"Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day…" - 5 new articles

aitoff / Pixabay

I thought readers might find this simple outline I use with Intermediate English Language Learners and with English-proficient ninth-graders when they are writing a biographical essay.

The download is geared specifically for an essay on Cesar Chavez, but it’s easily adaptable to any figure.

I’m adding it to The Best Resources For Researching & Writing Biographies.

     

A Teacher’s Perspective on Classroom Discussions About Charlie Kirk’s Murder is the headline of my latest Education Week column, a guest post by teacher Christie Nold.

Having an established classroom routine to discuss current events helps teachers navigate hard conversations with their students.

Here are some excerpts:

     

(I’m republishing my best posts from the first half of 2025. You can see the entire list of them here)

Mohamed_hassan / Pixabay

Several months ago, I announced to my school community that this was going to be my last year as a K-12 teacher.

Colleagues, administrators, and students alike all wanted me to stay – very much so – which means, to me, that it’s a great time to leave.  I didn’t want to be that teacher about whom people whispered “He should’ve retired a long time ago!”

I figured after 23 years as a teacher, 19 years as a community organizer, and 7 years as part of the Catholic Worker Movement, it was time to “hang-up my spikes” – so to speak.

So, what am I planning to do during my retirement?

Quite a few things (not in order of importance):

• Continue writing this blog for the foreseeable future, though, perhaps, not with quite as many posts.
• Continue writing my Education Week column.
• Katie and I have one more book to write, aimed at both ELL and non-ELL educators.
• Trying my hand at writing fiction after that book is done.
• Very occasionally leading a training on Zoom for teachers (let me know if you’re interested)
• Doing volunteer teaching at either our county’s jail or juvenile hall (I’m in the process of making that determination)
• Spending more time with grandkids who are not living locally.
• Playing Pickleball several mornings each week, and basketball more than one night each week.
• Reading the twenty books that have been sitting on my nightstand, and watch the multiple streaming programs on my “Watch” list.
• Spending time organizing opposition to the Trump regime.
• Enjoying time with my wife, who retired a few years ago.

I can’t wait to see what this next chapter in my life will bring!

In the meantime, though, there are still three-and-a-half months of school to teach, and I think I’m doing a pretty good job of bringing my best to the classroom each day, and not checking out early….

     

Gallup just came out with annual poll on education.

You can see the poll itself here.

Public Satisfaction With Schools Hits an All-Time Low. Politics May Be to Blame is an Ed Week article summarizing its results.

Even though 75% of parents with kids in school are pleased with their child’s education, only 35% of Americans feel the same way about schools.

I guess the old saying that not knowing anything about a topic doesn’t stop a person from having an opinion on it is an accurate one….

     

Prawny / Pixabay

Our next book, The Better Teacher’s Toolbox: Practical Ideas For Any Teacher To Become A Better One, is still set to appear next August.

We’ve completed nearly 60,000 words, and have three chapters still to go.

We’re feeling pretty good about how it looks, and are confident any teacher – new or veteran – will find it helpful.

My next post about it should feature its cover!