Shaped

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

Latest Posts

Best Of Shaped

A Year in Review: Most-Read Shaped Blogs of 2019

In this selection of the most-read blog posts of 2019, we hear from middle school teachers, literacy and math experts, and a parent.

Christine Condon
Shaped Editor-in-Chief

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Teaching Mindfulness in the Classroom With Early Learners

Begin teaching mindfulness in the classroom with your early learners using this handy primer from a veteran teacher for practicing mindfulness in schools with your students.

Kim Block
Retired Teacher

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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Bullying Prevention Tips from Carmen Sandiego’s Fearless Kids

Use these tips inspired by #racetospeakup founder Devin Moore, and a free SEL lesson plan, to discuss bullying prevention with your students.

Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor

Techniques For Social Emotional Learning In The Classroom

4 Tips for Implementing Social-Emotional Learning

Read four techniques for implementing social-emotional learning in the classroom. SEL at school starts with you!

Erica Battle
Professional Learning Consultant, ICLE

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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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Teach SEL with Carmen Sandiego’s Fearless Kids Around the World

You don’t need to leave your school to take your class on an international field trip. In our new web series, Carmen Sandiego spotlights six real kids who are creating positive change in their communities.

Shaped Staff

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Educating the Whole Child: Building Teacher-Student Relationships That Last

To build positive teacher-student relationships in the classroom, focus on being personable, setting high expectations, and making learning fun.

Venola Mason
Associate Partner, ICLE and Author, Instructional Excellence, Social and Emotional Learning

Lucerne School

The Social-Emotional Learning Need: How a Small District Made It a Reality

An assistant principal shares how her district implemented a new model that works best for them to support social-emotional learning.

Kelly Boeing
Assistant Principal, Lucerne Valley Middle High School

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SEL in Schools: Why Education Leaders Should Express Their Vulnerabilities

When prioritizing social-emotional learning in schools, allowing those you lead to see you as authentically human with deficiencies as well as strengths can be enlightening.

Anthony Colannino
Senior Fellow, the Center for Model Schools; Leading & Teaching for Growth, LLC; Author of Leading with Head and Heart

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5 Social-Emotional Learning Activities for Elementary School

Use these five social-emotional learning activities for elementary school students to work toward building strong relationships. Explore SEL lesson plans for each competency.

Sara Buren
Shaped Contributor

Sjones

Facebook Live: Dr. Stephanie Jones on Social-Emotional Learning in Schools

A social-emotional learning expert explores effective methods to improve SEL in schools and the challenges educators may face in the process.

Joanna Miral
Shaped Staff

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A Summer Checklist for Teachers: Take Time to Unwind

Close out the school year with reflection and a personal summer to-do list that will help you unwind and take time for professional learning.

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

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Learning Is Emotional: Why We Need to Maximize SEL in Our Schools

When it comes to social-emotional learning in schools, every $1 invested has an $11 return in long-term benefits.

Dr. Linda Lucey
Associate Partner, The Center for Model Schools

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Q&A: Simon Sinek on School Improvement, Growth Mindset, and More

We spoke to author Simon Sinek, a featured speaker at this year's Model Schools Conference, whose new book, The Infinite Game, will be released in June 2019.

Shaped Staff

Prioritizing SEL

Why and How One District Prioritized Social-Emotional Learning

When we focus on the whole child, teachers have more time to support learning, and academic achievement increases.

Dina Rocheleau
Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, Ferndale Public Schools, Michigan

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Healthy Habits for a Growth Mindset in Math

Here's a helpful list of healthy habits to enable a growth mindset in math, plus a free downloadable poster for your classroom.

Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor

The Power Of A Letter

The Power of a Letter: How a Grading Change Inspired Growth Mindset

One school replaced the "F" grade with the "I" grade, standing for "incomplete" or "insufficient amount of evidence," which inspired a growth mindset culture.

Robert Bowman
Principal, Harrison Middle School

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