Shaped

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

Latest Posts

Students reading with teacher

Coaching SEL Through Literacy: Ideas and Things to Look For

By folding social-emotional learning into instructional strategies educators already use to teach literacy, SEL begins to feel less daunting.

Sherry St. Clair
HMH Contributor

Sel In Ela

Need a Timesaver? Try an Activity That Ties SEL to ELA

Integrate social-emotional learning into your English language arts curriculum with this literacy activity, where students read and study a text and practice important SEL competencies.

Janna Sakson
Shaped Contributor

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World Wildlife Day Activity: Teach Problem-Solving and Protecting Animals

Celebrate World Wildlife Day on March 3 by having your students work together to practice problem-solving skills while learning about animals around the world, and in your local community.

Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor

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Podcast: Wearing the Kindness Cape with Julia Allan on Teachers in America

Meet Julia Allan, a Kindergarten teacher in Howard County Public Schools. She talks about equity in education, social-emotional learning, the tooth fairy, bus stresses, and the joys of seeing her students grow together.

Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor

Summer School Growth Mindset

Summer School Through a Growth Mindset Lens

Dr. David Dockterman provides suggestions for leveraging learning mindsets to help students view summer school as a valuable opportunity for growth.

Dr. David Dockterman
Lecturer, Harvard Graduate School of Education

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5 Tips for Connecting With Hard-to-Reach Students

If you find yourself pulling away from or avoiding connection with hard-to-reach students, try leaning in instead by following these five steps.

Janice Mace
Senior Counselor, National Center for School Mental Health at the University of Maryland

The Importance Of Sel In Schools

Why is Social-Emotional Learning Important in Schools?

Why is SEL important? In an HMH survey, K-12 educators noted the high importance of social emotional learning in schools today.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

Self Care For Teachers

Self-Care for Teachers: Why and How to Make It a Priority

Self-care for teachers matters because unhealthy educators can’t help students. Use these tips from ICLE's Adam Drummond to improve your teacher wellness.

Adam Drummond, EdD
Associate Partner, The Center for Model Schools and Author, Instructional Leadership

students smiling in a classroom

What Are the Benefits of Social-Emotional Learning in Schools?

Learn about the benefits of social-emotional learning in schools. While it may be a relatively new area of study, the benefits of SEL are already starting to show.

Amanda Clark
Shaped Contributor

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Why Are Teachers Striking? It's Time to Listen to Their Greatest Concerns

Why are teachers going on strike in cities across the U.S.? ICLE Senior Fellow Tyrone Howard assesses recent teacher strikes and the primary challenges educators face in the classroom.

Dr. Tyrone C. Howard
Professor, UCLA; Senior Fellow, The Center for Model Schools; HMH Learning Sciences & Research Advisory Board

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

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Teaching Mindfulness in the Classroom With Early Learners

Begin teaching mindfulness in the classroom with your early learners using this handy primer from a veteran teacher for practicing mindfulness in schools with your students.

Kim Block
Retired Teacher

Classcraft ow to Foster a Creative Classroom Environment

How to Foster a Creative Learning Environment

Learn how to foster a creative learning environment. Explore 7 ideas for constructing a creative classroom environment.

Mary Dean
Shaped Contributor

Reading Intervention In A Digital World

Reading Intervention in a Digital World: Q&A With Elmira City School District

Find teacher insights into how reading intervention has evolved in the past two decades as well as advice to maximize student outcomes, ensure a growth mindset, and more.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

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Bullying Prevention Tips from Carmen Sandiego’s Fearless Kids

Use these tips inspired by #racetospeakup founder Devin Moore, and a free SEL lesson plan, to discuss bullying prevention with your students.

Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor

Techniques For Social Emotional Learning In The Classroom

4 Tips for Implementing Social-Emotional Learning

Read four techniques for implementing social-emotional learning in the classroom. SEL at school starts with you!

Erica Battle
Professional Learning Consultant, ICLE

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All About Me Activities: Celebrate What Makes You 'Different'

Explore All About Me activities for elementary and middle school students. Help your students to celebrate what makes them different.

Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor

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Teach SEL with Carmen Sandiego’s Fearless Kids Around the World

You don’t need to leave your school to take your class on an international field trip. In our new web series, Carmen Sandiego spotlights six real kids who are creating positive change in their communities.

Shaped Staff

*The views expressed in our blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of HMH.