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.

Conceptual illustration of classroom conversations and fragmented education elements coming together to form a cohesive picture of a book of classroom knowledge.
Sonia Pulido for Education Week
School & District Management Opinion 9 Ways Schools Can Improve Life for Teachers and Students
Educators suggest low-cost strategies to improve the education experience for teachers and learners alike.
Larry Ferlazzo, October 29, 2024
•
8 min read
Images shows colorful speech bubbles that say "Q," "&," and "A."
iStock/Getty
Recruitment & Retention Opinion Want to Retain Teachers? Here's What Districts and Schools Can Do
Severe teacher shortages persist. Educators suggest what schools and districts can do to fill those posts.
Larry Ferlazzo, October 23, 2024
•
11 min read
Images shows colorful speech bubbles that say "Q," "&," and "A."
iStock/Getty
Teaching Opinion 5 Urgent Classroom Issues for Teachers, According to Larry Ferlazzo
What educators and researchers need to know.
Larry Ferlazzo, October 22, 2024
•
3 min read
Images shows colorful speech bubbles that say "Q," "&," and "A."
iStock/Getty
Equity & Diversity Opinion You Need to Understand Culturally Responsive Teaching Before You Can Do It
Too often, teachers focus solely on the content. They need to move beyond that and get out of their comfort zones.
Larry Ferlazzo, October 16, 2024
•
11 min read
Images shows colorful speech bubbles that say "Q," "&," and "A."
iStock/Getty
Teaching Opinion Teachers Have to Endure Plenty of Short-Sighted Mandates. Here Are 3 of Them
There’s so much bad advice about teaching that it can be hard to choose the worst. These teachers tried anyway.

Larry Ferlazzo, October 15, 2024
•
9 min read
Images shows colorful speech bubbles that say "Q," "&," and "A."
iStock/Getty
Teaching Opinion How to Make Rigorous Curriculum Accessible to All Students
Culturally responsive teaching is research-based. Here's why that matters for the classroom.
Larry Ferlazzo, October 11, 2024
•
7 min read
Images shows colorful speech bubbles that say "Q," "&," and "A."
iStock/Getty
Equity & Diversity Opinion Equity or Equality: Only One of These Sets Students Up for Success
Three educators offer ideas for how to create an equitable classroom learning experience for students.
Larry Ferlazzo, October 10, 2024
•
9 min read
Images shows colorful speech bubbles that say "Q," "&," and "A."
iStock/Getty
Teaching Opinion What Do Students Think of Their Teachers?
Teachers who get high grades from students show they care for the person beyond the student.
Larry Ferlazzo, October 8, 2024
•
7 min read
Images shows colorful speech bubbles that say "Q," "&," and "A."
iStock/Getty
Teaching Opinion Racism Exists in Schools. Here Are Strategies for Addressing It
Confronting racism in schools can be challenging, but doing nothing is a recipe for harming students.
Larry Ferlazzo, October 1, 2024
•
12 min read
Images shows colorful speech bubbles that say "Q," "&," and "A."
iStock/Getty
Teaching Opinion Mistakes Happen. Here’s How Teachers Can Learn From Them
Many teachers march into classrooms with fixed ideas about how everything is going to proceed. But that attitude often fails.
Larry Ferlazzo, September 26, 2024
•
8 min read
Images shows colorful speech bubbles that say "Q," "&," and "A."
iStock/Getty
Teaching Opinion Research Studies That Teachers Can Get Behind
Not every education study is transformational for student learning. These studies are.
Larry Ferlazzo, September 23, 2024
•
8 min read
Images shows colorful speech bubbles that say "Q," "&," and "A."
iStock/Getty
Artificial Intelligence Opinion Can AI Be Used Effectively in Class?
The challenge for users of generative artificial intelligence is retaining the human element. These teachers have done that.
Larry Ferlazzo, September 20, 2024
•
11 min read
Images shows colorful speech bubbles that say "Q," "&," and "A."
iStock/Getty
Teaching Opinion 'Equality' and 'Equity' Are Different. But in Thriving Schools, They Coexist
Equity benefits the entire school community, even if it's met with resistance by some.
Larry Ferlazzo, September 11, 2024
•
10 min read
Images shows colorful speech bubbles that say "Q," "&," and "A."
iStock/Getty
Teaching Opinion 14 Things Schools Should Stop Doing Now
Instead of cramming more and more into schooling, consider how the paradox of "less is more" could benefit students and teachers.
Larry Ferlazzo, September 9, 2024
•
11 min read
Load More ▼