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 Connecting Reading & Writing 'Is a High-Leverage Move'
Five educators recommend strategies for using reading instruction as a tool to improve students' writing skills, including through the use of informal writing and sections of reading texts students can use as models for their writing.
Larry Ferlazzo, February 25, 2020
14 min read
Teaching Opinion Ways Reading Can Support Writing Instruction
Five educators share ideas on how reading instruction can help students become more effective writers, including through the use of mentor texts and through a guided step-by-step process.
Larry Ferlazzo, February 23, 2020
15 min read
Teaching Opinion Educators Must Have a 'Plan of Action' to Confront Our Challenges
Three educators discuss dangers facing education today, including gun violence and teacher burnout, as well as shrinking school budgets that threaten programs and student well-being.
Larry Ferlazzo, February 18, 2020
9 min read
Teaching Opinion 'The Silence of Educators Is Dangerous'
Four educators share their thoughts on the biggest dangers facing schools, including the silence of educators, often keeping mum in the "face of injustices that in our hearts and minds we know are unethical."
Larry Ferlazzo, February 15, 2020
21 min read
Teaching Opinion 'Being Nice Is Not Enough to Make Racism Disappear'
Veteran educator Dr. Karen Baptiste discusses how teachers believing they are "colorblind" contributes toward the school-to-prison pipeline for students.
Larry Ferlazzo, February 12, 2020
18 min read
Teaching Opinion 'Claiming to Not See Race Leads to Inequity in Education'
Four educators offer recommendations on how to respond to teachers who say they "don't see race," including specific questions to use for deepening the conversation.
Larry Ferlazzo, February 9, 2020
16 min read
Teaching Opinion 'Practicing Colorblindness Suppresses the Individuality of Our Students'
Seven educators challenge the idea of "not seeing race or color" in the the classroom and offer suggestions like considering our own implicit biases, as well as provide additional resources.
Larry Ferlazzo, February 6, 2020
21 min read
Teaching Opinion Educators Must Disrupt 'Colorblind Ideologies'
Nine educators write about possible ways to respond to teachers who say they "don't see color," including by framing the discussion around differentiation, school climate, and white privilege.
Larry Ferlazzo, February 4, 2020
29 min read
Teaching Opinion Saying 'I Don't See Color' Denies the Racial Identity of Students
Eight educators offer suggestions on how to respond to teachers who claim they "don't see race."
Larry Ferlazzo, February 2, 2020
21 min read
Teaching Opinion Making Current Events Connections to Lessons
Seven educators discuss multiple ways to bridge current events with their classroom lessons, including applying learning transfer and information-literacy strategies.
Larry Ferlazzo, January 29, 2020
25 min read
Curriculum Opinion Author Interview With Dr. Gholdy Muhammad: 'Cultivating Genius'
Gholdy Muhammad speaks about her new book, "Cultivating Genius: An Equity Framework for Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy."
Larry Ferlazzo, January 28, 2020
15 min read
Social Studies Opinion Seven Ways to Bring Current Events Into the Classroom
Project-based learning and student-created podcasts are among the techniques six educators employ to bring current events into the classroom and engage students.
Larry Ferlazzo, January 26, 2020
18 min read
Teaching Opinion 'Prevention Is the Best Way to Support Long-Term English-Learner Students'
Four educators provide recommendations on how to support Long-Term English-Learners, including providing more support to them earlier and identifying whether they have other special needs earlier, too!
Larry Ferlazzo, January 22, 2020
17 min read
Teaching Opinion 'Make It Clear to Long-Term English-Learners That Their Voices Matter'
Six educators share advice on how to support Long-Term English-Language Learners, including emphasizing vocabulary development and academic language.
Larry Ferlazzo, January 20, 2020
19 min read