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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 91Ö±²¥
Teaching Opinion Trump’s Executive Orders Are Coming Fast. Here’s What Teachers Can Do
Here are steps teachers can take to help students in the face of the president's executive orders.
Larry Ferlazzo, January 29, 2025
4 min read
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 91Ö±²¥
Teaching Opinion 10 Actions Teachers Can Take Now That Trump Is President
On Day 1 of his second term, Trump issued orders that could negatively affect students. Here’s how to support them.
Larry Ferlazzo, January 22, 2025
4 min read
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 91Ö±²¥
School & District Management Opinion When School Leaders Deliver Bad Directives
One of the upshots of issuing lame orders is breaking the trust of teachers, which may never be regained.
Larry Ferlazzo, January 21, 2025
10 min read
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 91Ö±²¥
Teaching Opinion Student Motivation Is a Perennial Concern. What Are We Missing?
Even if we want to achieve a goal, there are reasons why we don't. This can explain what's happening with students.
Larry Ferlazzo, January 15, 2025
5 min read
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 91Ö±²¥
Teaching Opinion Advice From Over 1,200 Experienced Educators at Your Fingertips
Need help with using AI in the classroom? How about teaching students to write? Or fostering relationships? Plenty is available here.
Larry Ferlazzo, January 13, 2025
1 min read
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 91Ö±²¥
Teaching Opinion Teachers Are Faced With Constant Challenges. Here's How to Overcome Them
Three veteran educators offer their expert guidance on how to manage even the toughest classroom scenarios.
Larry Ferlazzo, January 7, 2025
9 min read
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 91Ö±²¥
Student Well-Being Opinion 9 Ways to Support Student Mental Health
There are countless reasons for students' mental health woes. Here's how educators are successfully stepping in.
Larry Ferlazzo, January 6, 2025
10 min read
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 91Ö±²¥
Student Well-Being Opinion What Works in Social-Emotional Learning? Teachers Share Their Best Strategies
There’s a lot of SEL content out there. What actually works for teachers is another matter.
Larry Ferlazzo, December 30, 2024
9 min read
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 91Ö±²¥
Policy & Politics Opinion Larry Ferlazzo’s 9 Education Predictions for 2025
The education community should brace itself for a tough year ahead.
Larry Ferlazzo, December 17, 2024
2 min read
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 91Ö±²¥
Policy & Politics Opinion The Best and Worst Education News of 2024
There was plenty to celebrate in public education this year, but not all was rosy.
Larry Ferlazzo, December 16, 2024
5 min read
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 91Ö±²¥
Reading & Literacy Opinion Don't Shield Students From Offensive Language in Literature. Do This Instead
Creating a safe space is just one of the many ways educators can use this challenge as a classroom learning experience.
Larry Ferlazzo, December 11, 2024
11 min read
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 91Ö±²¥
Teaching Opinion 5 Ways to Up Your Classroom Game, According to Larry Ferlazzo
Stop telling your students what to do and other ideas from a veteran teacher to his colleagues.
Larry Ferlazzo, December 10, 2024
4 min read
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 91Ö±²¥
Mathematics Opinion Teachers, Here's How to Make Science and Math Relevant in the Classroom
Students don't want a bunch of memorization tricks. They want to know why and how a lesson is relevant to their lives.
Larry Ferlazzo, December 6, 2024
8 min read
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 91Ö±²¥
Teaching Profession Opinion How Teachers Can Prepare for Retirement
After years in the classroom, the time is approaching to move on. So the big question is, what’s next?
Larry Ferlazzo, December 5, 2024
10 min read