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 '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
Education Opinion How Should Educators Respond to Trump Administration Attack on Anti-Racist Training?
Terri N. Watson suggests that educators reinforce their support of critical race theory in the face of Trump attacks on it, including by recognizing that "differences are not deficits" and demanding that schools are equitably funded.
Larry Ferlazzo, September 17, 2020
7 min read
Professional Development Opinion Videos Teachers Can Learn From ...
Four educators share videos and movies that have helped them become better teachers, including "Remember The Titans" and "Winnie The Pooh."
Larry Ferlazzo, September 15, 2020
12 min read
Professional Development Opinion The Importance of Challenging Teachers' Microaggressions
Three educators discuss the importance of responding to racist microaggressions committed by colleagues and how best to do it, including by expressing public and private dismay to the offender and submitting a complaint to a supervisor.
Larry Ferlazzo, September 14, 2020
10 min read
Images shows colorful speech bubbles that say "Q," "&," and "A."
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Professional Development Opinion Responding to a Colleague Who Makes a Racist Comment
Educators suggest strategies for responding to racist comments from colleagues.
Larry Ferlazzo, September 9, 2020
12 min read
Education Opinion Links to All Q&A Posts From the Past Nine Years - in One Place!
Find categorized links to all 700 columns appearing in this blog over the past nine years!
Larry Ferlazzo, September 8, 2020
1 min read
Education Opinion Q&A Collections: Project-Based Learning
All Classroom Q&A posts on Project-Based Learning (from the past nine years!) are described and linked to in this compilation post.
Larry Ferlazzo, September 7, 2020
1 min read
Education Opinion Q&A Collections: Mistakes in Education
All Classroom Q&A posts on Mistakes in Education (from the past nine years!) are described and linked to in this compilation post.
Larry Ferlazzo, September 6, 2020
7 min read
Education Opinion Q&A Collections: Classroom Organization
All Classroom Q&A posts on Classroom Organization (from the past nine years!) are described and linked to in this compilation post.
Larry Ferlazzo, September 5, 2020
2 min read