Sandra Mercuri is an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas, Brownsville. She has over 18 years of experience in teaching in Argentina and the United States in K-12 schools and at the college level. She teaches courses in bilingual education and biliteracy and is working on research on the development of academic language across the content areas, the role of language in the development of scientific literacy and the effect of long-term professional development for teachers of English learners. She provides training for teachers nationwide and presents at national and international conferences on issues of second language acquisition and bilingualism, dual language education, teacher training and ESL strategies. Sandra has also published articles in professional journals about bilingual learners and the application of second language theories into classroom practice in the TESOL Quarterly, Talking Points, EJLTS and the NABE journal as well as professional journals in Spanish such as GIST. Sandra is the author of the book titled Supporting Literacy Through Science. She has also co-authored the books Closing the Achievement Gap and Dual Language Essentials with Drs. Yvonne and David Freeman and Research-based Strategies for English Language Learners with Denise Rea. She is a native of Argentina is a fluent speaker of Spanish.
Sandra Mercuri is an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas, Brownsville. Her expertise is in the field of bilingual education and biliteracy. Her research focuses on the development of academic language of science and the effect of professional development for teachers. She has published articles and co-authored several books.
View Sandra Mercuri's Resume/Vita, Publications and Workshops.
Level: K-8
- Dual Language Education
- Developing a Comprehensive Dual Language Curriculum
- Creating Thematic Units with Appropriate Materials in Both Languages
- Developing and Aligning Bilingual Programs Across Schools in a District
- Implementing Differentiated Instruction for Second Language Learners Across Disciplines
- Academic Language Development in Dual Language and Mainstream Settings
- Bi-Literacy Development
- English as a Second Language
- English Language Learners Program Implementation and Evaluation
Research-Based Strategies for English Language Learners: How to Reach Goals and Meet Standards, K-8
Sandra has worked extensively with five schools districts in the Central Valley of California (Parlier, Fresno, Lindsay, Laton and Hanford) as well as with schools in Los Angeles, California, Region XV, Texas and Salt Lake City, Utah. Highlights of some of this work follows:
Salt Lake City School District, Utah, 2003-Present
Work with bilingual teachers and program and district administrators developing and aligning programs across schools, developing appropriate dual language curriculum, and creating thematic units with appropriate materials in both languages. Course work and classroom observations followed by focus groups by site are implemented.
Parlier Unified School District, 2003-Present
Work with 8-12 teachers on implementing Differentiated instruction across the disciplines. Lecture and demonstrations were given followed by classroom observation and focus groups with participant to provide opportunities for reflective practice.
Work with k-6 Teacher on Differentiated instruction for dual language settings focusing on academic language development in both languages.
Parent Presentations in English and in Spanish
Parlier Unified
Kerman Unified
Fresno Unified
Salt Lake City School District