From setup to support, HMH will ensure your back-to-school season runs smoothly. Let’s go.

Shaped

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

 

OVER 10 MILLION READS

Latest Posts

Bulletin boards presidents day

6 Presidents' Day Bulletin Board Ideas for Teachers

Check out these six Presidents' Day bulletin board ideas created by teachers to get your students learning about American presidents.

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

Education Trends 2021

8 Education Trends to Watch in 2021

We asked ed leaders from across the country to weigh in on education trends for 2021. Here's what they had to say.

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

WF1304900 CJ Reynolds 3

The Benefits of Building a Team of Like-Minded Teachers

CJ Reynolds finds support with fellow teachers both at school and in online communities.

CJ Reynolds
High School Literature Teacher, Philadelphia School District

WF926907 Capitol A

Teaching Impeachment in the Classroom: Q&A With Emma Humphries of iCivics

Dr. Emma Humphries, Chief Education Officer at iCivics, shares how she believes educators can carefully and thoughtfully approach teaching impeachment in K–12 classrooms.

Geraldine Stevens
Social Studies Content Expert

Map hands voting

How to Teach a Contested Election and Prioritize Students' Emotional Health

Chris Dier provides five ideas for educators to explore the election with students while ensuring their social and emotional health.

Chris Dier
2020 Louisiana State Teacher of the Year

Engage students online learning

5 Ways to Keep Students Engaged When Teaching Remotely

Keep students in elementary school and up engaged in remote learning so you can see that spark of excitement in your students again, even if it is via webcam.

Rachel Swartz
Sixth Grade Teacher, Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy (MS/HS 141), Bronx, New York

US Capital 2

How to Talk to Kids About the Violence at the U.S. Capitol

While talking to children about the violence at the U.S. Capitol, parents and school professionals can employ strategies to empower them through knowledge while restoring a sense of calm.

Shaped Staff

Mlk bulletin board 2 85cab6aa25ee358f8b9ee45ba7a4bd78

6 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Bulletin Board Ideas

Use these Martin Luther King, Jr. Day bulletin boards as inspiration for your own to teach students about themes such as racial equality.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

Black History Month Writing Prompts Hero

8 Black History Month Writing Prompts

Introduce students to Black innovators with these Black History Month writing prompts and guide them into a particular type of text, such as personal narrative, informative, or persuasive.

Perry Hollins
Fourth-Grade Teacher, Evanston/Skokie School District, Illinois

Four tips teaching math problem solving robert kaplinsky hero

4 Tips for Improving Students’ Problem Solving Skills

A veteran educator shares four tips for improving students' problem solving skills in mathematics.

Robert Kaplinsky
Mathematics Educator, Long Beach, CA

WF1304900 CJ Reynolds 2

The Benefits of Routine on Virtual Teaching

CJ Reynolds insists a consistent routine helps aid better virtual teaching.

CJ Reynolds
High School Literature Teacher, Philadelphia School District

WF1304039 Shaped 2020 Blog Post Virtual Summit Speakers Blog

Think Connected Virtual Summit: Experts on Equity, Remote Learning, and More

Equity, growth mindset, instructional planning, and remote learning during a pandemic were some of the themes covered at HMH's Think Connected Virtual Summit in October 2020.

Shaped Staff

WF1307903 Shaped 2020 Blog Post Reflections HERO2 word cloud

11 Most-Read Shaped Blogs of 2020

Before we say goodbye to 2020, we want to highlight the most-read Shaped blogs, written with you in mind as you navigated this most unusual year.

Christine Condon
Shaped Editor-in-Chief

Communicating with families

Administrator and Teacher Tips for Communicating with Families During COVID-19

Administrators and teachers should aim to communicate regularly with students' parents or caregivers during COVID-19 to ensure their success, regardless of learning format.

Dr. Adam Drummond
Author, Associate Partner; Center for Model Schools Instructional Leadership

Live online class

5 Tips for Teaching Online Classes Live

Use these tips for teaching online to ensure students stay engaged in the virtual classroom. When live teaching online, set expectations for students and leverage your colleagues as a resource.

Dr. Adam Drummond
Author, Associate Partner; Center for Model Schools Instructional Leadership

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

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

WF1126516 Hero

Podcast: On Embracing Native Culture in Alaska with Danielle Riha

Meet Danielle Riha, a middle school teacher at the Alaska Native Cultural Charter School in Anchorage. She is passionate about equity, indigenous languages, and culturally relevant lessons. She was the Alaska Teacher of the Year and one of four finalists for the National Teacher of the Year Award in 2019.

Ali Habashi
Former Shaped Editor