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.

Education Opinion Q&A Collections: Student Motivation & Social-Emotional Learning
All Classroom Q&A posts sharing advice on Student Motivation & Social-Emotional Learning (from the past nine years!) are described and linked to in this compilation post.
Larry Ferlazzo, July 1, 2020
18 min read
Education Opinion Q&A Collections: Best Ways to End the School Year
All Classroom Q&A posts sharing advice on how to end a school year (from the past nine years!) are described and linked to in this compilation post.
Larry Ferlazzo, June 30, 2020
1 min read
Teaching Opinion Strategies for Grading ELLs in Content Classes
Educators share suggestions for grading English-language learners in "mainstream" content classes.
Larry Ferlazzo, June 29, 2020
15 min read
Education Opinion Q&A Collections: Best Ways to Begin the School Year
All Classroom Q&A posts sharing advice on how to begin a school year (from the past nine years!) are described and linked to in this compilation post.
Larry Ferlazzo, June 27, 2020
2 min read
Teaching Opinion High-Interest Books & Giving Students Time to Read & Talk About Them in School
Three teachers offer their recommendations of high-interest books for students to read, including for English-learners.
Larry Ferlazzo, June 26, 2020
11 min read
Teaching Opinion Students Like Books 'That Help Them Feel Seen, Heard, & Valued'
Four educators share their—and their students'—favorite books, including song picture books and ones focusing on SEL skills, as well as emphasizing the importance of ones that represent "a wide range of experiences."
Larry Ferlazzo, June 25, 2020
11 min read
Teaching Opinion Representation Matters in Classroom Libraries
Four teachers discuss specific titles, and common elements, in books that students find popular, including the importance of being able to see themselves in the characters.
Larry Ferlazzo, June 24, 2020
13 min read
Education Opinion Q&A Collections: Classroom-Management Advice
All Classroom Q&A posts sharing classroom-management advice (from the past nine years!) are described and linked to in this compilation post.
Larry Ferlazzo, June 23, 2020
7 min read
Education Opinion Q&A Collections: School Closures & the Coronavirus Crisis
Sixty posts—including commentaries, videos and infographics—are listed, with practical advice for teachers dealing with remote teaching now and in the future.
Larry Ferlazzo, June 22, 2020
6 min read
Education Opinion Sexual Harassment & Assault in Schools
Six educators share stories of sexual harassment at school and offer recommendation of how teachers can respond to it, including through educating themselves and students alike.
Larry Ferlazzo, June 21, 2020
20 min read
Teaching Opinion Engaging With Students in Conversations About Race
Three educators discuss why teachers should not believe or act like "they don't see color" and, instead, invite students to share their experiences of how race impacts their lives.
Larry Ferlazzo, June 19, 2020
12 min read
Education Opinion Q&A Collections: Race & Racism in Schools
All Classroom Q&A posts talking about Race & Racism in education (from the past nine years!) are described and linked to in this compilation post.
Larry Ferlazzo, June 18, 2020
15 min read
Teaching Opinion 'Teaching That Activates and Leverages Background Knowledge Is an Equity Issue'
Four educators share ideas on how to leverage student background knowledge, including through using The Question Formulation Technique, word splashes, and sticky notes.
Larry Ferlazzo, June 16, 2020
14 min read
Images shows colorful speech bubbles that say "Q," "&," and "A."
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Teaching Opinion The Whys & Hows of Activating Students' Background Knowledge
Educators explain the importance of tapping students' background knowledge in order to learn new content and describe ways to do just that.
Larry Ferlazzo, June 15, 2020
16 min read