Shaped

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

Latest Posts

WF1289060 Shaped 2020 Revamp Grade 3 5 Reading

Free Reading Activities for 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade

These reading activities for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade will help your students with reading practice so they can gain the right literacy skills.

Shaped Staff

WF1289060 Shaped 2020 Revamp Grade 3 5

Free 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Learning Activities

We have fun 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade learning activities that span reading, math, and science on a range of topics to help you find the perfect fit for your students.

Shaped Staff

WF1304900 CJ Reynolds

Collaborate and Focus: Ideas to Help Teachers Work Remotely

CJ Reynolds, creator of Real Rap with Reynolds, offers two key ideas to help teachers work remotely.

CJ Reynolds
High School Literature Teacher, Philadelphia School District

WF1289060 Shaped 2020 Revamp Kindergarten

Free Kindergarten Learning Activities

With these free kindergarten learning activities, videos, and teacher guides, you can build your students' knowledge of reading, math, and science.

Shaped Staff

Kindergarten reading

Free Reading Activities for Kindergarten

Help your youngest students' build their literacy skills with these free reading activities for kindergarten, complete with videos, teacher guides, and more.

Shaped Staff

WF1289060 Shaped 2020 Revamp Grade 1 2

Free 1st and 2nd Grade Learning Activities

Keep your students engaged while boosting their academic skills with these free, downloadable 1st and 2nd grade learning activities in reading, math, and science.

Shaped Staff

Free Reading Activities for 1st and 2nd Grade

Free Reading Activities for 1st and 2nd Grade

With these free reading activities for 1st and 2nd grade, you can engage young learners in topics ranging from incredible insects to the great outdoors.

Shaped Staff

Reading tablet student

Redefining How We Teach Reading for the 21st Century

In a world increasingly driven by technology, it's time for educators to focus on teaching lessons that prepare students for digital reading.

Erik Palmer
Program Consultant, Into Reading and Into Literature

Tyrone Howard Hero 4 1

7 Culturally Responsive Teaching Strategies and Instructional Practices

Implement these culturally responsive teaching strategies and instruction practices in the classroom to help students feel included, validated, valued, and safe.

Dr. Tyrone C. Howard
Professor, UCLA; Senior Fellow, The Center for Model Schools; HMH Learning Sciences & Research Advisory Board

WF1288378 Shaped 2020 Blog Halloween Math Activities Hero Literature

ELA Halloween Activities for Middle School and High School Students

Get your ELA class into the spirit with these fun Halloween activities for middle school and high school students, and learn from a few masters of horror how to really make those spines tingle and those bones shake.

Ali Habashi
Former Shaped Editor

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

Middle school writing strategies

Strategies to Teach Writing in Grades 3–12: Hear from the Experts

Listen to these podcasts from nationally acclaimed writing experts to help you find your stride when it comes to writing instruction for Grades 3-12.

Sara Buren
Shaped Contributor

Fun writing prompts for middle school

4 Writing Prompts for Middle School Students to Practice Different Genres

Use these four fun writing prompts for middle school students, along with accompanying rubrics and tips, to help them build their writing skills throughout the school year.

Sara Buren
Shaped Contributor

WF1138053 5 Reading Resolutions Hero Image Opt1 85cab6aa25ee358f8b9ee45ba7a4bd78

Reading Resolutions for Educators: #5—Literacy for All!

Educators, families, and communities working together can achieve HMH Chief Research Officer Francie Alexander's goal of Literacy for All!

Francie Alexander
Senior Vice President, Efficacy & Consulting Research

Carol Jago Blogs 1

Great Summer Reads with Carol Jago: Never Give Up, Grades 6–8

Though the characters in these stories face challenges and obstacles, they never stop trying to do the right thing.

Shaped Staff

Carol Jago Blogs2 1

Great Summer Reads with Carol Jago: Never Give Up, Grades 9–12

Though the characters in these stories face challenges and obstacles, they never stop trying to do the right thing.

Shaped Staff

Virtual writers room duane capizzi hero

How to Write for TV: Virtual Collaboration and the Blank Page

Writing for television is certainly one of the more collaborative forms of writing. But collaboration is only the first step of the process, since the goal of The Writers Room is for writers to come away with an episodic assignment to complete.

Duane Capizzi
TV Writer and Producer

WF1195500 Duane hero image

Literacy at Work: The Writers Room with Duane Capizzi

Have your students explore the exciting world of TV writing with a free lesson plan and insights from producer, writer, and Carmen Sandiego showrunner Duane Capizzi.

Shaped Staff

Ballgame Blog

Play Ball! The Best Sports Books for Kids of All Ages

These sports books for kids will provide your children with some all-star fun while we wait until it’s safe to get back on the field and in the stands.

Susan Steinway
Archivist, HMH

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