Shaped

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

 

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6 Ways to Deliver Differentiated Instruction for Gifted Students

Discover six strategies to deliver differentiated instruction for gifted students.

Ellen Ullman
Shaped Contributor

Writing Feedback for Students

Writing Feedback for Students

Save time with these effective feedback strategies for improving student writing.

Owen Bondono
Shaped Contributor

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Technology and Personalized Learning

Discover the benefits of technology and personalized learning in the classroom—and digital tools that can automate the personalized learning process.

Aoife Dempsey
Senior Vice President Product Management, HMH

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22 St. Patrick’s Day Writing Prompts and Activities

Bring some luck to your classroom with these St. Patrick’s Day writing prompts and activities for elementary, middle school, and high school students.

Ali Habashi
Former Shaped Editor

What is Pi Day and why do we celebrate it?

What Is Pi Day and Why Do We Celebrate It?

What is Pi Day and why do we celebrate It? Learn about the history of the holiday and how to celebrate Pi Day in the classroom.

Richard Blankman
Shaped Executive Editor

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Phases of the Moon Activities and Lesson Plan Ideas

Shoot for the moon with free science and math resources, including activities, labs, and FUNomenal Readers.

Ali Habashi
Former Shaped Editor

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Talk First, Write Later: Oral Communication in the Classroom

Hear from Erik Palmer why speaking is just as important as reading and writing as a form of communication.

Erik Palmer
Program Consultant, Into Reading and Into Literature

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8 Effective Fluency Strategies for Reading Intervention

Discover these eight research-based reading fluency intervention strategies you can use in the classroom.

Dr. Amy Endo
Education Research Director, Supplemental & Intervention Language & Literacy

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12 Valentine’s Day Activities for Middle and High School Students

Get your whole class feeling the love this February 14. Try these Valentine’s Day activities for middle school and high school students.

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

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Math Meets Sports: How Is Math Used in the Summer and Winter Games?

In a special Olympic edition of the Math at Work web series, paired with activities based on the Olympic Games, students will learn how important math is to the world of sports.

Richard Blankman
Shaped Executive Editor

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How to Find the Most Effective Digital Writing Program: 5 Considerations

Not all digital writing programs are created equally. Ask these questions when weighing your options.

Meghann Weis
Instructional Technology Coach, Patriot HS, VA

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A History of Pi: Global Calculations

A history of pi is given, showing how mathematicians across the West and East have contributed to our understanding of the constant pi.

Richard Blankman
Shaped Executive Editor

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2025 National Novel Writing Month: Turning Students into Excited Writers

In November, National Novel Writing Month begins for thousands of writers around the world. At the same time, many teachers introduced their classrooms to the NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program, and found their students developing a new-found passion for creative writing.

Ali Habashi
Former Shaped Editor

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Teaching x- and y-Axis Graphing on Coordinate Grids

Teach students about graphing along the x and y axis on coordinate graphs as a visual method for showing relationships between numbers.

Richard Blankman
Shaped Executive Editor

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90-Second Science: Quick and Easy Science Experiments

Watch these 90-Second Science videos of quick and easy science experiments for kids that you can do at home or in the classroom.

Shaped Staff

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29 Back-to-School Writing Prompts for Middle and High School

School's back in session, which means it's time for a fresh batch of writing prompts for the new year. Have your high school or middle school students try these Back-to-School prompts this fall.

Ali Habashi
Former Shaped Editor

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Teaching Students How to Write a Reflective Narrative Essay

This lesson explores how to write a reflective narrative essay, a type of writing where writers reflect on an experience and show how their lives changed.

Shaped Staff

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Mayan Pyramids vs. Egyptian Pyramids Lesson Plan Idea

Looking to include ELA instruction in your social studies classroom? This Mayan pyramids vs. Egyptian pyramids lesson plan idea has students discuss the similarities and differences between the two types of structures through writing an essay.

Shaped Staff