Shaped

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

 

OVER 10 MILLION READS

Featured Posts

Student with laptop showing data chart

How K-12 Administrators Can Run a 10-Minute ELA Audit

Use this 10-minute ELA curriculum audit to quickly scan your school’s full ELA system for research-aligned literacy indicators, identify gaps, and plan next steps

Read More
How to align instruction with the science of reading

Meeting the AI Moment in Education—and How We Get It Right

AI is reshaping education—discover how to harness its potential and ensure we get it right for learners everywhere.

Read Now
HCS Hero

Henry County Schools’ Strategic Approach to High-Quality Instruction in Every Classroom

See how one school system created a unified approach to instruction—aligning curriculum, professional learning, and feedback into a clear, scalable playbook.

Zoe Del Mar

Read More
Hero 180 award winners

5 Things We Can Learn from This Year’s 180 Award Winners

From goal-setting to classroom routines, here are five practices shaping the success of this year’s 180 Award-winning teachers.

Brenda Iasevoli

Read More
HMH Brand Photos 2024 Lifestyle G7 138 1600x900

Intervention vs. Remediation in Education: How They’re Different & Why That Matters 

Compare intervention vs remediation in education, including how they're different, why they're important, and strategies and activities to implement them

Dr. Bonnie Cochran

Read More

Latest Posts

Phonics vs Phonological Awareness Hero

Phonics vs. Phonological Awareness

Phonics vs. phonological awareness—what’s the difference? This article breaks down what each skill involves and how to use both in the classroom.

Danielle Bouchard
Shaped Contributor

1

Multilingual Learners and the Science of Reading: Blending Code-Based and Language-Based Instruction

Explore how the science of reading supports multilingual learners and how integrating code-based and language-based instruction helps MLs become confident readers, writers, listeners, and speakers.

Stephanie Nash
Product Marketing Director, K–12 ELD and Multilingual Learners

Hero 2 knowledge buildiing

What is Knowledge Building in the Classroom? A Guide for Educators

Discover how knowledge building in the classroom supports reading comprehension, and learn practical ways to incorporate the approach into your instruction.

Renee Behring
Education Research Director, Core ELA

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

HMH Brand Photos 2024 Contextual G1 30 1600x900

Research-Based Phonemic Awareness Interventions

Discover why research-based phonemic awareness interventions matter—and get strategies, sample intervention plans, and activities for K–12 students.

Amber Silverman
Shaped Contributor

HMH Brand Photos 2024 Contextual G1 20 1600x900

3 Principles of Structured Literacy

Explore the 3 principles of structured literacy and how explicit, systematic, and data-driven instruction support reading development through the science of reading.

Dr. Nathan Clemens
Professor and Department Chair, Department of Special Education, University of Texas, Austin

Ef0830e3 c79c 4d8e b322 003f187fab53

How to Improve Reading Comprehension for Students

Learn research-based strategies for how to improve reading comprehension for students, including step-by-step guides, activities, and assessment.

Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor

WF2503365 Shaped 2025 Blog Post How to Teach Phonological Awareness Skills Hero

How to Teach Phonological Awareness Skills

Explore how to teach phonological awareness skills through clear instruction and hands-on activities.

Danielle Bouchard
Shaped Contributor

WF2492850 Shaped 2025 Blog Post 5 Components of Structured Literacy 2

6 Components of Structured Literacy: What Every Teacher Should Know

Discover the six essential components of Structured Literacy and why they matter for every classroom.

Miah Daughtery, EdD
NWEA VP, Content Advocacy-Literacy, HMH

WF2470050 Shaped 2025 Blog Post Addressing the Middle School Reading Crisis 2

Addressing the Middle School Reading Crisis

Discover four research-based strategies that help middle school students tackle complex texts with confidence.

Miah Daughtery, EdD
NWEA VP, Content Advocacy-Literacy, HMH

Hero WF2298550

What Is the Science of Reading?

Find out the answer to the question, “What is the science of reading?” Plus, explore science of reading strategies and resources.

Amber Silverman
Shaped Contributor

SO Rdecoding

Science of Reading Decoding Strategies: Unlocking Fluency Through Systematic Instruction

Discover proven decoding strategies rooted in the science of reading. Learn how systematic phonics instruction and decodable texts build fluency, confidence, and comprehension for every learner.

David Dickerman
Director of Product Management, HMH

Renee Behring
Education Research Director, Core ELA

WF2315255 Shaped 2025 Blog Post Phonological Awareness Examples Hero

Phonological Awareness Examples

Learn more about research-backed phonological awareness examples and activities.

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

WF2367376 Shaped 2025 Blog Post Phonological Awareness Activities V2

9 Fun Phonological Awareness Activities

Learn to support all learners with these 9 phonological awareness activities that make literacy skill-building both fun and impactful.

Amber Silverman
Shaped Contributor

Repeated reading hero

Best Practices for Repeated Reading in Intervention

Unlock the full potential of repeated reading in intervention with these proven steps.

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

HQIM hero WF2350755

High-Quality Instructional Materials in Reading and ELA: Resources for Students and Teachers

HQIM don’t just support learning—they help shape the entire educational experience. Learn more about how both students and teachers can benefit from high-quality instructional materials.

Miah Daughtery, EdD
NWEA VP, Content Advocacy-Literacy, HMH

Differenciated Reading Strategies Hero

5 Strategies for Differentiated Reading Instruction

Learn about differentiated reading strategies you can use to drive better learning outcomes.

Ellen Ullman
Shaped Contributor

New Haven Success Story hero

Reading Achievement Is on the Rise in New Haven Public Schools

Reading scores for Connecticut's New Haven Public Schools reached what officials called a “crisis.” Three years later, the numbers are starting to turn around.

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

WF2182450 thought leadership series hero how to align instruction with the science of reading

How to Align Instruction with the Science of Reading 

Miah Daughtery, EdD
NWEA VP, Content Advocacy-Literacy, HMH

AWARDS & ACCOLADES

Shorty Audience Honor 1x1 png

Shorty Awards

Audience Honor, 2023, Shaped

Digiday Finalist Awards 1x1 png

Digiday Content Marketing Awards

Finalist, 2023, Shaped

Podcast Awards Peoples Choice Awards 1x1 png

People’s Choice Podcast Awards

Finalist, 2021 & 2023, Teachers in America

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