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Shaped

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

 

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Student writes a persuasive paragraph in a notebook

Teaching Students How to Write a Persuasive Paragraph

Teaching kids how to write a persuasive paragraph consisting of their opinion and supporting sentences puts them on the right track to being an effective communicator.

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

Student writing expository paragraph

Teaching Students How to Write an Expository Paragraph

Want to help your students develop their organizational, analytical, and research skills? Teach them how to write an expository paragraph.

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

How to write a rap

Literacy at Work: How to Write a Rap with Dr. Chris Emdin

Teach your students how to write a rap with Dr. Chris Emdin using this rap lesson plan, complete with a writing template, rubric, and teacher guide.

Shaped Staff

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Grades 9–12 ELA Activity Set 9: Write an Unnecessary Sequel and More

High schoolers can sharpen their writing skills with activities including a reflective essay on the past school year and a playlist for a book they read.

Shaped Staff

Students discussing ideas during collaborative writing instruction

Why Is Writing Important for Students?

Explore how teaching writing and providing writing practice instill skills in students that they can use throughout their academic career and beyond. 

Amber Silverman
Shaped Contributor

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Podcast: Helping Students Heal Through Writing with Briana Morales in IL on Teachers in America

2024 Illinois State Teacher of the Year Briana Morales shares how she uses healing-centered engagement and storytelling to empower her students. Plus she shares writing activities to engage students in identity work and how to start a classroom dignity closet to help students in need.

Jennifer Corujo
Shaped Editor

Students write at their desks during a classroom poetry writing lesson

New Wings: Writing Praise Poems in the Classroom

Poet Glenis Redmond says teaching students how to write a praise poem is a great way to dive into metaphors and similes and have them flex their creative muscles.

Glenis Redmond
Poet and Teaching Artist

Teacher provides writing support during classroom instruction

Scaffolding Writing Instruction

Learn more about scaffolding writing instruction, a process that provides the support that students need to grow as writers.

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

Two elementary students write together on a laptop in class

8 Research-Based Writing Strategies for Elementary Students 

Provide students with plenty of opportunities to practice writing, incorporate feedback, and revise with these research-backed writing strategies for elementary students.

Katie Risolo Radovich
First-Grade Teacher

Students develop writing skills using a digital writing platform

How to Teach Writing to Elementary Students Without Fear

An instructional coach shares tips on how to teach writing to elementary students without the fear that teachers can feel when faced with such a huge undertaking.

Kristen Eannetta
Instructional Coach

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Podcast: What Works in Writing Instruction with Kayla Dyer in RI on Teachers in America

Burrillville School District literacy fellow and HMH Teacher Ambassador Kayla Dyer discusses writing teaching strategies to successfully guide students through the writing process.

Jennifer Corujo
Shaped Editor

Student drafting an essay on a laptop during writing instruction

5 Effective Tips for Teaching High School Writing

Ensure students get the practice, feedback, and revision experience they need for success with these tried-and-true strategies for teaching high school writing.

Kristen Eannetta
Instructional Coach

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Writing Strategies for ELL Students

Support your ELL students with writing strategies to build confident and capable writers.

Jennifer Corujo
Shaped Editor

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

Girl writing at a school classroom desk

6 Writing Strategies for Students with Dyslexia

Support students with dyslexia with evidence-based writing strategies to become capable writers who craft their thoughts in an engaging, persuasive, and compelling manner.

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

Teacher provides writing feedback during a small-group conference

Writing Feedback for Students

Save time with these effective feedback strategies for improving student writing.

Owen Bondono
Shaped Contributor

St Patricks Day Writing Prompts Hero

22 St. Patrick’s Day Writing Prompts and Activities

Bring some luck to your classroom with these St. Patrick’s Day writing prompts and activities for elementary, middle school, and high school students.

Ali Habashi
Former Shaped Editor

Toney Jackson Screenshot Writing Rhymes

Writing Rhymes and Raps with Toney Jackson

Teacher and award-winning poet Toney Jackson joins us for a special lesson on how to write rhymes in the classroom.

Ali Habashi
Former Shaped Editor