Shaped

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

 

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Research Insights: Online and Blended Coaching

Research suggests that online coaching has several strengths, including lowering costs while increasing scalability, which makes it overall effective.

Dr. Grant Atkins
Education Research Director, Professional Services

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The New Era of Education Is High-Tech and High-Touch

We can recover and transition into a new post-pandemic instructional model that fuses the power of technology with the tried-and-true social gathering of the classroom.

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

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Lessons Learned from COVID: Leaders Share Challenges and Bright Spots

Learn how COVID has influenced education leaders' work since spring 2020, the bright spots they see coming out of the pandemic, and the challenges they now face.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

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How COVID Transformed My Teaching Experience—and Life

David Jamison, also known as “The Dope Educator,” believes love and human interaction are the foundation of any lesson plan. He reflects on the valuable lessons he learned while teaching during the pandemic.

David Jamison II
Fifth-Grade ELA Teacher, Shelby County School District, Tennessee

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Jones County Public Schools: A Success Story in Hybrid Learning

Learn how Jones County Public Schools adopted digital solutions to prioritize personalized learning and narrow COVID-19 learning gaps.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

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Rebuilding Relationships With Your Students Now and Post-COVID

To rebuild relationships during and after the pandemic, consider reaching out to students' families and consider students' new needs after a challenging year.

Venola Mason
Associate Partner, ICLE and Author, Instructional Excellence, Social and Emotional Learning

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How Differentiated Instruction Transformed a Charter School

Learn how Peak Charter Academy in North Carolina prioritized differentiation in the classroom, even when the pandemic hit the U.S.

Steve Pond
Principal, Peak Charter Academy, North Carolina

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Why and How to Prioritize Intervention to Bridge the COVID Learning Gap

What can be done to help those students who have felt the impacts of unfinished learning? Note that there isn't a one-size-fits-all solution.

Brittany Mamphey, M.Ed.
Dean of Students, Mt. Healthy South Elementary School, Ohio

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10 Social and Emotional Learning Strategies for Responding to COVID-19

Nurturing students social emotional learning during COVID-19 is essential. Explore key SEL principles that schools and educators can use during the pandemic.

Francie Alexander
Senior Vice President, Efficacy & Consulting Research

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

Virtual Academy

Creating a Virtual Academy in Your District? Here Are 6 Things to Consider

Some kids are benefitting from our experiment with online learning during the pandemic, and districts across the country are building virtual academies to meet their needs.

Dr. Robert Dillon
School Designer, Author, Educator

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Prioritizing Self-Care for Teachers During COVID-19: Educators Weigh In

Given the challenges educators have encountered during the pandemic since March 2020, self-care for teachers during COVID-19 is now essential.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

Ali Habashi
Former Shaped Editor

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The Importance of Student Self-Reflection in K-12 Lesson Design

Highlight the importance of student self-reflection when designing your curriculum by integrating these four teaching tips into your lessons.

Dr. Adam Drummond
Author, Associate Partner; Center for Model Schools Instructional Leadership

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The Benefits of Building a Team of Like-Minded Teachers

CJ Reynolds finds support with fellow teachers both at school and in online communities.

CJ Reynolds
High School Literature Teacher, Philadelphia School District

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5 Ways to Keep Students Engaged When Teaching Remotely

Keep students in elementary school and up engaged in remote learning so you can see that spark of excitement in your students again, even if it is via webcam.

Rachel Swartz
Sixth Grade Teacher, Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy (MS/HS 141), Bronx, New York

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The Benefits of Routine on Virtual Teaching

CJ Reynolds insists a consistent routine helps aid better virtual teaching.

CJ Reynolds
High School Literature Teacher, Philadelphia School District

WF1304039 Shaped 2020 Blog Post Virtual Summit Speakers Blog

Think Connected Virtual Summit: Experts on Equity, Remote Learning, and More

Equity, growth mindset, instructional planning, and remote learning during a pandemic were some of the themes covered at HMH's Think Connected Virtual Summit in October 2020.

Shaped Staff

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11 Most-Read Shaped Blogs of 2020

Before we say goodbye to 2020, we want to highlight the most-read Shaped blogs, written with you in mind as you navigated this most unusual year.

Christine Condon
Shaped Editor-in-Chief

Communicating with families

Administrator and Teacher Tips for Communicating with Families During COVID-19

Administrators and teachers should aim to communicate regularly with students' parents or caregivers during COVID-19 to ensure their success, regardless of learning format.

Dr. Adam Drummond
Author, Associate Partner; Center for Model Schools Instructional Leadership