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Shaped

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

 

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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

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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.

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Making the Case for a Knowledge-Building Curriculum

What began as one teacher’s search for ways to teach nonfiction became a lesson in the power of a knowledge-building curriculum.

Brenda Iasevoli

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Reliability and Validity in Educational Assessment: From Theory to Classroom Practice

Understand what makes an assessment trustworthy and why it matters for students. This article breaks down reliability, validity, and fairness into clear, practical insights educators and leaders can use to make more confident, equitable decisions.

Dr. Vytas Laitusis

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2026 Back-to-School Articles for Educators

Bookmark this page featuring our 2026 back-to-school articles for educators. It’s filled with the resources you need to start the school year off strong, from prepping for the first day, to classroom management strategies, and more.

Shaped Staff

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Latest Posts

WF2683300 Shaped 2026 Blog Post Declaration of Independence Activity and Lesson Plan Ideas HERO

10 Fun Declaration of Independence Activities and Lesson Plan Ideas 

Try these 10 Declaration of Independence activity and lesson plan ideas to explore key ideas and the historical significance of this foundational historical document.

Christen Spehr
Shaped Editor

Fun Black History Month Activities For Kids 2

13 Fun Black History Month Activities for Elementary and Middle School Students

Download these fun Black History Month activities for elementary and middle school students to teach your class about African American history.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

Jennifer Corujo
Shaped Editor

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6 Juneteenth Activities & Lesson Plans for Students

Celebrate Juneteenth in the classroom. Explore Juneteenth activities and lesson plans for elementary, middle school, and high school students.

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month Hero

6 Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Activities

Looking for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month ideas? We've got you covered with activities spanning Grades Pre-K–12.

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

Women's History Month Books for Students HERO

11 Women’s History Month Books for Elementary Students

Use these Women’s History Month books for elementary students and activities to teach about women’s contributions to history.

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

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Grades 3–5 Summer Reading Activities: This Is America

Explore five days of reading and learning activities for Grades 3-5 designed to engage your child in an exploration of our country and its symbols.

Shaped Staff

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Flag Day Activities for Elementary Students

Explore flag day activities for elementary students to teach your class about the symbolism behind flags and the various themes they may represent.

Shaped Staff

May Memorial Day

9 Memorial Day Activities for Elementary and Middle School Students

Use these Memorial Day classroom activities for elementary and middle school students to honor those who sacrificed for their country.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

Martin Luther King, Jr. project ideas and activities for the classroom

8 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Project Ideas and Activities for the Classroom

Explore 8 Martin Luther King Jr. project ideas and activities to honor MLK and his contributions to the civil rights movement.

Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor

Zoe Del Mar
Shaped Executive Editor

Inauguration acivities for students

5 Presidential Inauguration Activities for Students

Inauguration Day is January 20. These presidential inauguration activities for students can be integrated into social studies or language arts lessons and used in remote or in-person classrooms.

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

National hispanic heritage month 2021 hero

6 National Hispanic Heritage Month Activities for Students: A Celebration of Culture

Use these National Hispanic Heritage Month activities and lesson ideas to honor Hispanic American contributions and influences in our society.

Daniel Poremba
Senior Tier II Specialist, HMH

Martin Luther King Discussion Questions

Martin Luther King Jr. Discussion Questions: Reflecting on His Legacy

On MLK Day, reflect on Martin Luther King Jr.’s powerful message of equality and human potential with a list of Martin Luther King discussion questions.

Alex Honeysett
Former Director of Communications, Channel One News

WF1860574 Hero

8 Free Veterans Day Activities for Elementary Students

Find free Veterans Day activities and lesson plans for elementary students to honor and celebrate those who have served.

Jennifer Corujo
Shaped Editor

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8 Fun Constitution Day Activities for Students: We the People

Here are Constitution Day activities to engage your students in learning about the historic document that defines how our government works.

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

State of the Union Address Activities Hero

2026 State of the Union Activities and Lesson Plans

Explore 2026 State of the Union activities and lesson plan ideas you can have students do before, during, and after the speech.

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

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National Arab American Heritage Month Classroom Activities

April is National Arab American Heritage month! It’s a culturally important moment to celebrate the community’s history and potentially teach your students something new.

Zoe Del Mar
Shaped Executive Editor

Black History Month Hero Updated

6 Black History Month Quotes for Students, Plus Activities

Discover six Black History Month quotes for students to pair with classroom activities. Use these activities as part of your Black History Month curriculum—or any time of year!

Zoe Del Mar
Shaped Executive Editor

Pearl harbor activities for elementary and middle school hero

Pearl Harbor Activities for Elementary and Middle School Students

Give a lesson on the significance of National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day with these Pearl Harbor activities for elementary and middle school students.

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

AWARDS & ACCOLADES

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Shorty Awards

Audience Honor, 2023, Shaped

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Digiday Content Marketing Awards

Finalist, 2023, Shaped

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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.