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.

Images shows colorful speech bubbles that say "Q," "&," and "A."
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Teaching Opinion What's Been Your Best Classroom Experience? Students Answer
Quiz preps, art exhibits, potlucks, making connections—the unexpected ways students say they enjoy learning.
Larry Ferlazzo, August 22, 2023
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8 min read
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Reading & Literacy Opinion The Essentials of Reading: What Teachers Must Know
Reading is complex. Here’s guidance from teachers for teachers to help get the focus right.
Larry Ferlazzo, August 18, 2023
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1 min read
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Social Studies Opinion Social Studies Teachers May Have Some Difficult Choices to Make. These Ideas Could Help
Here's one way to turn the fire hose of news into meaningful classroom discussions of current events.
Larry Ferlazzo, August 17, 2023
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10 min read
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Reading & Literacy Opinion Many Older Students Are Struggling to Read. How Can Teachers Help?
Educators offer targeted instructional steps to support middle and high schoolers in their journey to understand the written word.
Larry Ferlazzo, August 14, 2023
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8 min read
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Social Studies Opinion Don't Suffocate Students With Memorization. Get Them Talking
When it comes to social studies instruction, teaching students how to develop ideas by talking about them is critical.
Larry Ferlazzo, August 11, 2023
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14 min read
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Artificial Intelligence Opinion Confused About Which AI Tools to Use? These Teachers Have Advice
ChatGPT has created a lot of buzz, but it's not the only bot with potential for a huge classroom impact.
Larry Ferlazzo, August 8, 2023
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7 min read
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Education Funding Opinion Foundations Have Given Money to Schools for a Long Time. What's Actually Working?
Investments in one key area seem to be making a difference when it comes to improving schools.
Larry Ferlazzo, August 4, 2023
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14 min read
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Teaching Opinion Want to Start the Year off Right? Teachers Share Their Best Tips
A contract, a biographical poem, identity portraits—some of the many ways educators are engaging their students from Day 1.
Larry Ferlazzo, August 2, 2023
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12 min read
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Teaching Opinion Don't Waste Instructional Time at the Beginning of the Year
Use those first weeks to explicitly teach listening, speaking, and thinking skills that will help build relationships as well.
Larry Ferlazzo, July 31, 2023
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14 min read
opinion classroom q&a ai
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Artificial Intelligence Opinion What Teachers Should Know About AI: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
For our students’ sake, as well as our own, we need to learn how to adapt to artificial intelligence—whether we like it or not.
Larry Ferlazzo, July 28, 2023
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1 min read
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Teaching Profession Opinion A Recent Report Sparked Ire in the Field. One Teacher Explains Why
District leaders should figure out how to support teachers instead of blaming them for the pandemic’s impact on student learning.
Larry Ferlazzo, July 27, 2023
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7 min read
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Teaching Opinion 3 Educators Offer Their Best Ideas for Starting the Year Off Right
The first two weeks of school can help set the tone for everything that will follow.
Larry Ferlazzo, July 25, 2023
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11 min read
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School Climate & Safety Opinion Students Are Physically Fighting. What Can Teachers Do?
Teachers need to have a plan of action in place before they ever encounter violent confrontations between students.
Larry Ferlazzo, July 24, 2023
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6 min read
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Education Funding Opinion Education Funders Need to Ditch the Savior Complex
Trust in the input from teachers, staff, community, and students will go a long way toward making initiatives successful.
Larry Ferlazzo, July 21, 2023
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12 min read
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