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.

Teaching Opinion Making Hybrid Teaching Work for Educators & Students
Three educators offer do's and don'ts of successful hybrid teaching, including setting boundaries and practicing self-care.
Larry Ferlazzo, October 20, 2020
16 min read
Teaching Opinion The Do's & Don'ts of Hybrid Teaching
Three educators offer lessons from their hybrid teaching experience, including emphasizing differentiation and "flipping" the classroom.
Larry Ferlazzo, October 19, 2020
15 min read
Teaching Opinion Readers Respond: Should Politics Be Kept Out of the Classroom?
Many readers share their responses to the question of politics in the classroom, ranging from the importance of separating it from "partisanship" to stating that "teaching is political."
Larry Ferlazzo, October 18, 2020
12 min read
Teaching Opinion 'Keeping Politics Out of the Classroom Is Like Keeping the Water Out of Rain'
Four educators consider how to explore politics in the classroom, including by incorporating multiple perspectives and ensuring all student voices are heard.
Larry Ferlazzo, October 13, 2020
13 min read
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Teaching Opinion Politics Belongs in the Classroom
Educators discuss bringing politics into the classroom, to help students develop skills in discourse and information literacy.
Larry Ferlazzo, October 12, 2020
16 min read
Teaching Opinion 'Classrooms Are Political'
Four educators push back against the admonition to "keep politics out of the classroom" by, among other things, explaining that schools are part of a broader political system.
Larry Ferlazzo, October 11, 2020
14 min read
Teaching Opinion Nine Ways to Implement Culturally Responsive Teaching During Distance Learning
Four educators offer ways teachers can implement culturally responsive teaching during remote learning, including incorporating students' lives into lessons.
Larry Ferlazzo, October 6, 2020
15 min read
Teaching Opinion Strategies for Implementing Online Culturally Responsive Teaching
Four educators offer suggestions on how to provide online culturally responsive teaching, including by providing choice and opportunities for self-reflection.
Larry Ferlazzo, October 5, 2020
16 min read
Teaching Opinion 'The Story of Arab & Muslim Students Is Often an Untold Story'
Three educators share ways that educators and schools can promote the inclusion of Arab and Muslim students, such as having schools accurately assess their numbers in the student population.
Larry Ferlazzo, October 4, 2020
15 min read
Teaching Opinion 'More Than Aladdin': Dismantling Common Misconceptions About Arab and Muslim Students
Teachers have the power to help students view their Middle Eastern peers as individuals with rich cultures who defy the stereotypes, say four educators who offer guidance.
Larry Ferlazzo, September 30, 2020
16 min read
Teaching Opinion 'Teaching Beyond Stereotypes': Ways to Teach the Middle East & Islam in Schools
Three educators share strategies to support Arab and Muslim students, including by countering "false narratives" and encouraging them to become leaders.
Larry Ferlazzo, September 29, 2020
11 min read
Teaching Opinion Supporting Arab & Muslim Students in the Classroom
Guest editor Dr. Sawsan Jaber discusses how to support Arab and Muslims students in U.S. schools, including by supporting their identity and recognizing there is not a "single story."
Larry Ferlazzo, September 27, 2020
9 min read
Teaching Opinion Strategies for Promoting Student Collaboration in a Distance Learning Environment
Here's how to encourage student collaboration in a remote or hybrid learning environment, including through group presentations and class-created "norms."
Larry Ferlazzo, September 22, 2020
7 min read
Teaching Opinion Movies That Can Teach the Teachers
Four educators share movies or shows that have helped them become betters, including the importance of nurturing students' passions and lifting up student voice.
Larry Ferlazzo, September 20, 2020
11 min read