Shaped

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

Latest Posts

Donna Gradel Hero Image

Podcast: On STEM Learning and Community Outreach with Donna Gradel on Teachers in America

This episode of Teachers in America features Donna Gradel, 2019 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year and a finalist for National Teacher of the Year.

Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor

Challenges Stem

Address 3 Challenges to Teaching STEM as an International Educator

Examining these challenges is essential to establish a pragmatic foundation upon which a STEM program can be constructed.

Michael DiSpezio
Author, ScienceFusion and HMH Science Dimensions Programs

What Happens After Failure In The Science Classroom 1

What Happens After 'Failure' in the Science Classroom?

Teaching about failure in an engineering context can help students better understand how this becomes a learning opportunity.

Dr. Cary Sneider
NGSS Writing Team Leader, Associate Research Professor at Portland State University

839381082 Edit

Making STEM Hands On: Connect the Curriculum to Students’ Lives

Whenever possible, examples should be profiled from students' immediate or regional surroundings.

Michael DiSpezio
Author, ScienceFusion and HMH Science Dimensions Programs

Hmh Middle School 2017 0437

What Is STEM Education? A Primer for International Educators

International educators should explain to students how science, technology, engineering, and math are intertwined.

Michael DiSpezio
Author, ScienceFusion and HMH Science Dimensions Programs

Evidence Notebook00

What Are Evidence Notebooks in the Science Classroom?

Students use evidence notebooks to record observations and predictions, make sketches, and note questions that they have.

Michael DiSpezio
Author, ScienceFusion and HMH Science Dimensions Programs

Science Tech Engineering

Integrating Science With Engineering and Tech in the Classroom

Understanding the connections between science, engineering, and technology are important to monitoring planets and other parts of our solar system.

Dr. Mike Passow
Former Classroom Teacher; Past President, National Earth Science Teachers Association

Sy3

Podcast: Author and Naturalist Talks Love of Animals, New Memoir

Sy Montgomery, author of more than 20 books, shared the various life lessons we can all learn from animals and how her memoir came to be.

Caitlin Henault
Senior Communications Associate, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Computational Modeling

Why and How to Use Computational Models in Biology

Modeling can help spark students’ own questions that will lead to further investigations in the science classroom.

Dr. Mike Heithaus
Dean and Professor, Florida International University, Miami

Coding K12

Coding in Classrooms: Why Computer Science Education Matters

Given the importance of computing knowledge today, every student deserves the opportunity to learn computer science, including coding.

Stevin Smith
Senior Vice President of Technical Services, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Science Webinar

Making the Transition to the Next Generation Science Standards

The new Next Generation Science Standards represent an entirely different approach to teaching and learning. Here's what you need to know.

Dr. Mike Heithaus
Dean and Professor, Florida International University, Miami

Science Labs2

Science Labs in the Classroom: Comparing NGSS vs. Traditional

Rather than adhering to explicit steps during labs, students are now involved in more active learning experiences.

Michael DiSpezio
Author, ScienceFusion and HMH Science Dimensions Programs

Science Image1

Why Are Science and Engineering Practices Like Modeling Important?

Developing and using models is one of the NGSS' eight science and engineering practices.

Dr. Cary Sneider
NGSS Writing Team Leader, Associate Research Professor at Portland State University

Rocket Scientist Podcast

Podcast: From Girl Scout to Rocket Scientist—Sylvia Acevedo's Story

This conversation features HMH CEO Jack Lynch and Acevedo—rocket scientist, entrepreneur, and CEO of the Girl Scouts.

Caitlin Henault
Senior Communications Associate, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Obrienphoto

Metric Measurements, Magnitudes, and Mathematics Matter in the Science of Scale

Dr. Thomas O’Brien
Professor, Graduate School of Education at SUNY Binghamton

Greenhouse22

How to Teach the NGSS Crosscutting Concept of Structure and Function

Bernadine Okoro
2010–2011 Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow, National Science Foundation Fellow

Marjorie Frank
Author, ELD Specialist

Sneiderimage3

How Crosscutting Concepts Are Related: A Case Study From Astronomy

Dr. Cary Sneider
NGSS Writing Team Leader, Associate Research Professor at Portland State University

Dispezio2

Developing and Using Models: Hands-On Strategies for All Grade Bands!

Michael DiSpezio
Author, ScienceFusion and HMH Science Dimensions Programs

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