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 Tricks of the (Principal) Trade: 7 Ways to Support Teachers
Making life better for teachers doesn't have to be costly.
Larry Ferlazzo, July 18, 2025
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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 Education Week
Teaching Opinion Try These Teacher-Endorsed Strategies for Social-Emotional Learning
Social-emotional learning is the heart and soul of teaching and learning and of how we develop as humans.
Larry Ferlazzo, July 15, 2025
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11 min read
Photo of U.S. Capitol building.
Education Week + Getty
Teaching Profession Opinion What Teachers Need to Know About Navigating Political Turmoil
Educators share guidance on how to deal with the present moment.
Larry Ferlazzo, July 14, 2025
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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 Education Week
Teaching Opinion To Get Culturally Responsive Teaching Right, Follow These 3 Basic Tenets
Prioritizing students' academic success is fundamental to getting this instructional approach right.
Larry Ferlazzo, July 8, 2025
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13 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 Education Week
Teaching Opinion 7 Books That Are Inspiring Teachers Right Now
Teachers share books that have transformed the way they think about instruction.
Larry Ferlazzo, July 7, 2025
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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 Education Week
Teaching Opinion Educators, Want to Share Your Expertise, Ideas, Opinions? Contribute to This Blog
It's that time of year to gather the views of educators whose experiences can greatly benefit their peers. Let's hear from you.
Larry Ferlazzo, July 1, 2025
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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 Education Week
Teaching Profession Opinion Want to Teach Overseas? Here's What You Need to Know
A classroom veteran spells out the pros and cons of teaching abroad.
Larry Ferlazzo, June 30, 2025
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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 Education Week
Equity & Diversity Opinion How to Keep Supporting Students in a Hostile Political Environment
Protecting kids outside of school may be beyond educators' means, but here are ways we can help them.
Larry Ferlazzo, June 26, 2025
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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 Education Week
School & District Management Opinion What Advice Would You Offer School Superintendents?
Listen to learn and support capacity building are among the key components to building a successful and stable leadership model.
Larry Ferlazzo, June 23, 2025
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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 Education Week
Teaching Opinion How to Change Teachers' Minds About Leaving the Classroom
The underlying reasons teachers are leaving the classroom aren't always obvious. Here's how they can be overcome.
Larry Ferlazzo, June 19, 2025
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6 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 Education Week
Artificial Intelligence Opinion AI Can Save Teachers Time and Stress. Here's How
What once took teachers hours to prepare now takes minutes, creating new opportunities for instruction.
Larry Ferlazzo, June 18, 2025
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13 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 Education Week
Teaching Profession Opinion Larry Ferlazzo's 6 Reasons Why He Stayed at His School
Why leave a high school where the administrators have fostered a supportive environment and made teaching fulfilling?
Larry Ferlazzo, June 13, 2025
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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 Education Week
Teaching Opinion Correlation? Causation? Effect Sizes? What Should a Teacher Trust?
Understanding research implications for the classroom is key to determining student outcomes.
Larry Ferlazzo, June 10, 2025
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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 Education Week
Teaching Profession Opinion Larry Ferlazzo: 10 Things I Will (and Won't) Miss When I Retire
After 23 years, I am bidding farewell to my classroom. But I'm far from done with education, he explains.
Larry Ferlazzo, June 5, 2025
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4 min read
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