Jeff Zwiers is a senior researcher at the Stanford Graduate School of Education and the director of professional development Understanding Language/SCALE, a research and professional learning center focused on improving instruction and assessment of English learners and other diverse students. Jeff has consulted for national and international teacher development projects that promote literacy, lesson design, and formative assessment practices. He has written articles and books on literacy, cognition, discourse, and academic language. His current research focuses on improving professional learning models and developing classroom instruction that fosters high-quality oral language and constructive conversations across disciplines.