Opinion Blog

Classroom Q&A

With Larry Ferlazzo

In this EdWeek blog, an experiment in knowledge-gathering, Ferlazzo will address readers’ questions on classroom management, ELL instruction, lesson planning, and other issues facing teachers. Send your questions to lferlazzo@epe.org. Read more from this blog.

An award-winning English and Social Studies teacher at Luther Burbank High School in Sacramento, Calif., Larry Ferlazzo is the author of Helping Students Motivate Themselves: Practical Answers To Classroom Challenges, The ESL/ELL Teacher’s Survival Guide, and Building Parent Engagement In Schools.

Conceptual illustration of classroom conversations and fragmented education elements coming together to form a cohesive picture of a book of classroom knowledge.
Sonia Pulido for Education Week
Mathematics Opinion Everybody Is a Math Person. Now, Convince Your Students
Math educators offer tips on how to engage students on the subject.
Larry Ferlazzo, June 23, 2026
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7 min read
Conceptual illustration of classroom conversations and fragmented education elements coming together to form a cohesive picture of a book of classroom knowledge.
Sonia Pulido for Education Week
Teaching Opinion If You Don't See Value in an Assignment, Your Students Won't, Either
From reading to decisionmaking, educators offer ideas on how best to encourage learning.
Larry Ferlazzo, June 16, 2026
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14 min read
Conceptual illustration of classroom conversations and fragmented education elements coming together to form a cohesive picture of a book of classroom knowledge.
Sonia Pulido for Education Week
Classroom Technology Opinion How to Run a Classroom That’s Not Screen-Dependent
Educators share tips for navigating thorny decisions about ed tech.
Larry Ferlazzo, June 11, 2026
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12 min read
Conceptual illustration of classroom conversations and fragmented education elements coming together to form a cohesive picture of a book of classroom knowledge.
Sonia Pulido for Education Week
English Learners Opinion Immigrant Student Enrollment Is Falling. How Should Schools Respond?
Enrollment patterns may change, but schools still need to take care of their English learners.
Larry Ferlazzo, June 3, 2026
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6 min read
Conceptual illustration of classroom conversations and fragmented education elements coming together to form a cohesive picture of a book of classroom knowledge.
Sonia Pulido for Education Week
School & District Management Opinion Not Every Teacher Should Be an Administrator. Here’s How to Decide
Four educators talk about what it takes to make the transition.
Larry Ferlazzo, June 1, 2026
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13 min read
Conceptual illustration of classroom conversations and fragmented education elements coming together to form a cohesive picture of a book of classroom knowledge.
Sonia Pulido for Education Week
Teaching Opinion Classroom Routines Can Bolster Student Agency. Here’s How
Four educators share how to build predictable daily structures—and why you should.
Larry Ferlazzo, May 27, 2026
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11 min read
Conceptual illustration of classroom conversations and fragmented education elements coming together to form a cohesive picture of a book of classroom knowledge.
Sonia Pulido for Education Week
Teaching Opinion You Should Turn Students Into Detectives. Here's How
The case for bringing inductive learning into your classroom.
Larry Ferlazzo, May 22, 2026
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10 min read
Conceptual illustration of classroom conversations and fragmented education elements coming together to form a cohesive picture of a book of classroom knowledge.
Sonia Pulido for Education Week
Student Well-Being & Movement Opinion Your Students Are Stressed. You Can Help Them
Teachers can guide students out of survival mode and into readiness for learning.
Larry Ferlazzo, May 21, 2026
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4 min read
Conceptual illustration of classroom conversations and fragmented education elements coming together to form a cohesive picture of a book of classroom knowledge.
Sonia Pulido for Education Week
Teaching Opinion ‘That Was a Mistake’: The Education Ideas That Teachers Learned to Reject
Experiences have taught educators not to cling too tightly to their approaches to schooling.
Larry Ferlazzo, May 15, 2026
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13 min read
Conceptual illustration of classroom conversations and fragmented education elements coming together to form a cohesive picture of a book of classroom knowledge.
Sonia Pulido for Education Week
Artificial Intelligence Opinion ‘What in the ChatGPT Is This?’: How EL Teachers Are Navigating AI Use
When used responsibly, AI can be a great ally for English learners.
Larry Ferlazzo, May 13, 2026
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14 min read
Conceptual illustration of classroom conversations and fragmented education elements coming together to form a cohesive picture of a book of classroom knowledge.
Sonia Pulido for Education Week
Teaching Opinion 'It’s Powerful’: How Teachers Can Turn Their Frustration Into Teachable Moments
Be open with students. It's important for them to see teachers as human beings with feelings.
Larry Ferlazzo, May 11, 2026
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11 min read
Conceptual illustration of classroom conversations and fragmented education elements coming together to form a cohesive picture of a book of classroom knowledge.
Sonia Pulido for Education Week
Teaching Profession Opinion Portrayals of Educators on Film and TV: The Good, the Bad, The Ugly
From "Lean on Me" to "Abbott Elementary," how realistic is Hollywood’s representation of schools?
Larry Ferlazzo, April 30, 2026
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14 min read
Conceptual illustration of classroom conversations and fragmented education elements coming together to form a cohesive picture of a book of classroom knowledge.
Sonia Pulido for Education Week
Assessment Opinion We Need to Stop Overrelying on Student Test Scores
These four educator strategies offer approaches for improving how we evaluate achievement.
Larry Ferlazzo, April 28, 2026
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6 min read
Conceptual illustration of classroom conversations and fragmented education elements coming together to form a cohesive picture of a book of classroom knowledge.
Sonia Pulido for Education Week
Teaching Opinion The Most Popular Instructional Strategies That Don't Work
Not every instructional approach is a winner. What to use and what to drop.
Larry Ferlazzo, April 27, 2026
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12 min read