Shaped

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

 

OVER 10 MILLION READS

Latest Posts

David oconnor

Don't Just Teach About Cultures—Teach Culturally. Here's the Difference

Teaching culturally means that the educator acts as a guide for students and is actively learning alongside them in their understanding of the content.

David J. O’Connor
American Indian Studies Consultant, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

Call for Submissions Hero

Teachers, the Shaped Community Wants to Hear from You!

We value your thoughts on what we should be covering to improve your experience in the classroom, whether that's virtual or in person this year.

Adrian mims the calculus project hero opt2

Creating Equity in Math: Q&A with Dr. Adrian Mims, Founder of The Calculus Project

Dr. Adrian Mims is the founder of The Calculus Project, an initiative to increase equity in mathematics and get students of color in a calculus class before finishing high school. Mims shares his convictions on access to mathematics and equity in math education, along with his efforts that were responsible for his success in college and founding The Calculus Project.

Richard Blankman
Shaped Executive Editor

WF1287443 Shaped 2020 Overwhelmed by News HERO

Overwhelmed by News: Helping Students See the Bigger Picture

In an era of information overload, follow these tips to help your students prepare for reading and analyzing the news.

Erik Palmer
Program Consultant, Into Reading and Into Literature

WF1286153 Karl Grubaugh Hero 1

Podcast: Retiring During COVID-19 with Karl Grubaugh

Meet Karl Grubaugh, a former AP economics teacher and advanced journalism advisor at Granite Bay High School in California. A journalist and editor himself, Karl advised for the award-winning student newspaper The Granite Bay Gazette, and retired in 2020 after almost 40 years as an educator.

Ali Habashi
Former Shaped Editor

How to start gay straight alliance hero image 85cab6aa25ee358f8b9ee45ba7a4bd78

Fostering Safe Spaces: How to Start a GSA in Your High School

Learn how to start a GSA in your high school (or middle school or university). Educators can host a Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) club and help students feel safe and supported when they identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community. GSAs provide a safe, supportive space for students who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community, along with their cisgender allies.

Shaped Staff

Middle school writing strategies

Strategies to Teach Writing in Grades 3–12: Hear from the Experts

Listen to these podcasts from nationally acclaimed writing experts to help you find your stride when it comes to writing instruction for Grades 3-12.

Sara Buren
Shaped Contributor

WF1287913 ED Tech

How Has COVID-19 Impacted K-12 Education? Four Experts Weigh In

Education experts discussed how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the work they do every day at a panel discussion at this year's ASU GSV Summit.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

Election Ballot Hero

Quiz: How Well Do You Know U.S. Presidential Elections?

How much do you know about the U.S. presidency? Test your knowledge with this quiz, and learn some information about electing a U.S. president along the way!

Shaped Staff

WF1278015 Learning Science Myth Hero

Is the 10,000-Hour Rule True? How to Help Your Students Achieve Mastery

As the myth goes, 10,000 hours of practice leads to mastery of a skill. But is the 10,000-hour rule true? Simply put, not just any kind of practice leads to mastery, but deliberate practice with feedback.

Rachel L. Schechter, PhD
VP Learning Sciences, Learning Sciences and Research Advisory Board Chair

Shaped Blog LM

Podcast: Finding Acceptance as an Immigrant Student with Margarita Lezama

Meet Margarita Lezama, an ESL and ESOL teacher at Brownsville Middle School in Miami, Florida. Originally from Nicaragua, Margarita now teaches a large immigrant population and relates with her students on topics like coping with culture shock, learning English, and facing discrimination.

Ali Habashi
Former Shaped Editor

WF1278044 Science SEL Hero v2

How to Incorporate SEL Into an Elementary Science Curriculum

Listen as two former science teachers discuss practical ways to implement social and emotional learning activities in your science classroom.

Ann Pearson
Shaped Contributor

Fun writing prompts for middle school

4 Writing Prompts for Middle School Students to Practice Different Genres

Use these four fun writing prompts for middle school students, along with accompanying rubrics and tips, to help them build their writing skills throughout the school year.

Sara Buren
Shaped Contributor

Middletown CT classroom

School Districts Face the Pandemic: Traditional or Remote Learning?

Learn how four school districts in the United States are navigating in-person and remote learning as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

Glenn Greenberg
Shaped Contributor

Election 2020 Debates Hero

Election 2020 Classroom Activity: How Can Debates Influence an Election?

Students will observe one of the debates in the 2020 presidential election and evaluate the content and performance of the Democratic and Republican nominees.

Glenn Greenberg
Shaped Contributor

Steps to Improve Outcomes HERO

Steps to Improve Outcomes for Students with Disabilities

Find out how to move beyond "Can all students use this?" to "Can all students succeed using this?"

Janna Sakson
Shaped Contributor

Remote learning schedule

Learning from Home: Remote Teaching Schedule and Tips for Grades K–3

Get tips on building a daily remote teaching schedule for young students learning from home amid COVID-19.

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

Sharon Biava Minisode Hero

Podcast: Virtual Learning During COVID-19 with Sharon Biava

Sharon Biava joins us once again to discuss virtual learning during COVID-19, and how she adapted to her new digital classroom with the help of her students. A 4th grade math teacher at Silver Lakes Elementary in Florida, Sharon is passionate about literacy, civics, and equity for all students.

Ali Habashi
Former Shaped Editor