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.

Finance analysts analyze data collected online
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School & District Management Opinion The Best Ways for Administrators to Demonstrate Leadership
Successful administrators support their teachers in numerous ways, starting with showing they are appreciated.
Larry Ferlazzo, August 24, 2022
4 min read
Two heads facing each other, one speaks and the other thinks.
johnwoodcock/Getty
Teaching Opinion What Science Can Teach Us About Learning
Research in the past decade has come a long way in explaining how teachers can ignite students' brainpower.
Larry Ferlazzo, August 22, 2022
2 min read
A group of multicolored people stand together looking in both directions
Ada DaSilva/DigitalVision Vectors<br/>
Special Education Opinion How to Build Inclusive Classrooms
If teachers start from the premise that all students can make valuable contributions, that opens avenues to success.
Larry Ferlazzo, August 19, 2022
3 min read
Images shows colorful speech bubbles that say "Q," "&," and "A."
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Teaching Opinion Christopher Emdin, Gholdy Muhammad, and More Education Authors Offer Insights to the Field
Want to know about culturally responsive teaching? Teaching kids to thrive? Scores of interviews highlight those topics and more.
Larry Ferlazzo, August 17, 2022
7 min read
Conceptual image of finding finding a different approach or path.
Eoneren/E+
Reading & Literacy Opinion Writing Well Means Rewriting, Rewriting, Rewriting
Good writing doesn't happen without revision, and that's a critical lesson to impart to students.
Larry Ferlazzo, August 15, 2022
4 min read
A teacher tries to juggle remote and in-person instruction
Vanessa Solis/Education Week and Getty images
Teaching Profession Opinion If I'd Only Known. Veteran Teachers Offer Advice for Beginners
With the guidance of longtime teachers, novice educators can avoid many of the pitfalls and find success in the classroom.
Larry Ferlazzo, August 12, 2022
3 min read
Illustration of woman using telescope.
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Science Opinion How to Meet the Challenges of Teaching Science
Let students write. Let students play. Let students fail. Those are some of the strategies that can bring science to life in classrooms.
Larry Ferlazzo, August 10, 2022
5 min read
Illustration of students in virus environment facing wave of test sheets.
Collage by Vanessa Solis/Education Week (Images: iStock/DigitalVision Vectors/Getty)
Assessment Opinion Are There Better Ways Than Standardized Tests to Assess Students? Educators Think So
Student portfolios and school community surveys are but two of the many alternatives to standardized tests.
Larry Ferlazzo, August 8, 2022
3 min read
Friendly group of people stand and support each other.
IULIIA/iStock/Getty Images Plus
Teaching Opinion Give Students a Role in Their Education
Partnering students is one strategy teachers can use to make learning more meaningful for their charges.
Larry Ferlazzo, August 5, 2022
3 min read
Image of a student working on match equations.
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Mathematics Opinion 10 Teacher-Proofed Strategies for Improving Math Instruction
To move past "drill and skill," educators can draw inspiration for creative math lessons from students’ everyday experiences.
Larry Ferlazzo, August 3, 2022
3 min read
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School & District Management Opinion 10 Ways to Include Teachers in Important Policy Decisions
Teachers are the lifeblood of schools, and they should be treated that way.
Larry Ferlazzo, August 1, 2022
5 min read
Images shows colorful speech bubbles that say "Q," "&," and "A."
iStock/Getty
School & District Management Opinion A Deeper Dive Into the 'Overspending' on Teacher Salaries
Higher teacher salaries don't just have an impact on students from wealthier homes, explains a researcher in response to readers' questions.
Larry Ferlazzo, July 29, 2022
3 min read
Supportive hand holds up a student who is reaching for a star
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English Learners Opinion 10 Strategies for Reaching English-Learners
Despite the best of intentions, educators often err in their approaches to teaching students the English language.
Larry Ferlazzo, July 28, 2022
5 min read
Surreal Illustration of books flying through the air
Jorm Sangsorn/iStock
Reading & Literacy Opinion How to Help Students Embrace Reading. Educators Weigh In
To encourage the development of lifelong-reading habits in their students, educators must use both science and art.
Larry Ferlazzo, July 26, 2022
3 min read