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.

Teaching & Learning Opinion

It Was Another Busy School Year. What Resonated for You?

By Larry Ferlazzo — June 20, 2022 1 min read
Kindergarten teacher Karen Drolet works with a student at Raices Dual Language Academy, a public school in Central Falls, R.I., in February. Pandemic-related news continues to stir interest.
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

During the summer, I will be sharing thematic posts bringing together responses on similar topics from the past 11 years. You can see all those collections from the first 10 years here.

But, before I begin that series, I’m sharing the most popular posts published over the past 10 months.

You can see the list of posts following this excerpt from one of them:

valentinainfographic

Image by Valentina Gonzalez

1. What Are the Best Strategies for Small-Group Instruction?

For teachers starting out, take small steps in introducing small-group instruction. Try a single strategy and add time as you go along. Read more.

2. 6 Small Instructional Changes Teachers Can Make for Big Results

Increasing “wait time,” offering students more choice, and differentiating instruction in simple ways are a few manageable changes. Read more.

3. 8 Ways the Pandemic May Affect Students in the Future

Emotional tolls and learning loss aren’t surprising, but students honed their technology, personal, and social skills in unexpected ways. Read more.

4. Would You Urge a Young Person to Go Into Teaching? What Teachers Say

There’s no one answer to explain why teachers would recommend (or not) their profession. What is clear: It’s rewarding. Read more.

5. A Good Colleague Can Make or Break Any Teacher

At the heart of learning for teachers is the support, wisdom, and inspiration of colleagues—whether in Year I or during crises. Read more.

6. 17 Favorite Classroom-Learning Games

Educators share learning games that can be used in all subject areas. Read more

7. How to Fall in Love With Teaching Again and Other Morale Boosters

Cultivating a sense of play in the classroom is one key strategy teachers are using to combat the stress of coping with Omicron. Read more.

8. 20 Ways to Support Students With Learning Differences This Year

Embedding student voices and perspectives into the classroom is one piece of advice educators offer in this third pandemic-affected school year. Read more.

9. Teacher: ‘Omicron Is Truly Bringing Education to Its Knees’

Mindfulness exercises, flexible and fun assignments, and high-interest lesson topics can make the relentless situation more bearable. Read more.

10. 18 Ways to Improve Teacher Observations

Holding pre- and post-conferences, showing more compassion and less judgment, and organizing peer observations are valuable. Read more.

Related Tags:

The opinions expressed in Classroom Q&A With Larry Ferlazzo are strictly those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinions or endorsement of Editorial Projects in Education, or any of its publications.

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Assessment Webinar
The Assessment Trust Crisis: How to Measure Learning in the Age of AI
AI is reshaping learning. Is assessment keeping up? Join this webinar to explore how to measure student thinking, not just right answers.
Content provided by Instructure
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
College & Workforce Readiness Webinar
From Student Trends to Counselor Action: Turning Insight Into Impact
Find out what is changing in how students approach planning for life after graduation and how schools can help.
Content provided by PowerSchool
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
School & District Management Webinar
McKinney-Vento Transportation Strategies: Managing Cost & Protecting Access
Explore McKinney-Vento transportation strategies to manage costs, respond quickly to changing needs, and protect student access.
Content provided by HopSkipDrive

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Mathematics Low-Income Students Less Likely to Remain in Top Tier for Math
They're also less likely to remain at the top of their class over time. Changing screening policies could help.
•
3 min read
A student works a problem in a second grade math class at Place Bridge Academy, May 20, 2025, in Denver.
A student works a problem in a second grade math class at Place Bridge Academy, May 20, 2025, in Denver. New data shows that, especially in the elementary level, low-income, high-achieving students don't always keep up, pointing to opportunity gaps.
Rebecca Slezak/AP
College & Workforce Readiness These Students Are Often Left Out of CTE Programs. Here’s How to Fix It
An expert warns that English learners are often shut out of career pathways.
3 min read
LEANDER, TEXAS - DECEMBER 18: Students in a welding class work on skills and building a cattle trailer at Glenn High School, Dec. 18, 2025. Leander is one school district that measures success through a community-based accountability system, which includes students achievement in industry based education as well as other, more common metrics like STAAR test scores.
Students in a welding class at Glenn High School in Leander, Texas, work on building a cattle trailer on Dec. 18, 2025. Advocates say it's important to ensure career and technical education programs are accessible to students from diverse backgrounds.
Sara Diggins/The Austin American-Statesman via Getty Images
Mathematics Making the Math Add Up for Future Elementary School Teachers
Teacher-preparation programs blend math content and pedagogy to target the needs of elementary school teachers.
•
5 min read
TUSKEGEE, AL - MARCH 14: Sixth grade students in Samuel Morriss class, from left, Jazyah Mitchell, Amiya Neal, Latecia White and Radarius Harris work on math problems together on March 14, 2023, at Tuskegee Public School in Tuskegee, Alabama.
From left, students Jazyah Mitchell, Amiya Neal, Latecia White and Radarius Harris, work on math problems together on March 14, 2023, at Tuskegee Public School in Tuskegee, Ala. The state is at the forefront of rethinking how it prepares elementary teachers to ensure they have the mathematical knowledge and techniques to teach math effectively.
Julie Bennett for The Washington Post via Getty Images
Reading & Literacy How Much Time Should Elementary Teachers Spend Reading Aloud?
Research doesn't offer a prescription. But quality is more important than quantity, experts say.
5 min read
Kindergarten teacher Christin Labriola reads the book "Dumpling Soup" to her class, incorporating Asian American and Pacific Islander subjects in her class at Webster Hill Elementary School in West Hartford, Conn., on Dec. 2, 2025.
Kindergarten teacher Christin Labriola reads the book <i>Dumpling Soup</i> to her class at Webster Hill Elementary School in West Hartford, Conn., on Dec. 2, 2025. It's important for teachers to engage students in conversation about the books they use for read-alouds, researchers say.
Jessica Hill/AP