Shaped

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

 

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Students engage with digital learning in a knowledge-building curriculum

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
Shaped Executive Editor

Two young students read a book together at a classroom desk

Scaffolding Reading Instruction: Supporting All Readers with Grade-Level Text

Learn more about scaffolding reading instruction and strategies to implement before, during, and after reading to help students engage with challenging texts.

Dr. Jennifer Throndsen
Education Advisor

WF1417802 BTS Writing Prompts HS and MS Hero

35 Back-to-School Writing Prompts for Middle and High School

School's back in session, which means it's time for a fresh batch of writing prompts for the new year. Have your high school or middle school students try these back-to-school prompts this fall.

Ali Habashi
Former Shaped Editor

Jennifer Corujo
Shaped Editor

Second grade student writing.

How to Teach Writing to 2nd Graders

Learn how to teach writing to 2nd graders with practical strategies and engaging activities that help young students build confidence and essential writing skills.

Katie Risolo Radovich
First-Grade Teacher

Student engaged in independent reading during whole-book instruction

Making Whole Book Instruction Work 

Carol Jago explores how engaging students with full-length texts can build deeper reading skills, stamina, and a genuine love of reading.

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

Students engage in phonics and phonological awareness learning activities

Phonics vs. Phonological Awareness

Phonics vs. phonological awareness—what’s the difference? This article breaks down what each skill involves and how to use both in the classroom.

Danielle Bouchard
Shaped Contributor

Student reading a book during multilingual literacy instruction

Multilingual Learners and the Science of Reading: Blending Code-Based and Language-Based Instruction

Explore how the science of reading supports multilingual learners and how integrating code-based and language-based instruction helps MLs become confident readers, writers, listeners, and speakers.

Stephanie Nash
Product Marketing Director, K–12 ELD and Multilingual Learners

Student writing in a notebook at a library table while classmates read books and browse the shelves nearby.

How to Integrate Writing Across the Curriculum in Your Classroom

Whether you’re teaching math, science, social studies, or ELA, writing can be a great way to assess students’ learning and deepen their thinking on a subject. Here's how to incorporate writing across the curriculum in your classroom.

Dr. Troy Hicks
Professor of English and Education, Central Michigan University

Student reads and discusses content in a knowledge-building lesson

What is Knowledge Building in the Classroom? A Guide for Educators

Discover how knowledge building in the classroom supports reading comprehension, and learn practical ways to incorporate the approach into your instruction.

Renee Behring
Education Research Director, Core ELA

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

Elementary student reading a book during phonemic awareness reading practice

Research-Based Phonemic Awareness Interventions

Discover why research-based phonemic awareness interventions matter—and get strategies, sample intervention plans, and activities for K–12 students.

Amber Silverman
Shaped Contributor

Teacher holding a tablet in a classroom

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

Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor

Two young students reading books together during literacy instruction

3 Principles of Structured Literacy

Explore the 3 principles of structured literacy and how explicit, systematic, and data-driven instruction support reading development through the science of reading.

Dr. Nathan Clemens
Professor and Department Chair, Department of Special Education, University of Texas, Austin

Students practice writing during a collaborative math activity

Math and Writing

Math and writing are compared as instructional practices, with ideas and activities for incorporating writing in math class

Amber Silverman
Shaped Contributor

Teacher presenting in front of a classroom whiteboard.

How Oral Communication Skills Set Students Apart in an AI World

What skills can we give students that AI can’t replace? Explore how oral communication skills are one way students can set themselves apart in an AI world.

Erik Palmer
Program Consultant, Into Reading and Into Literature

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National Poetry Month Activities for Middle and High School Classrooms

From nursery rhymes to absurdist poetry to rap, these activities will help your middle or high school class celebrate National Poetry Month this April.

Ali Habashi
Former Shaped Editor

Teacher provides writing support to student during literacy instruction

How Teachers Use Writable with Into Reading and Into Literature 

Discover how Writable enhances core ELA programs with AI‑supported feedback and schoolwide writing data that helps leaders monitor progress and drive instructional improvement.

Jessica Altounian
Senior Marketing Manager, HMH Labs

Students read and discuss a picture book to improve reading comprehension

How to Improve Reading Comprehension for Students

Learn research-based strategies for how to improve reading comprehension for students, including step-by-step guides, activities, and assessment.

Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor

Teacher guiding a student through reading during a dyslexia intervention session

Evidence-Based Dyslexia Intervention Strategies to Support Striving Readers

Empower your instruction with research‑backed dyslexia strategies that help you support striving readers with confidence and clarity.

Zoe Del Mar
Shaped Executive Editor