Shaped

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

 

OVER 10 MILLION READS

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

 

OVER 10 MILLION READS

Latest Posts

Collective Teacher Efficacy Hero Image 1 4c284b73b1b0834026b992b9ac93d6bd

Putting Theory Into Practice: Building Collective Teacher Efficacy

Developing self-efficacy and making a curriculum rigorous and relevant are key to optimizing the best opportunity for the growth of our students.

Monica Fitzgerald
Reading AIS Teacher, Gillette Road Middle School

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

What is a community school

What Is a Community School? How Local Partnerships Bring Success

What is a community school? The community school model allows schools to establish partnerships with local organizations and businesses for resources to benefit students.

MaryEllen Elia

Teaching metacognition in the classroom

Teaching Metacognition in the Classroom: Just Think About It!

By focusing on metacognition in the classroom, students can continually monitor their learning. Teaching metacognition also allows students to apply their most effective learning strategy to the task at hand.

Michael DiSpezio
Author, ScienceFusion and HMH Science Dimensions Programs

WF926908 November Shaun Nelms Hero Image

How This Superintendent Saved a School Through University Partnership

Dr. Shaun Nelms, superintendent of Rochester East Upper and Lower Schools, answers questions about how partnering with the University of Rochester saved his school from closure.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

6 Tips from Literacy Experts

6 Literacy and Leadership Tips Every Educator Should Know

Implement these tips from our literacy experts and leaders in education to better support all students in the classroom.

Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor

Introducing the 5th annual ecr report

Exploring the State of Teaching in the 5th Annual Educator Confidence Report

With the 2019 ECR, you can understand the realities facing the teaching profession today, including both the triumphs and challenges.

John "Jack" Lynch
President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director, HMH

Learning sciences complex

Why Is Applying Learning Science So Complex for Teachers?

To kick off a blog series focused on debunking learning sciences myths, HMH's VP of Learning Sciences explores the four learning pillars for teachers to maximize student outcomes.

Rachel L. Schechter, PhD
VP Learning Sciences, Learning Sciences and Research Advisory Board Chair

Message to school leaders rethink motivating teams

A Message to School Leaders: Rethink the Way You Motivate Teams

Explore Jeff Bezos' Amazon.com annual letter to shareholders to learn about ways that school leaders can motivate their teams.

Shaped Staff

Collaborative learning strategies and techniques

Grow Beyond Group Work: Collaborative Learning Strategies and Techniques

Use these collaborative learning techniques to teach social and emotional skills during the school day and help students build strong relationships.

Jessica McKeown, PhD
HMH Senior Learning Scientist, Math and Science

MSC2019 Audience

The Value of Professional Communities for Teachers: Reflecting on Model Schools

Attending conferences can be an invaluable resource in a teacher's toolkit, presenting new opportunities to build relationships and expand a professional learning network.

Erika Gilbert
Math AIS Teacher, Gillette Road Middle School

Cynthia Ciesla
5th and 6th Grade AIS Reading and Math Teacher, Gillette Road Middle School

WF926906 Shaped 2019 Blog Posts September Loopingin Education

What is 'Looping' In Education?: A Teacher’s Perspective

A middle school science teacher on the benefits of looping with his students and building a family in the classroom.

Tracy Childers
Middle School Science Teacher, Foothills Community School

WF926906 HMH Middle School 2019 19630

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

August Coaching Using Video Final

Using Video to Improve Instruction: Strategies for Administrators and Coaches

These are among the easiest and most meaningful ways to improve instruction by allowing teachers to reflect on video footage of their own instruction.

Shaped Staff

Lucerne School 4c284b73b1b0834026b992b9ac93d6bd

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

WF926906 September HMH Pro Services 2017 0211

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

August Instructional Coaching Final 1

Does Instructional Coaching Have an Impact?

Research presents significant evidence that a high-quality instructional coaching experience can improve a teacher’s skillset.

Shaped Staff

WF926905 Shaped 2019 Blog Posts August Back to School Checklist Image 2 4c284b73b1b0834026b992b9ac93d6bd 190827 131531

Back to School, Back to Shaping Students' Lives

With this back-to-school checklist for teachers, a former educator explains why it’s essential to provide a space for student voice and choice.

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