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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Teaching Profession
Opinion
What Does It Mean to 'Overspend' on Teacher Salaries?
Is it really possible for a district to spend too much money on teachers? Higher pay sows benefits beyond teachers' earnings.
Teaching
Opinion
Differentiated Instruction Doesn't Need to Be a Heavy Lift
Sometimes adapting instruction is just about making decisions in the moment to reach all students, regardless of their gifts or challenges.
Social Studies
Opinion
Teaching Social Studies Isn't for the Faint of Heart
Few school subjects provoke controversy as much as social studies. Here's help for teachers to address topics head-on.
Families & the Community
Opinion
How to Make Parent Engagement Meaningful
Parents can serve as valuable education resources for their children—and teachers.