Teachscape Hosts Webinar on Preparing English Language Learners for the Common Core

Free webinar is led by Stanford Professor Dr. Kenji Hakuta and Teachscape Founder Mark Atkinson

SAN FRANCISCO, May 2, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Dr. Kenji Hakuta, professor of education at Stanford University and a leading researcher in the areas of bilingualism and second language acquisition, and Mark Atkinson, founder and chief strategist of Teachscape, will lead a webinar on improving the academic performance of English Language Learners (ELLs) through research-based strategies. Educators are invited to join the webinar to learn about the importance of supporting ELL development at the district-level, to discuss the impact of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) on teaching ELL students, and to meet academic standards.

The webinar, "Research to Practice: Preparing English Language Learners for the Common Core," will take place on Thursday, May 5, 2011 at 2 p.m. EDT/11 a.m. PDT. To register for the webinar, go to: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/766323178.

"With a growing ELL student population in districts nationwide, educators are faced with the challenge of helping these students learn a new language while at the same time meeting rigorous academic standards," said Teachscape founder and chief strategist, Mark Atkinson. "It is important that educators understand the needs of these students to best help them succeed academically. This webinar will aid in this process by highlighting valuable research-based instructional strategies and outlining the impact Common Core State Standards will have on teaching English Language Learners."

About Dr. Kenji Hakuta
Dr. Hakuta is a professor of education at Stanford University. An experimental psycholinguist by training, he is best known for his work in the areas of bilingualism and the acquisition of English in immigrant students. He is the author of numerous research papers and books including Mirror of Language: The Debate on Bilingualism and In Other Words: The Science and Psychology of Second Language Acquisition.  Dr. Hakuta received his BA degree in psychology and social relations, and his Ph.D. in experimental psychology, both from Harvard University. He has been on the faculty at Stanford since 1989.  His prior academic appointments have been at Yale University and the University of California at Santa Cruz. He is an elected member of the National Academy of Education and fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (Linguistics and Language Sciences). He currently serves on the Board of the Educational Testing Service, and is vice chairman of the Spencer Foundation.

About Teachscape
Teachscape uniquely combines innovative technology, engaging content and expert services to develop great teachers. From its Classroom Walkthrough technology, to its powerful web-based content delivery platform, to its online masters programs, Teachscape's award-winning products and services have been inspired by its dedication to sparking transformative change in teaching practice.  Since 1999, Teachscape has worked with schools and school districts, charter networks, archdioceses, universities and state education departments to measurably and continuously improve the effectiveness of teachers and instructional leaders to produce gains in student achievement. Teachscape's partners include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Stanford University, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and Charlotte Danielson to help shape its vision, its products, and its strategies. To learn more about Teachscape and its complete collection of professional development offerings, go to http://www.teachscape.com.

SOURCE Teachscape