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.

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
Teaching Opinion Ways to Support Long-Term English-Language Learners
Eight educators offer their recommendations about how schools and their teachers can best support Long-Term English Language Learners, such as keeping expectations high for students.
Larry Ferlazzo, January 17, 2020
22 min read
Teaching Opinion What It Takes to Apply Restorative Practices in Schools
Seven educators provide practical recommendations on how to apply restorative practices in the school setting. One tip: "Results won't be immediate," but "they will be long lasting."
Larry Ferlazzo, January 14, 2020
17 min read
Images shows colorful speech bubbles that say "Q," "&," and "A."
iStock/Getty
Teaching Opinion Ways to Implement Restorative Practices in the Classroom
Educators share their practical experience implementing restorative practices in their schools.
Larry Ferlazzo, January 9, 2020
22 min read
Teaching Opinion 'Writing Helps Grow Readers'
Assigning students to write about what they are reading and asking them to compose in various formats are among the tips seven educators offer in their discussion of the role of writing in reading instruction.
Larry Ferlazzo, January 7, 2020
20 min read
Curriculum Opinion Author Interview: 'Culturally Responsive Education in the Classroom'
Adeyemi Stembridge talks about his new book, "Culturally Responsive Education In The Classroom: An Equity Framework for Pedagogy, including explaining the difference between "equity" and "equality."
Larry Ferlazzo, January 6, 2020
8 min read
Image of a student writing in a notebook.
Jardul/iStock/Getty
Reading & Literacy Opinion 'Writing Directly Benefits Students' Reading Skills'
Five experienced educators discuss how writing instruction can support the development of reading skills for students throughout K-12.
Larry Ferlazzo, January 5, 2020
18 min read
Education Opinion Educators: Would You Like to Contribute to This Blog?
Blogger Larry Ferlazzo invites educators to contribute responses to future questions appearing on Classroom Q&A, the 10th anniversary of the blog aimed at making them--and their students--successful.
Larry Ferlazzo, January 2, 2020
1 min read
Teaching Opinion Elements of an Effective Math Lesson
Teachers explain how creative math lessons can spring from students' surrounding environments and culture such as the cost of the Thanksgiving meal and the search for "math selfies."
Larry Ferlazzo, December 30, 2019
12 min read
Teaching Opinion Eight Educators Share Their Best Math Lessons
Math educators share their favorite lessons, including taking students for a walk around a fenced-in field, investigating student-loan costs, and working alongside a language arts teacher.
Larry Ferlazzo, December 29, 2019
20 min read
Education Opinion What Was Your Best Math Lesson?
The new question-of-the-week is: What has been the best math lesson you have taught and why do you think it was so good?
Larry Ferlazzo, December 26, 2019
1 min read
Teaching Opinion We Need to Help 'Students Recognize the Brilliance They Already Have'
Ten educators wrap up a five-part series on ways to look for the positive, instead of the negative, in students, so they can change their own mindsets about the children's abilities as well as their students'.
Larry Ferlazzo, December 26, 2019
27 min read