathematics Teaching and Learning

In a Q&A with Dr. Matt Larson, a former math teacher and current President Elect of The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, HMH takes a closer look at the opportunity gap in mathematics and how effective tracking and assessments are.

HMHCo

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What Can Educators Learn From 20 Years of Reading Research?

HMH's Director of Literacy Education Research Julia Febiger shares key takeaways from a study from The Institution of Education Sciences about effective reading programs and practices for adolescents.

Julia Febiger
Research Expert

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The Spark News Roundup: Ideas Worth Sharing

In this edition of The Spark News Roundup, we take a closer look at how some schools are introducing new and innovative practices into their classrooms, from scheduling four recesses a day, to embracing a more interactive approach to preschool math instruction through the use of talking puppets.

HMHCo

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Calling All Young Writers: Do You Have a Story? We Want to Publish It!

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is sending out a final call for submissions to the Spark a Story national short story writing contest, which closes October 7.

HMHCo

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Four Ways to Help Students Become Better Writers

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Program Author Dr. Bill McBride shares four ways to help students analyze complex prompts and become better writers.

Dr. Bill McBride
Author-in-Residence

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Even Published Authors Get Stuck: How to Overcome Writer’s Block

To celebrate HMH’s Spark a Story contest, we turned to some of our authors and novelists to get their tips for how to overcome writer’s block.

HMHCo

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The Write Stuff: How to Get Your Story Noticed (and Published)

HMH gives educators and aspiring writers a sneak peek into the publishing world, with advice about how to get manuscripts noticed, thoughts on the current trends in the industry and more.

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What Does Brain Science Research Say Students Should be Reading?

Dr. Laurie E. Cutting
Professor, Vanderbilt University

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Next Generation Science Standards: The Times, They are a-Changing

HMH Program Author Michael DiSpezio explains the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and how they help guide effective science instruction.

Michael DiSpezio
Author, ScienceFusion and HMH Science Dimensions Programs

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Calling Young Writers to Spark a Story with HMH

HMH launches Spark a Story, a creative writing contest to find, celebrate and publish the best original short stories written by high schoolers.

Bruce Nichols
Senior Vice President and Publisher, HMH

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Getting It by Heart: The Value in Memorizing Poetry

In celebration of National Poetry Month, HMH ELA Program Author Carol Jago explains the value in memorizing poetry and the importance of uninterrupted reading.

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

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Attentive Listening: An Overlooked Component of Academic Interaction

HMH program author Kate Kinsella, Ed.D. offers insights and strategies to support English learners in becoming focused listeners in the classroom.

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

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Beyond the Written Word Close Readings of Complex Visual Texts

Visual artists approach their work with the same purposes as writers: to persuade, to explain, and to convey experience real or imagined. The difference is in their tools. While writers employ diction, syntax, and imagery to establish a tone and convey their message; visual artists use color, line, shape, object, and scale.

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

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The Power of Social Media

While social media has become one of the most popular ways for us to engage and interact with one another, its integration into the classroom is still in its infancy.

Alex Honeysett
Former Director of Communications, Channel One News

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