Shaped

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

 

OVER 10 MILLION READS

Latest Posts

Student reads a book independently in a school library

7 ELL Strategies for Reading Success

Try these 7 ELL strategies for reading success. Help your ELL students to engage with reading and foster a desire to connect with texts.

Rebecca Salinas
Learning Architect, HMH

Richard Blankman
Shaped Executive Editor

Student builds vocabulary in reading using digital content

What Is the Role of Vocabulary in Reading Comprehension?

We break down the role of vocabulary in reading comprehension and share strategies that will ensure students learn new words.

Dana Leon
Shaped Contributor

Teacher helping students develop phonemic awareness skills

What Is Phonemic Awareness?

Learn about phonemic awareness and how it relates to phonological awareness.

Zoe Del Mar
Shaped Executive Editor

Hero Banner

Podcast: Building a Foundation with Phonics in First Grade with Amber Reyes in CO on Teachers in America

Colorado teacher, Amber Reyes, shares strategies to engage students in fun phonics instruction, as well as resources to build fundamental reading skills.

Jennifer Corujo
Shaped Editor

Illustration of an open book with a lightbulb containing a brain, representing the science of reading and literacy development.

10 Science of Reading Strategies for Reading Instruction

Read one teacher's top 10 instructional strategies to support science of reading in the classroom.

Renae Kuhn
HMH Learning Experience Designer; Former Elementary Teacher

Illustration of student listening during phonological awareness activity

What Is Phonological Awareness?

One of the first skills developing readers need to master is phonological awareness. In this article, we will dig into what phonological awareness is and the importance of referencing it for reading instruction.

Zoe Del Mar
Shaped Executive Editor

Teacher and students practice orthographic mapping skills

What Is Orthographic Mapping in Reading and Why Is It Important?

Learn about orthographic mapping, the cognitive process that we use to store and retrieve words by connecting their pronunciation, spelling, and meaning automatically.

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

Teacher guiding students through a multisensory reading activity

Multisensory Approaches to Reading Instruction

Learn more about Multisensory approaches to reading instruction, a strategy that helps students use multiple senses to establish routes between the text and the brain.

Rebecca Feinstein
Learning Experience Designer III, Supplemental & Intervention Solutions.

HMH Staff

Rachael Cunningham and Sarah Fox Hero Banner

Podcast: Dyslexia, Intervention, and the Read 180 User with Rachael Cunningham and Sarah Fox in CA on Teachers in America

Education leaders Rachael Cunningham and Sarah Fox dispel common misconceptions about dyslexia and share best practices and programs to support dyslexic learners.

Jennifer Corujo
Shaped Editor

WF1686700 Hero Image

Speaking (Not Public Speaking!) Activities for Middle and High School Students

Try these public speaking activities for middle and high school students to improve their speaking skills.

Erik Palmer
Program Consultant, Into Reading and Into Literature

The Science in Science Fiction A Strategy for Integrating Science and ELA HERO

The Science in Science Fiction: A Strategy for Integrating Sci-Fi in the Classroom

Teaching sci-fi in the classroom can help students understand the importance of science in their daily lives.

Ann Pearson
Shaped Contributor

Student takes a digital reading comprehension assessment on a laptop

5 Reading Comprehension Assessment Strategies

Discover quick and simple reading comprehension assessment strategies that can be seamlessly incorporated into a lesson.

Renee Behring
Education Research Director, Core ELA

Dr. Vytas Laitusis
Education Research Director, Supplemental & Intervention Math

Illustrated sound wall cards showing vowel sounds and mouth positions

Science of Reading: Sound Walls in the Classroom

Based in the science of reading, sound walls in the classroom help educators reinforce the importance of explicitly teaching the skills of letter-sound correspondence.

Jennifer Prescott
Shaped Contributor

Teacher helping middle school student with writing assignment.

8 Tips for Teaching Middle School Writing

Teaching middle school writing can help students learn the value of their words.

Jennifer Prescott
Shaped Contributor

Teacher working with student one on one with reading

Phonological Awareness and Phonics Strategies to Support Developing Readers

Try these phonological awareness strategies and phonics strategies in the classroom to help support developing readers

Renee Behring
Education Research Director, Core ELA

Students engage with digital content to expand background knowledge

Background Knowledge: A Vital Component for Reading Comprehension

Dr. Carol Jago explains the importance of background knowledge for reading comprehension and shares strategies for helping students build that knowledge.

Carol Jago
HMH Author and Associate Director, California Reading & Literature Project at UCLA

Students use headphones and digital tools during literacy instruction

Classroom Accommodations for Students with Dyslexia

Try these classroom accommodations for students with dyslexia to provide equitable access to content

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

Illustration of books and science symbols representing science of reading research

5 Recommended Science of Reading Books That Will Cover What You Need to Know

Get book recommendations to learn more about the science of reading and see how children learn to read and develop as strategic readers.

Francie Alexander
Senior Vice President, Efficacy & Consulting Research