Shaped

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

Latest Posts

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Podcast: Future Skills for Fact-Checking Online Fakes

Listen to a podcast on teaching media literacy in the classroom and developing effective media literacy programs in schools, featuring Katy Byron (MediaWise at Poynter) and Erik Palmer (author and former teacher).

Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor

Wordless Picture Books Hero

Wordless Picture Books in the Classroom: Telling Stories Through Illustrations

Wordless picture books can teach kids to gather information from visual clues. These books with no words allow them to move from merely describing what is happening to narrating a story.

Susan Steinway
Archivist, HMH

6 Tips From Literacy Experts

6 Literacy and Leadership Tips Every Educator Should Know

Implement these tips from our literacy experts and leaders in education to better support all students in the classroom.

Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor

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

Social Media Fakes

Spotting a Fake Post: Teaching About Media Literacy on Social Platforms

As teachers, we have a responsibility to help students become media literate, including teaching them how to avoid being duped by fake social media posts.

Erik Palmer
Program Consultant, Into Reading and Into Literature

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The Best Halloween Books for Kids: Celebrate in the Classroom

Use this list of the best Halloween books for kids to celebrate the holiday in your classroom. Some of these Halloween children's books feature classic characters such as Curious George!

Susan Steinway
Archivist, HMH

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All About Me Activities: Celebrate What Makes You 'Different'

Explore All About Me activities for elementary and middle school students. Help your students to celebrate what makes them different.

Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor

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Celebrating Curiosity Day: The History of Curious George

Saturday, September 14 celebrates 78 years of learning through reading about George and The Man With the Yellow Hat.

Susan Steinway
Archivist, HMH

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Back to School, Back to Shaping Students' Lives

With this back-to-school checklist for teachers, a former educator explains why it’s essential to provide a space for student voice and choice.

Noelle Morris
Senior Director Community Engagement, HMH; Host of HMH Learning Moments: Teachers in America Podcast

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Engaging Reticent Contributors in Whole-Class Discussions

Author, teacher educator, and literacy expert Dr. Kate Kinsella provides strategies on engaging every student in whole-class discussions and improving current methods of eliciting student responses.

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

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Podcast: Becoming a Better Learner with Monica Fitzgerald on Teachers in America

On Teachers in America, Monica Fitzgerald, a reading teacher and literacy coordinator, talks about growing up in a military family and as the child of an immigrant—and how she connects her experiences to her teaching practice.

Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor

July System44

Why Our Blended Foundational Reading Program Is Called System 44

Learn the thinking behind the name System 44, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.

Francie Alexander
Senior Vice President, Efficacy & Consulting Research

Summer Reading Teacher List Hero

Summer Reads for Teachers and K-12 Administrators

Summer reading isn't just for students! These books will help educators enrich their teaching practice, while keeping readers entertained.

Joanna Miral
Shaped Staff

Diverse Books Hero Whiterose

Helping Children Read the World: Stories From History

Author and teacher Carol Jago suggests books for your classroom library that situate social-emotional issues within real-world settings, both past and present.

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

Sancha Gray Hero

Strengthening the Core: Leading Transformation in My School District

Sancha Gray, Superintendent of Schools for the Asbury Park School District, offers her advice to prioritize leadership and literacy in K-12 schools.

​Sancha Gray
Asbury Park Superintendent

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Conferring Is Differentiated Instruction: How to Hold Student Writing Conferences

Writing conferences are one-to-one conversations and give teachers a crucial opportunity to meet each student’s individual needs.

Carl Anderson
Author and Literacy Consultant

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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

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