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.

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English Learners Opinion Emergent Bilinguals Want to Go to College. You Can Help Them
English-learners want to go to college. They just don't know what steps to take to get there.
Larry Ferlazzo, July 13, 2023
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10 min read
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Artificial Intelligence Opinion AI Is Helping Us With Our Instructional Practice. Here's How
Artificial intelligence can be a timesaver for teachers and an eye-opener for students.
Larry Ferlazzo, July 11, 2023
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14 min read
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Social Studies Opinion Mock Trials? Debates? Here's a Better Way to Approach Supreme Court Decisions in Class
Steer clear of any instructional method that opens the door to questioning the humanity of your students, says a social studies teacher.
Larry Ferlazzo, July 7, 2023
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7 min read
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Artificial Intelligence Opinion How Teachers Are Using ChatGPT in Class
Used smartly, AI tools can be valuable allies for teachers and students alike in the learning process.
Larry Ferlazzo, July 5, 2023
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12 min read
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English Learners Opinion How to Create College and Career Pathways for English-Learners
To start, the adults in students' schools should show they believe in ELLs' abilities to succeed in postsecondary education.
Larry Ferlazzo, June 29, 2023
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11 min read
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School & District Management Opinion 'School Leaders Have 99 Problems, But NAEP Scores Ain't One'
Schools might want their students to perform at high levels, but there are more pressing and basic needs that must be addressed first.
Larry Ferlazzo, June 27, 2023
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7 min read
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School & District Management Opinion Did Districts Really Do That? Some of Their Worst Decisions
At times, districts make changes without consulting other members of the school community or considering the consequences.
Larry Ferlazzo, June 23, 2023
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9 min read
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Artificial Intelligence Opinion Here's What Students Think About Using AI in the Classroom
As much as teens are wed to technology, these high schoolers recognize its limitations.
Larry Ferlazzo, June 19, 2023
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7 min read
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Teaching Profession Opinion What Are Binaural Beats? One Way for Teachers to Calm Their Brain Waves
Some in the field are put off by self-care talk, but these educators are finding that committing to it is bringing them a lot of joy.
Larry Ferlazzo, June 15, 2023
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12 min read
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Teaching Opinion Existential Questions for Educators Right Now. Do We Even Matter?
What if educators aren't helping students progress? Post-pandemic data could help answer that question and reveal some hard truths.

Larry Ferlazzo, June 14, 2023
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8 min read
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Teaching Profession Opinion It's the End of School Year. You're Tired. What's a Teacher to Do?
If you're looking to refuel, here are 13 ideas to help you thrive as a teacher.
Larry Ferlazzo, June 9, 2023
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14 min read
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Teaching Opinion The Big Questions Teachers Are Asking Themselves Right Now
Teachers have lots of questions, chief among them why there's such a mismatch between teacher-prep and school district needs.
Larry Ferlazzo, June 7, 2023
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12 min read
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English Learners Opinion If the Teacher Does All the Talking, Who's Doing the Learning?
Teachers have to recognize that they are not the focal point of the classroom if they want students to gain and keep knowledge.
Larry Ferlazzo, June 1, 2023
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11 min read
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Artificial Intelligence Opinion AI Isn't Going Anywhere. Ideas for How Educators Can Make It Work for Them
The inevitability of AI requires that we teach students how to use it responsibly. If we don't, we all lose.
Larry Ferlazzo, May 31, 2023
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8 min read
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