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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Families & the Community Opinion 'Easy, Positive, and Judgment Free.' How Families Can Support Their Children
Educators share their best advice for working with parents and guardians on student learning.
Larry Ferlazzo, April 22, 2026
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
Student Achievement Opinion Should Teachers Offer Extra Credit? Yea or Nay?
Educators discuss whether extra credit warps grading or reinforces skills students will use later.
Larry Ferlazzo, April 16, 2026
8 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 ‘Whoa, What Are You Doing Here?’: Why This Professor Subs in K-12 Classrooms
Here's how stepping back into the K-12 classroom keeps “Ivory Tower Syndrome” at bay.
Larry Ferlazzo, April 15, 2026
5 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 An Iranian American Educator Speaks From a Broken Heart
The Iranian children will carry their fear, confusion, and loss of safety forever.
Larry Ferlazzo, April 10, 2026
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
Reading & Literacy Opinion What the 'Science of Reading' Movement Has Meant for English Learners
We should think of reading instruction for multilingual learners as a bridge, not a checklist.
Larry Ferlazzo, April 9, 2026
8 min read