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 Strategies for Engaging Students in 'Meaningful' Online Learning Experiences
Four educators share instructional strategies for online instruction, including adapting face-to-face techniques like "think-pair-share" and "learning stations."
Larry Ferlazzo, August 14, 2020
11 min read
Teaching Opinion 'Teachers Need to Focus on What We Can Control This Year'
Two teacher guest contributors and I highlight lessons that we learned in the spring, including emphasizing what we can control and not worrying (much) about what is outside of it.
Larry Ferlazzo, August 13, 2020
10 min read
Teaching Opinion 'Making Personal Connections' Will Be Key This School Year
Four educators share how they are going to apply lessons they learned in the spring to this new school year, including by reaching out to students as well as to parents.
Larry Ferlazzo, August 12, 2020
9 min read
Teaching Opinion Lessons Learned From 'Quaranteaching'
Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey (co-authors of "The Distance Learning Playbook"), Dr. Isabel Morales, and Kiera Beddes share lessons they have learned from the spring, including the need for "empathetic feedback" and community-building.
Larry Ferlazzo, August 11, 2020
11 min read
Teaching Opinion 'Don't Forget to Breathe' During Distance Learning
Five educators share recommendations for effective distance learning, including limiting the number of online tools teachers use with students and not assuming that caregivers will be around to help with schoolwork.
Larry Ferlazzo, August 10, 2020
10 min read
Education Opinion Q&A Collections: Advice for New Teachers
All Classroom Q&A posts on Advice for New Teachers (from the past nine years!) are described and linked to in this compilation post.
Larry Ferlazzo, August 9, 2020
2 min read
Science Opinion Q&A Collections: Science Instruction
All Classroom Q&A posts on Science Instruction (from the past nine years!) are described and linked to in this compilation post.
Larry Ferlazzo, August 8, 2020
3 min read
Teaching Opinion Collaborate With Colleagues to Make It Through This School Year
Wrapping up this series on the dos and don'ts of teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic, three educators suggest such strategies as creating online and offline content and embracing uncertainty.
Larry Ferlazzo, August 7, 2020
12 min read
Teaching Opinion Now Is the Time to Address Education's 'Most Pressing Equity Issues'
Two educators call for schools to use this time of crisis to focus on equity issues like desegregation and community involvement.
Larry Ferlazzo, August 6, 2020
6 min read
Teaching Opinion Teachers Should 'Give Everyone Some Grace' This Fall
Three teachers offer colleagues suggestions for this fall, including showing "grace" to students, parents, and themselves and emphasizing flexibility.
Larry Ferlazzo, August 6, 2020
12 min read
Teaching Opinion Dos & Don'ts of Teaching in a COVID-19 Environment
Four educators share instructional recommendations for the pandemic-influenced fall, including setting boundaries and showing patience.
Larry Ferlazzo, August 4, 2020
17 min read
Teaching Opinion Start the Year With a 'Primary Focus' on Relationship-Building
Four educators share ideas on how to start a pandemic-effect school year, including by organizing scavenger hunts and having students share and write captions for their favorite photos.
Larry Ferlazzo, August 3, 2020
14 min read
Mathematics Opinion Q&A Collections: Math Instruction
All Classroom Q&A posts on Math Instruction (from the past nine years!) are described and linked to in this compilation post.
Larry Ferlazzo, August 2, 2020
4 min read
Education Opinion Q&A Collections: Differentiating Instruction
All Classroom Q&A posts on Differentiating Instruction (from the past nine years!) are described and linked to in this compilation post.
Larry Ferlazzo, August 1, 2020
4 min read