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.

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Families & the Community Opinion How Teachers Can Make Stronger Connections With Students' Caregivers
A new book explores what true collaboration between educators and student families looks like.
Larry Ferlazzo, March 14, 2024
6 min read
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School & District Management Opinion The Single Most Effective Thing Administrators Can Do: Shut Up and Listen
By listening deeply, administrators can create an environment where everyone feels valued, supported, and can challenge assumptions.
Larry Ferlazzo, March 7, 2024
11 min read
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Teaching Opinion What Teachers Can Learn From Students
Group work can help students make friends and provide a foundation for building future collaborations and relationships.
Larry Ferlazzo, March 5, 2024
9 min read
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Teaching Opinion Try These Simple Shifts in Teaching for a Big Payoff
A complimentary call at week's end to a student's family strengthens relationships and reminds teachers of the good in every week.
Larry Ferlazzo, March 1, 2024
11 min read
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Classroom Technology Opinion Ed Tech Can Be an Invaluable Tool for Teachers. Here’s How to Use It Best
Ed-tech tools can enhance student learning. But teachers need to ensure they can prove meaningful and promote fact-based knowledge.
Larry Ferlazzo, February 29, 2024
10 min read
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School Climate & Safety Opinion What Do Restorative Practices Look Like in Schools?
Such practices teach students how to resolve disputes amicably, own their actions, and be empathetic and forgiving.
Larry Ferlazzo, February 27, 2024
9 min read
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Teaching Opinion How Teachers Can Keep It Real for Students
Building curiosity is one way to make content matter to students.
Larry Ferlazzo, February 23, 2024
11 min read
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Teaching Opinion Where Did I Go Wrong? Teachers Learn From Their Mistakes
Treat students with compassion and kindness rather than thoughtlessness and irritation. Students and teachers alike can learn from that.
Larry Ferlazzo, February 21, 2024
10 min read
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Reading & Literacy Opinion How to Help Students With Their Writing. 4 Educators Share Their Secrets
In many classrooms, students are handcuffed by restrictive templates for assignments instead of getting to practice how to create.
Larry Ferlazzo, February 16, 2024
13 min read
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Teaching Opinion Do I Really Have to Go to Summer School? How to Get Students to Change Their Minds
Students often view summer school as a punishment. Schools can take steps to shift that perception.
Larry Ferlazzo, February 14, 2024
9 min read
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Teaching Opinion How to Expand Teens' Vocabulary
Students are unlikely to expand their vocabulary by copying definitions of words. There are other, better ways.
Larry Ferlazzo, February 8, 2024
8 min read
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Teaching Opinion Should Cellphones Be Permitted in Classrooms? Teachers Offer These Strategies
Teachers can play a role in helping students figure out appropriate times for using their phones.
Larry Ferlazzo, February 7, 2024
10 min read
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English-Language Learners Opinion How to Connect With English-Language Newcomers. Teachers Share Their Favorite Lessons
Stock classrooms with books that reflect students’ lives, languages, and cultures and invite them into as yet unfamiliar worlds.
Larry Ferlazzo, February 6, 2024
10 min read
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Teaching Opinion Teaching Advice in 6 Words, More or Less
The most insightful advice sometimes comes in small doses, explain educators.
Larry Ferlazzo, January 31, 2024
1 min read