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Saturday, March 8
 

7:30am EST

Registration and Check-in at DeVos Place
Saturday March 8, 2025 7:30am - 8:30am EST
DeVos Place
Welcome to the Conference!
Attendee registration and check-in will take place at the DeVos Place Registration Booth. Stop by to pick up your badge, conference materials, and any additional information you may need. Our team is excited to welcome you and ensure you have a great experience!

Saturday March 8, 2025 7:30am - 8:30am EST
DeVos Place 303 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA

8:00am EST

Exhibit Hall Hours 8:00am - 4:00pm
Saturday March 8, 2025 8:00am - 4:00pm EST
DeVos Place
Join us in the Exhibit Hall on Saturday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM to connect with exhibitors, discover new products and services, and network with industry professionals. Don't miss this opportunity to explore and engage with everything the conference has to offer!
Saturday March 8, 2025 8:00am - 4:00pm EST
DeVos Place 303 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA

8:30am EST

Gather in Community: Welcome & Keynote Session with Wiley Blevins
Saturday March 8, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am EST
DeVos Ballroom A/B
Day 1 Opening Session
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
Gather in Community: Welcome & Intro
Join us for a warm welcome to kick off Day 1 of the conference. We’ll begin by recognizing outstanding authors with the Gwen Frostic Educator Awards, honoring those who have made a lasting impact in the field of education.
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Keynote General Session: Wiley Blevins
We are excited to welcome Wiley Blevins as our keynote speaker for Day 1. In his session, "Transitioning to Structured Literacy: A Case Study," Dr. Blevins will share firsthand experiences from lab schools in NYC as they navigated the shift from leveled book reading to structured literacy. He will explore the challenges they encountered and highlight the strategies that proved most impactful. This keynote offers a unique opportunity to explore structured literacy in action and its role in shaping effective, evidence-based instruction. Let’s come together, celebrate educators, and learn from this transformative journey in literacy education!


 
Speakers
avatar for Liz Lietz, MRA President

Liz Lietz, MRA President

ELA Consultant, Macomb Intermediate School District
Liz Lietz is an ELA Consultant for the Macomb Intermediate School District. She is currently serving as the President of the Michigan Reading Association, and is a Member-At-Large for NCTE's Conference on English Leadership (CEL) executive board. Liz taught high school English and... Read More →
avatar for Dr. Wiley Blevins

Dr. Wiley Blevins

Senior Vice President, Associate Publisher, Benchmark Education Company
Wiley Blevins has a Doctorate in Education. He studied at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Bowling Green State University. He is an author, educational consultant, and researcher, and has taught both in the United States and South America. Wiley has written over 17 books... Read More →
Saturday March 8, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am EST
DeVos Ballroom A/B

10:00am EST

Exhibit Hall Exploration 10:00am
Saturday March 8, 2025 10:00am - 10:30am EST
DeVos Place
Take a break and explore the Exhibit Hall from 10:00 to 10:30 AM! This is a great opportunity to visit exhibitors, discover new resources, and connect with industry professionals. Whether you're looking for innovative tools, educational materials, or networking opportunities, make the most of this dedicated exhibit time!
Saturday March 8, 2025 10:00am - 10:30am EST
DeVos Place 303 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA

10:30am EST

Author Visits: Beyond the Basics, Beyond the Books
Saturday March 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EST
River Overlook A (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
Teachers use goal setting to direct many elements of the curriculum. Why not author visits?
Authors Alice B. McGinty and Sarah Aronson share a new approach to planning and implementing school visits. This includes a checklist of social-emotional and curriculum goals which will provide the tools to give students empowering, meaningful interactions with authors, bringing reading and writing to life.
Speakers
avatar for Alice McGinty

Alice McGinty

Author, SCBWI Michigan
As the author of over 50 books for children, both fiction and nonfiction, I love to visit schools and libraries and to feel the magic that happens when connecting with young readers! With award-winning books like Bathe the Cat, Pancakes to Parathas: Breakfast Around the World, and... Read More →
SA
Saturday March 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EST
River Overlook A (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
  Appropriate for All Levels

10:30am EST

Read, Feel, Grow: Cultivating Vocabulary Development and SEL with Interactive Read-Alouds LIMITED
Saturday March 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Gallery Overlook C (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
In this session, elementary teachers will explore strategies to simultaneously support their students’ social-emotional learning (SEL) and vocabulary development during interactive read-alouds, using tools such as the feel wheel. The presenter will share resources to promote authentic and humanizing SEL and literacy practices for teachers to try in their own classrooms on Monday morning.
Speakers
avatar for Allison Phillippe

Allison Phillippe

PhD Candidate, Michigan State University
Allison Phillippe is a PhD Candidate at Michigan State University in the Curriculum, Instruction, and Teacher Education with a focus on Language and Literacy. Before coming to MSU, she taught third and fourth grade for nine years. Most recently, she taught fourth grade in Jenison... Read More →
Saturday March 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Gallery Overlook C (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
  Appropriate for All Levels

10:30am EST

Virtual Great Lakes Great Books Award Presentation 2024-25 LIMITED
Saturday March 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Virtual Event
The virtual presentation will unveil the winners of the 2024-25 Great Lakes Great Books Award, as voted on by Michigan students! We will also reveal the nominees for grades K-12 for the 2025-26 list for the first time and provide resources for sharing the nominees with a class, voting instructions, and information on submitting a title for nomination for the next year. Streamed on Facebook LIVE.
Speakers
JS

Jesse Shirtz

co-chair, Great Lakes Great Books Award
HL
Saturday March 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Virtual Event
  Appropriate for All Levels

10:30am EST

Maximizing Phonics Success: Practical Strategies for Multisensory Engagement and Orthographic Mapping
Saturday March 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EST
River Overlook F (Devos Place - Upper Level)
Embracing multisensory approaches while teaching phonics is crucial for enhancing students' ability to orthographically map phonics concepts, supporting reading, spelling, and writing. The session aims to deepen understanding of approaches and impact on student learning. Moreover, we’ll share practical ideas that educators can seamlessly integrate into their classrooms next week
Speakers
JV

Jen Vanderground

Faculty of Literacy Instruction, Grand Valley State University
avatar for Ellie Esman

Ellie Esman

Preservice Teacher, Grand Valley State University
avatar for Tyler Peery

Tyler Peery

Preservice Teacher
Saturday March 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EST
River Overlook F (Devos Place - Upper Level)
  Early Childhood (Birth-K)   Elementary (K-5)

10:30am EST

Maximizing the Use of Decodable Texts LIMITED
Saturday March 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EST
DeVos Ballroom C
This session focuses on using decodable texts to build fluency with phonics skills as well as how to use them to address spelling, vocabulary, comprehension, syntax, writing, and important early reading behaviors.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Wiley Blevins

Dr. Wiley Blevins

Senior Vice President, Associate Publisher, Benchmark Education Company
Wiley Blevins has a Doctorate in Education. He studied at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Bowling Green State University. He is an author, educational consultant, and researcher, and has taught both in the United States and South America. Wiley has written over 17 books... Read More →
Saturday March 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EST
DeVos Ballroom C
  Elementary (K-5)

10:30am EST

Personal Narrative Quick Writes through Literature: How to Develop Student Voice and Community LIMITED
Saturday March 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Grand Gallery C (DeVos Place)
Participants will explore how to develop student voice through quick writes that align with a theme from a text. Through thoughtful book choice, conversation, and writing prompts, participants will explore ways to use text to garner opportunities for students to write about their own lives. Sample structures and collaboration with others around text and through quick writes will also be explored.
Speakers
avatar for Leah Porter

Leah Porter

3rd grade teacher, Holt Public Schools
Leah Porter is a 3rd grade teacher and the 2022 Michigan State Teacher of the Year. She teaches at Wilcox Elementary in Holt, Michigan. Previously, she has been a Kindergarten, Reading Recovery, and Intervention teacher. Porter holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and... Read More →
Saturday March 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Grand Gallery C (DeVos Place)
  Elementary (K-5)

10:30am EST

B is for Belonging LIMITED
Saturday March 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EST
River Overlook C (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
Creating a sense of belonging starts with building strong, meaningful foundations through connection. When kids feel accepted as they form their identities, there are positive mental health effects. In this session, many ideas and literacy connections will be shared to create a classroom atmosphere where kids see themselves reflected and respected.
Speakers
avatar for Shannon Anderson

Shannon Anderson

Author, Brain Coach, Professor, Motivational Speaker, www.shannonisteaching.com
Shannon Anderson has taught for 25 years, from first grade through college level. She also served as the gifted coordinator for her school district and on the board of directors for the Indiana State Literacy Association. A highlight of her teaching career was being named one of the... Read More →
Saturday March 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EST
River Overlook C (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
  Elementary (K-5)   Literacy Coaching

10:30am EST

Reading, Writing, and Belonging: Creating a Culturally Responsive Classroom LIMITED
Saturday March 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Grand Gallery F (DeVos Place)
Building a classroom culture that values every student’s voice is essential for creating a meaningful literacy experience.This session explores how educators can embrace identities as readers and writers, using literacy as a powerful tool for self-expression, community connection, and skill-building.
Speakers
HP

Heather Palmer

Literacy Consultant, Wayne RESA
CF
Saturday March 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Grand Gallery F (DeVos Place)
  Elementary (K-5)   Literacy Coaching

10:30am EST

Indigenous Authors, Improving Student Culture at the K-8 Level LIMITED
Saturday March 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Grand Gallery D (DeVos Place)
This session will introduce educators to student-appropriate Native American books. It explores how Native American literature can be used in the classroom to introduce students to culture, heritage, and ways of life that may differ from their own. This session will celebrate diversity and inclusion of students and focus on building a safe learning environment.
Speakers
WG

Wendy Gilliard

6th grade teacher, Sault Area Public Schools
avatar for Sydnie Dumas

Sydnie Dumas

7th Grade ELA Teacher
I was born and raised in the Sault and came back home to teach at one of the middle schools. I attended JKL Bahweting School from grades K-8, which is funded by the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians. After high school I attended Central Michigan University where I received a B.S in... Read More →
KM
Saturday March 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Grand Gallery D (DeVos Place)
  Elementary (K-5)   Literacy Coaching   Middle School to Post Secondary (6-12+)

10:30am EST

Empowering Readers with Computational Thinking LIMITED
Saturday March 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EST
River Overlook D (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
Computational Thinking (CT) is a set of strategies for tackling complex problems. In this hands-on session, participants will discover how CT skills—decomposition, pattern recognition, algorithm design, and abstraction—can strengthen students' literacy skills, boost teacher efficacy, and integrate technology to enrich reading and writing instruction.
Speakers
avatar for Katie Marchionna

Katie Marchionna

Michigan Computational Thinking Project Manager, Project Tomorrow
Ask me how Computational Thinking can give students the tools they need to be effective problem-solvers!
Saturday March 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EST
River Overlook D (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
  Literacy Coaching

10:30am EST

Enhancing Literacy Instruction: Selecting, Piloting, and Implementing High-Quality ELA Materials LIMITED
Saturday March 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Grand Gallery B (DeVos Place)
This session explores how a district selected, piloted, and implemented high-quality ELA materials using the Essential Practices in Early Literacy. With a focus on transparency, teacher voice, and coaching support, participants will learn practical strategies to improve reading and writing instruction through collaborative, teacher-driven processes.
Speakers
LA

Laura Allen

K-5 Instructional Coach, Pinckney Community Schools/LESA
Saturday March 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Grand Gallery B (DeVos Place)
  Literacy Coaching

10:30am EST

Exploring the Early Literacy Assessment System Guide: A Tool to Drive and Support Early Literacy through the Development of a Balanced Assessment System LIMITED
Saturday March 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Gallery Overlook D (Devos Place - Upper Level)
In this session, participants will be introduced to the Early Literacy Assessment System (ELAS) guide and how it can be used to develop key ideas and principles about the development and assessment of literacy, and how those ideas contribute to assessment system models that can be designed and implemented to support the literacy achievement of all Michigan students.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Melissa Usiak

Dr. Melissa Usiak

Assistant Professor, Executive Director, Michigan State University, Michigan ASCD
Truly excited to share resources with you around SEL. We need each and every member in our school communities leading this work. This is a session for ALL!
avatar for Ellen Vorenkamp

Ellen Vorenkamp

Professional Learning Director, Michigan Assessment Consortium
Ellen Vorenkamp has worked in the field of education for the past 30+ years. She currently serves as the Professional Learning Director for the Michigan Assessment Consortium (MAC).In addition, she is a lead for the FAME program through MDE, a board member for the MAC and a private... Read More →
Saturday March 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Gallery Overlook D (Devos Place - Upper Level)
  Literacy Coaching

10:30am EST

Rookie to Rockstar: Empowering New Teachers for Long-Term Success LIMITED
Saturday March 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Grand Gallery E (DeVos Place)
Infusing the JOY framework into our comprehensive professional development by unleashing the potential of new teachers, guiding them with support around the four pillars throughout the year, and fostering a culture of joy, excellence, and lifelong learning.Our comprehensive mentor training program is designed to empower and equip new teachers, prevent burnout, and ensure long-term success.
Speakers
avatar for Kate Rossetter

Kate Rossetter

Engagement and Literacy Educational Consultant, EduKateR- LLC
AJ
Saturday March 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Grand Gallery E (DeVos Place)
  Literacy Coaching

10:30am EST

For Elementary and Secondary - Who’s at the Center? Cultivating a Critical Lens to Building and Integrating Culturally Relevant Text Sets LIMITED
Saturday March 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EST
River Overlook B (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
In this workshop-style session, we model how to critically and strategically build culturally relevant text sets that amplify diverse voices in literacy/ELA education. Attendees will articulate their criteria for selecting texts, explore sample text sets, and experiment with instructional activities that center students’ intersectional identities through intentional text selection and integration.

Our presentation can be accessed here.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Christina M. Ponzio

Dr. Christina M. Ponzio

Assistant Professor, Grand Valley State University
Building from my previous experiences as a secondary ELA/ESL teacher, ESL program coordinator, and literacy coach in Metro Detroit and teacher educator at Michigan State University, University of Michigan, and Wayne State University, I am committed to advancing equity, inclusion and... Read More →
avatar for Brianna Albert

Brianna Albert

Kindergarten Teacher, Martin Public Schools
Hello everyone! I am so excited to be presenting at this conference!  I am glad I get to expand my knowledge with all of you! I have been teaching for 4 years now with mostly lower elementary experience and some upper elementary. I am working on my masters at GVSU in educational... Read More →
SW
Saturday March 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EST
River Overlook B (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
  Middle School to Post Secondary (6-12+)

10:30am EST

Keys to Reading, Analyzing, and Writing Nonfiction LIMITED
Saturday March 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Gallery Overlook A (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
We will explore educators’ new ideas about reading, analyzing, and writing nonfiction. Old strategies mislead classes: the 5-paragraph essay oversimplifies nonfiction. We will discuss the goals, structure, and development of complex modern essays, including scholarly articles. Participants will receive handouts with essay structures, lesson plans, and nonfiction writing assignments for students.
Speakers
JR

Janet Ruth Heller

Past President, Michigan College English Association
Saturday March 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Gallery Overlook A (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
  Middle School to Post Secondary (6-12+)

10:30am EST

Catalyzing Youth Superpowers—Co-Designing Joy, Laughter, and Peace Through Reading, Writing & Virtual Reality LIMITED
Saturday March 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Gallery Overlook B (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
In a digital era dominated by violent video games, we're flipping the script. We are arming youth with reading, writing, storytelling, digital and peace literacy skills, catalyzing their superpowers. Our collaborative approach is groundbreaking; we're partnering with students, co-creating virtual reality gaming based on their real-world experiences. They aren't just players; they're co-designers!
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Erica Robertson

Dr. Erica Robertson

CEO, Adventures Publishing House
Adventures Publishing House is an international publishing house that provides books, content, curriculum, and experiences that educate, inspire, heal, and empower generations of young people, educators, families, and caretakers. We keep up with technological advances such as VR... Read More →
Saturday March 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Gallery Overlook B (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
  Middle School to Post Secondary (6-12+)   Literacy Coaching

10:30am EST

Reading and Writing for Tier 2 and 3 Students, Students with Disabilities, and English Learners FILLING
Saturday March 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EST
River Overlook E (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
This session will explore strategies and best practices for teaching English Language Arts to create the most equitable experience possible for all students in a classroom setting regardless of race and ethnicity, disability status, language background, and socioeconomic status.
Speakers
MK

Megan Kowalski

Special Education Teacher, Chicago Public Schools
Saturday March 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EST
River Overlook E (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
  Middle School to Post Secondary (6-12+)   Literacy Coaching

10:30am EST

Room to Wrestle: Teaching with Novels in Verse LIMITED
Saturday March 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Grand Gallery A (DeVos Place)
Sharing our experiences as educators and authors, we will highlight the power of using novels-in-verse to create space for students to wrestle with identity and complex topics. Participants can expect to engage in examples of hands-on lessons that use excerpts from various verse novels as we experiment and discover together.
Speakers
avatar for Kelly J. Baptist

Kelly J. Baptist

Kelly J. Baptist is the award-winning author of eight books for kids, including Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero, The Electric Slide and Kai, and the NAACP Image Award-nominated Eb & Flow. Kelly was the 2023 Gwen Frostic Award recipient. She lives and writes in Southwest Michigan, where her... Read More →
avatar for Dana VanderLugt

Dana VanderLugt

Secondary Literacy Consultant, Ottawa Area ISD
Dana VanderLugt is a writer and literacy consultant for the Ottawa Area ISD who has taught reading and writing in middle school, high school, and college classrooms.Her first book, Enemies in the Orchard: A World War 2 Novel in Verse was published by Zonderkidz in September 2023... Read More →
Saturday March 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Grand Gallery A (DeVos Place)
  Middle School to Post Secondary (6-12+)   Literacy Coaching

11:30am EST

Exhibit Hall Exploration 11:30 am LIMITED
Saturday March 8, 2025 11:30am - 1:00pm EST
DeVos Place
Join us in the Exhibit Hall on Saturday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM to connect with exhibitors, discover new products and services, and network with industry professionals. Don't miss this opportunity to explore and engage with everything the conference has to offer!
Saturday March 8, 2025 11:30am - 1:00pm EST
DeVos Place 303 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA

11:30am EST

Ticketed Event: Luncheon with John Schu
Saturday March 8, 2025 11:30am - 1:00pm EST
Ambassador East (Amway)
This year MRA is excited to offer a luncheon opportunity with Keynote Speaker John Schu. If you are attending MRA's 69th Annual Conference, this is your opportunity to purchase a ticket for this limited seating spectacular presentation on Saturday, March 08, 2025, at 11:30 AM - 12:30PM. You will also have an opportunity to purchase one of John Schu's books and have it signed by him later in the day at the Author's Garden event at 4:00 PM. Cornucopia Bookstore will be on-site Saturday and Sunday at the conference. Be sure to stop by Cornucopia's booth in the Exhibit Hall C at DeVos Place before the end of day Saturday. Check-in for the event will be available starting at 11:00 AM. The celebration will be held in the Ambassador Ballroom, at the Amway Grand Plaza, Curio Collection by Hilton , 187 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. 
  • Luncheon Registration is required to attend this event.
  • You must also be a registered attendee for the MRA 69th Annual Conference.
  • Conference Registration will be verified. 
  • Refunds will not be available.
  • Seating is first come first serve.
  • Book giveaways!
 
Speakers
avatar for John Schu

John Schu

Author and Children's Librarian, Bookelicious
John Schu has made a career out of advocating for the people and things he cares about most: kids, books, and the people that connect them. He was named a Library Journal Mover and Shaker for his dynamic interactions with students and his passionate adoption of new technologies... Read More →
Saturday March 8, 2025 11:30am - 1:00pm EST
Ambassador East (Amway)

1:00pm EST

Museum Visits as Literacy-Learning Opportunities: A Look at The Henry Ford’s Literacy-Focused Programming
Saturday March 8, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
River Overlook E (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
Museum visits can provide an abundance of learning opportunities, but how can we support early literacy during these visits? Learn how The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, MI is centering literacy in its programming and creating opportunities for young learners to expand and strengthen their reading skills during their time spent within the exhibit halls.
Speakers
avatar for Lori Petrelius

Lori Petrelius

Museum Programs Manager, The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation
Hi there, I'm Lori! I'm a relocated Yooper living in the Metro Detroit area. I am the museum programs manager at The Henry Ford and an advocate for children's literacy programs. I can't wait to connect with you!
Saturday March 8, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
River Overlook E (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
  Appropriate for All Levels

1:00pm EST

The Gift of Story LIMITED
Saturday March 8, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
DeVos Ballroom C
The best booktalks are those delivered from the heart. It’s the way we share our love and passion for favorite titles and books that inspires students and colleagues. Join children’s book author and librarian John Schu as he invites us to imagine the many ways books can foster connection and understanding. He’ll share some of the best new books and ways to easily incorporate them into your school reading culture to increase reading motivation, stamina, and growth.
Speakers
avatar for John Schu

John Schu

Author and Children's Librarian, Bookelicious
John Schu has made a career out of advocating for the people and things he cares about most: kids, books, and the people that connect them. He was named a Library Journal Mover and Shaker for his dynamic interactions with students and his passionate adoption of new technologies... Read More →
Saturday March 8, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
DeVos Ballroom C
  Appropriate for All Levels

1:00pm EST

Building Foundational Literacy Through Interactive Writing: A Collaborative Approach LIMITED
Saturday March 8, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Grand Gallery A (DeVos Place)
Breath in learning from shared experiences and express it through the collaborative process of Interactive Writing. This process engages students to co-create text, enhancing their phonics, vocabulary, and sentence structure skills in authentic contexts. This session provides practical, hands-on strategies aligned to empower educators with the tools to bolster foundational literacy development. Audience: PreK-2 classroom teachers, literacy coaches, administrators, special education, EL educators.
Speakers
avatar for Jill Erfourth

Jill Erfourth

Elementary Literacy Consultant/Coach, Utica Community Schools
avatar for Susan Meadows

Susan Meadows

Elementary Literacy Coach, Utica Community Schools
Saturday March 8, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Grand Gallery A (DeVos Place)
  Elementary (K-5)

1:00pm EST

Books to Builds: STEM Activities to Compliment Your Favorite Read-Alouds LIMITED
Saturday March 8, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Grand Gallery B (DeVos Place)
Integrate STEM seamlessly into read-alouds to boost comprehension and engagement without extra time. Learn to pair beloved stories with simple engineering challenges that bring texts to life while also building STEM skills. Discover new favorite picture books and walk away ready to enrich your read-alouds with interactive, story-based STEM activities.
Speakers
avatar for Terra Tarango

Terra Tarango

Director, Van Andel Institute for Education
Terra Tarango serves as Director of the Van Andel Institute for Education, overseeing innovative student programs, game-changing teacher professional development, and the implementation of Blue Apple projects where teachers inspire students to make the world a better place. She is... Read More →
Saturday March 8, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Grand Gallery B (DeVos Place)
  Elementary (K-5)   Literacy Coaching

1:00pm EST

Reading Is a Passport to a World Without Limits LIMITED
Saturday March 8, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Grand Gallery F (DeVos Place)
This hands-on session will provide participants with research based practices and ideas in three areas of ELA instruction; how to build and utilize classroom libraries and engage students in literature, integrating literature across all subjects, and literacy models of co-teaching through partnerships with high schools and colleges. Participants will receive a book(s) and prizes!
Speakers
MD

Mr. David Higgins

Principal, Dearborn Public Schools
AS
MA
PH
Saturday March 8, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Grand Gallery F (DeVos Place)
  Elementary (K-5)   Literacy Coaching

1:00pm EST

We Like Big Words and We Cannot Lie: Supporting Grades K-5 Students through Word Study, Decoding, and the English Language LIMITED
Saturday March 8, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Grand Gallery E (DeVos Place)
Find success in word study! This session will highlight practices and strategies for supporting all students with their decoding and morphological awareness across kindergarten through 5th grade. Tips and tricks will be shared from Mesmer’s “Big Words for Young Readers” and Michigan’s Literacy Essentials K-3 & 4-5 documents.
Speakers
MB
CW

Chad Waldron

Marie Berrell Endowed Professor of Literacy, Central Michigan University
AJ
Saturday March 8, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Grand Gallery E (DeVos Place)
  Elementary (K-5)   Literacy Coaching

1:00pm EST

Writing from Scratch: Whip Up Delicious Writing Lessons Your Students Will Eat Up! LIMITED
Saturday March 8, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
River Overlook C (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
Motivating our young writers to take creative "whisks" can be tricky at the elementary level. In this practical, you-can-do-it session, you will learn strategies for young writers to add some flavor to their writing. Through demonstrations, video clips, and oodles of ideas, you’ll be excited to go back to the classroom and try some of these writing recipes with just the right dash of fun.
Speakers
avatar for Shannon Anderson

Shannon Anderson

Author, Brain Coach, Professor, Motivational Speaker, www.shannonisteaching.com
Shannon Anderson has taught for 25 years, from first grade through college level. She also served as the gifted coordinator for her school district and on the board of directors for the Indiana State Literacy Association. A highlight of her teaching career was being named one of the... Read More →
Saturday March 8, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
River Overlook C (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
  Elementary (K-5)   Literacy Coaching

1:00pm EST

The Path to Fluency for ALL Readers: The Essential Components for Developing Struggling Readers FULL
Saturday March 8, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Grand Gallery D (DeVos Place)
"Do you want me to do real reading or just read fast?" was the question from a student that stopped me in my tracks. I will tell the story of our journey in searching for a way to help our students become fluent and confident readers that supported "real reading".
Speakers
avatar for Angi Hoyer

Angi Hoyer

Partner Success & Professional Learning Lead, Foundations In Learning
Saturday March 8, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Grand Gallery D (DeVos Place)
  Elementary (K-5)   Literacy Coaching   Middle School to Post Secondary (6-12+)

1:00pm EST

Unlocking the Power of Morphology for Multilingual Learners FILLING
Saturday March 8, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Gallery Overlook C (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
Explore the critical role of morphology in literacy development and its impact on reading and writing. Learn about how multilingual learners’ languages interact to support literacy. Gain resources to foster an inclusive learning environment. Learn strategies to integrate morphology instruction into your classroom. Discover how morphology can transform your reading instruction for ALL students!
Speakers
avatar for Angela Massey

Angela Massey

Instruction Team Specialist, Institute of Multi-Sensory Education
avatar for Ms. Rachel Eggleston

Ms. Rachel Eggleston

Doctoral Candidate, University of Michigan
Saturday March 8, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Gallery Overlook C (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
  Elementary (K-5)   Literacy Coaching   Middle School to Post Secondary (6-12+)

1:00pm EST

Utilizing Free eResources from the Michigan eLibrary to Build Text Sets LIMITED
Saturday March 8, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
River Overlook B (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
The Michigan eLibrary (MeL) has many free eResources to support all citizens in the state. In this session we will pair nonfiction eResources (including articles, images, maps and video clips) in MeL with examples from the culturally diverse MISelf in Books title lists to build upon student learning and understanding.
Speakers
avatar for Ann Kaskinen

Ann Kaskinen

MeL Engagement Specialist, K-12, Michigan eLibrary/MCLS
The Michigan eLibrary (MeL) is a statewide online library service managed by the Library of Michigan, offering Michigan residents free access to a vast collection of digital resources like full-text articles, ebooks, and databases.
Saturday March 8, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
River Overlook B (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
  Elementary (K-5)   Literacy Coaching   Middle School to Post Secondary (6-12+)

1:00pm EST

Stories of Leadership & Liberation LIMITED
Saturday March 8, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Grand Gallery C (DeVos Place)
This session will introduce participants to “Stories of Leadership & Liberation,” an innovative curriculum that uses select picture books to affirm, challenge, and deepen notions of leadership for children and adult learners. The liberatory texts center themes of communication, trust, and decision making. Participants will engage in dialogue, interactive read-aloud, and critical text analysis. Maren Oberman is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan Marsal Family School of Education in Ann Arbor, MI. She teaches in both undergraduate- and graduate- teacher- and leader-preparation programs. Her work uses both literature and history to support students' growth and development, advance justice-oriented education, interrogate white supremacy, and de-center whiteness, through the teaching of courses such as Stories of Leadership & Liberation, Exploring Whiteness, Introduction to Leadership Development, and Teaching to Transgress. Oberman also provides consultation and professional development to individuals, teams, schools, and organizations in the areas of racial identity development, intergroup dialogue, and justice aims.
Speakers
DM

Dr. Maren Oberman

Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Michigan Marsal Family School of Education
Saturday March 8, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Grand Gallery C (DeVos Place)
  Literacy Coaching

1:00pm EST

Transformative Literacy Teaching and Learning: A Community-Based Reading Initiative LIMITED
Saturday March 8, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
River Overlook F (Devos Place - Upper Level)
Educators will learn the importance of utilizing powerful community connections as a resource to foster literacy and language growth in their classrooms, schools, and/or districts. Using both statistical and anecdotal data, the presenters will discuss the results of a summer reading intervention and discuss strengths and challenges of community-based in-school and out-of-school interventions.
Speakers
GT

Gwendolyn Thompson McMillon

Professor of Literacy, Oakland University
avatar for Danielle Alexander

Danielle Alexander

Doctoral Student and Graduate Assistant, Oakland University
A former high school English/journalism teacher and university composition instructor, I am interested in the teaching and assessing of secondary and postsecondary student writing.
QW
YM
Saturday March 8, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
River Overlook F (Devos Place - Upper Level)
  Literacy Coaching

1:00pm EST

We Are All Learners and We Are All Teachers: A Community of Practice for "Teaching for Black Lives" LIMITED
Saturday March 8, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Gallery Overlook B (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
In this interactive session we will explore together how literacy communities can be reimagined as more just and transformative spaces by: 1) building collective professional learning opportunities in liberatory education; and 2) centering community-based literacy educators as equal partners alongside school-based educators.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Leah van Belle

Dr. Leah van Belle

Senior Consultant, Learning and Impact, Detroit Parent Network
Leah serves as Senior Consultant for Learning & Impact with Detroit Parent Network and is Part-Time Faculty at Eastern Michigan University. A proud Detroiter and first-generation high school graduate, her professional and community work have focused on literacy access and equity... Read More →
Saturday March 8, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Gallery Overlook B (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
  Literacy Coaching

1:00pm EST

Good Grammar: Creating Joyful and Affirming Language Lessons That Work for More Students FULL
Saturday March 8, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Gallery Overlook D (Devos Place - Upper Level)
Grammar is often taught with a focus on error correction, rather than an invitation to craft, joy, and play—and so often the results are less than desired. This session will offer an alternative: practical, novel, joyful, and human solutions for teaching grammar in effective, equitable, enjoyable ways. Participants will walk away with research-based lessons that can be implemented tomorrow.
Speakers
MJ

Matthew Johnson

ELA Teacher, Ann Arbor Public Schools
Saturday March 8, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Gallery Overlook D (Devos Place - Upper Level)
  Middle School to Post Secondary (6-12+)

1:00pm EST

Growing Teachers in their Support of Multilingual Learners LIMITED
Saturday March 8, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
River Overlook A (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
This session integrates the Literacy Essentials with research in English language development to deepen teachers' understanding and application of instruction while supporting multilingual learners and building capacity to interact with families and communities across diverse language and cultural backgrounds.
Speakers
avatar for Elizabeth Stolle

Elizabeth Stolle

Grand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University's (GVSU) mission is to empower learners and enrich society through teaching, scholarship, equity, and public service. GVSU's vision is to prepare globally-minded citizens.
avatar for Dr. Christina M. Ponzio

Dr. Christina M. Ponzio

Assistant Professor, Grand Valley State University
Building from my previous experiences as a secondary ELA/ESL teacher, ESL program coordinator, and literacy coach in Metro Detroit and teacher educator at Michigan State University, University of Michigan, and Wayne State University, I am committed to advancing equity, inclusion and... Read More →
avatar for Lindsay Stoetzel

Lindsay Stoetzel

Professor, Grand Valley State University
Saturday March 8, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
River Overlook A (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
  Middle School to Post Secondary (6-12+)

1:00pm EST

Independent Reading in High School That Honors Choice and Creativity and Doesn’t Kill the Love of Reading LIMITED
Saturday March 8, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
River Overlook D (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
How do you assess independent reading when you can’t read every book? How do you know if students are fake reading? How can you improve reading skills and practice important writing skills? How do you repair students’ relationships with reading? This session will tackle all this and provide adaptable solutions/ideas that can be taken from this session and used in classrooms.
Speakers
avatar for Becky Schwartz

Becky Schwartz

High School Teacher, Springport Public Schools
Becky Schwartz is an English/Social Studies teacher at Springport High School in Jackson county Michigan. In her over 10 years of teaching, she has taught 7th - 12 grade in English, social studies, and computer science. She has been a teacher consultant with the Chippewa River Writing... Read More →
Saturday March 8, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
River Overlook D (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
  Middle School to Post Secondary (6-12+)   Literacy Coaching

1:00pm EST

Using Multicultural Poems to Get Students to Write LIMITED
Saturday March 8, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Gallery Overlook A (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
Diverse works inspire empathy and good student writing. We will analyze poems by women, Hispanic, Native-American, Black, Arab-American, and Asian-American poets: Alberto Ríos, Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, Mong-Lan, Joy Harjo, Naomi Shihab Nye, Robert Hayden, etc. We will discuss what makes a poem outstanding. Participants will get handouts with poems, lesson plans, and a bibliography.
Speakers
JR

Janet Ruth Heller

Past President, Michigan College English Association
Saturday March 8, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Gallery Overlook A (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
  Middle School to Post Secondary (6-12+)   Literacy Coaching

2:00pm EST

Exhibit Hall Exploration 2:00pm LIMITED
Saturday March 8, 2025 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST
DeVos Place
Exhibit Exploration: 2:00 - 2:30 PM
Take time to explore the Exhibit Hall from 2:00 to 2:30 PM. Visit exhibitors, discover new resources, and connect with industry professionals. Whether you're searching for innovative tools, educational materials, or valuable networking opportunities, make the most of this dedicated time to engage and learn!

Saturday March 8, 2025 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST
DeVos Place 303 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA

2:30pm EST

Building Bridges: Developing Community Partnerships that Improve Literacy Learning
Saturday March 8, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm EST
River Overlook D (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
Although schools and school districts list building community partnerships as a goal, many of them do not know how to establish and sustain community partnerships. The purpose of this presentation is to show attendees how to mobilize and sustain community partnerships by using statistical and anecdotal data from their literacy intervention project.
Speakers
GT

Gwendolyn Thompson McMillon

Professor of Literacy, Oakland University
JM
Saturday March 8, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm EST
River Overlook D (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
  Appropriate for All Levels

2:30pm EST

Lit Everywhere: Dynamic Research-Supported Literacy Tools for Learning In and Out of School LIMITED
Saturday March 8, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm EST
Grand Gallery C (DeVos Place)
Seeking a literacy resource to enhance instruction & engage families? There's an app, a show, and a Michigan platform for that! Explore the PreK-Grade 5 literacy program, Read, Write, ROAR!, aligned with Essential Instructional Practices in Early Literacy. Discover ways to support literacy development in and out of school (e.g., summer learning & family engagement efforts) with this free resource!
Speakers
avatar for Erin Pell

Erin Pell

Project Director, Instructional Applications, MAISA
Erin is a dynamic and versatile educator with a passion for early literacy. She earned her bachelor's degree in Education from Michigan State, a master's in Reading Instruction from Concordia, and has spent over a decade honing her skills as a classroom teacher and literacy coach... Read More →
avatar for Annie Spear

Annie Spear

Project Director Michigan Learning Channel, MAISA
I am a passionate literacy educator, consultant, and author committed to supporting fellow educators, leaders, and community partners in service of children and families. My work is centered on literacy research for ages birth to age 10. Through my work with MAISA’s Literacy Essentials... Read More →
Saturday March 8, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm EST
Grand Gallery C (DeVos Place)
  Appropriate for All Levels

2:30pm EST

Rebellious Read Alouds LIMITED
Saturday March 8, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm EST
DeVos Ballroom C
Children yearn to see themselves in our classrooms. In this session, we'll discover how our culture reveals itself in the classroom and make connections between diversity and our students using children's books. Confidently engage in conversations about cultural backgrounds and identify higher-order thinking questions to use with children's books about diversity. You'll walk away with a toolbox of specific reading, writing, and SEL strategies to help you engage young learners in conversation around diversity.
Speakers
avatar for Vera Ahiyya

Vera Ahiyya

Presenter, The Tutu Teacher
Vera Ahiyya (thetututeacher.com) (née Corbett) was born in Germany and raised in El Paso, TX with her wonderful mother and amazing grandparents. Originally a pre-med student, Vera realized her calling as an educator at Austin College in Sherman, TX, where she majored in History and Psychology and earned her MA in... Read More →
Saturday March 8, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm EST
DeVos Ballroom C
  Appropriate for All Levels

2:30pm EST

Word Wizard: Casting Spells with Elementary Vocabulary FILLING
Saturday March 8, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm EST
Grand Gallery B (DeVos Place)
Do your students have foundational reading skills but struggle with comprehension? Are you a preschool teacher and want to set up your students for success? This session will explain the significant role that vocabulary plays in reading comprehension, offer protocols to follow for explicitly teaching vocabulary, and how you can improve your day to day word choice in your classroom.
Speakers
KR

Karen Roys

Literacy Coach / Early Math Specialist, Dryden Community Schools
Saturday March 8, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm EST
Grand Gallery B (DeVos Place)
  Early Childhood (Birth-K)   Elementary (K-5)   Literacy Coaching

2:30pm EST

40 Ways to Spark a Love of Reading FULL
Saturday March 8, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm EST
River Overlook C (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
Inspire your students to enjoy reading with these 40 creative ideas you can use for years to come in your classroom, library, or school! Reading for pleasure leads to improved reading comprehension, writing skills, vocabulary, spelling, and grammatical development. Most importantly, reading for pleasure is crucial for developing life-long, avid readers.
Speakers
avatar for Shannon Anderson

Shannon Anderson

Author, Brain Coach, Professor, Motivational Speaker, www.shannonisteaching.com
Shannon Anderson has taught for 25 years, from first grade through college level. She also served as the gifted coordinator for her school district and on the board of directors for the Indiana State Literacy Association. A highlight of her teaching career was being named one of the... Read More →
Saturday March 8, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm EST
River Overlook C (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
  Elementary (K-5)   Literacy Coaching

2:30pm EST

Turning Writing Woes into Wins: Practical Tools for Effective Writing Instruction LIMITED
Saturday March 8, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm EST
Grand Gallery F (DeVos Place)
Explore our journey in Jenison Public Schools to address the need for explicit, systematic writing instruction. Hear how we equipped teachers with practical tools, engaging lesson plans, and professional development support. We’ll share our writing journey, celebrate successes, and inspire educators to transform writing instruction in their classrooms. Let’s unlock the joy of writing together!
Speakers
avatar for Nicole Nelson

Nicole Nelson

National Curriculum Consultant, Learning A-Z
EK

Erin Kornoely

Grade 3-6 Instructional Coach, Jenison Public Schools
Saturday March 8, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm EST
Grand Gallery F (DeVos Place)
  Elementary (K-5)   Literacy Coaching

2:30pm EST

From the Author Toolbox - Using Mentor Texts for Reading It In and Writing It Out LIMITED
Saturday March 8, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm EST
Gallery Overlook A (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
Help students enjoy ‘reading it in and writing it out’ by embracing their author mojo. Hear how a former classroom teacher and published picture book author uses mentor texts to mine ideas, format stories, and hone craft. Explore lessons, games, and activities that provide the space and opportunity for students to have their voices heard and to represent their own communities.
Speakers
avatar for Cindy Williams Schrauben

Cindy Williams Schrauben

Author, Cindy Williams Schrauben Books
Cindy Williams Schrauben lives in west Michigan where she writes books for children that range from the truly serious to the seriously silly. When not writing or sharing her books, this award-winning author might be found dissecting her grandsons’ shenanigans for story ideas, reading... Read More →
Saturday March 8, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm EST
Gallery Overlook A (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
  Elementary (K-5)   Literacy Coaching   Middle School to Post Secondary (6-12+)

2:30pm EST

Growing Together: Writing into Social Emotional Learning LIMITED
Saturday March 8, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm EST
Grand Gallery D (DeVos Place)
In this session, educators will explore approaches to integrating social emotional learning (SEL) within daily writing opportunities. The presenters will share research-based strategies to embed SEL within writing practices alongside real-world examples including connecting to students’ funds of knowledge, fostering positive environments, and promoting self-awareness and self-regulation.
Speakers
avatar for Lindsay Stoetzel

Lindsay Stoetzel

Professor, Grand Valley State University
MM
avatar for Angela Gonzalez-Urbina

Angela Gonzalez-Urbina

I am a third grade TWBI teacher for Holland Language Academy for the last 5 years.  I love being able to teach in Spanish and to share the love for the culture and language. In my free time I teach ballet folklorico for Ballet Folklorico Sol Azteca. I also love to spend time with... Read More →
LM
Saturday March 8, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm EST
Grand Gallery D (DeVos Place)
  Elementary (K-5)   Literacy Coaching   Middle School to Post Secondary (6-12+)

2:30pm EST

High-Impact Literacy Tutoring: Interventions and Strategies to Move Under-Performing Students Forward FULL
Saturday March 8, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm EST
River Overlook A (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
This session will report on a university partnership that entails tutors working in schools with under performing students. There will be audience participation that highlights specifically promoting love, joy and passion for reading. Further, high-impact tutoring strategies and interventions will be featured that include: Getting to know our students as the heart of differentiating tutoring.

Speakers
avatar for Margaret Policastro

Margaret Policastro

Department Chair, Professor and Director of Language and Literacy, Roosevelt University
Dr. Policastro is a professor of language and literacy at Roosevelt University where she is the director of the Literacy leadership MA program and the founding director of the Summer Reading Clinic. She teachers graduate and undergraduate courses in Language and Literacy. Dr. Policastro... Read More →
Saturday March 8, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm EST
River Overlook A (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
  Elementary (K-5)   Literacy Coaching   Middle School to Post Secondary (6-12+)

2:30pm EST

Together We Can Do Great Things: The Journey of One Small County Doing Big Things in Literacy LIMITED
Saturday March 8, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm EST
Grand Gallery E (DeVos Place)
One small rural county came together to make big things happen in literacy! Learn how the Lapeer County Literacy Team intentionally planned and implemented initiatives such as professional learning cohorts, model classroom libraries, and instructional rounds. Participants will walk away with ideas on how to optimally support teachers during initiatives and strive for high levels of participation.
Speakers
avatar for Kristal White

Kristal White

Literacy Consultant and Coach Coordinator, Lapeer County Intermediate School District
Literacy consultant and coach coordinator for LCISD since 2016. Former learning coach, k-5 literacy interventionist, and kindergarten teacher. Wife, mom of 3, and lifetime learner.
Saturday March 8, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm EST
Grand Gallery E (DeVos Place)
  Literacy Coaching

2:30pm EST

Transforming Literacy Education: Avondale School District's Journey to Exceptional Growth LIMITED
Saturday March 8, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm EST
Gallery Overlook C (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
Join us to explore the transformative journey of the Avondale School District as we delve into the Michigan Essential Literacy Practices that propelled our district to achieve the highest growth in Oakland County on the state reading test.
Speakers
SS

Sarah Stickney

District Literacy Coach MTSS Coordinator, Avondale School District
avatar for Jessica Guerra
KC
HG
Saturday March 8, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm EST
Gallery Overlook C (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
  Literacy Coaching

2:30pm EST

Using Visuals and Poetry Writing to Illuminate Student Learning FILLING
Saturday March 8, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm EST
Gallery Overlook D (Devos Place - Upper Level)
Come explore visual resources of an historical time, like photos from the Library of Congress. Next, participate in a poetry writing activity, starting with a group pantoum poem. Then create a pantoum, acrostic, or elegy, about a person, event, or place about that period. Leave knowing ways poetic forms help students express creatively their learning about the Five Ws and H of an historical era.
Speakers
avatar for Anna Roseboro

Anna Roseboro

Mentor/Coach
Anna J. Small Roseboro is widely known for her work with groups like the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), the Conference on English Leadership, the California Association of Teachers of English, the Michigan Council of Teachers of English, and the California Association of Independent Schools . With 40 years experience in public and private schools, she is a National Board Certified Teac... Read More →
Saturday March 8, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm EST
Gallery Overlook D (Devos Place - Upper Level)
  Middle School to Post Secondary (6-12+)

2:30pm EST

Cultivating Culture: Making Our ELA Classroom Culturally Responsive and Engaging LIMITED
Saturday March 8, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm EST
River Overlook B (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
How can we become more aware and attentive to our classroom culture? Based on research by Dr. Ernest Morrell, we explore instructional strategies that tap students’ experiences. From interacting with literature to infusing popular culture, educators will leave this session equipped with ways to create a more culturally-responsive and engaging classroom community.
Speakers
avatar for Elizabeth Gonzalez

Elizabeth Gonzalez

Literacy Specialist, Savvas Learning Company
Saturday March 8, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm EST
River Overlook B (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
  Middle School to Post Secondary (6-12+)   Literacy Coaching

3:30pm EST

Exhibit Hall Exploration 3:30pm LIMITED
Saturday March 8, 2025 3:30pm - 4:00pm EST
DeVos Place
Exhibit Exploration: 3:30 - 4:00 PM
Take time to explore the Exhibit Hall from 3:30 - 4:00 PM. Visit exhibitors, discover new resources, and connect with industry professionals. Whether you're searching for innovative tools, educational materials, or valuable networking opportunities, make the most of this dedicated time to engage and learn!
Saturday March 8, 2025 3:30pm - 4:00pm EST
DeVos Place 303 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA

4:00pm EST

Authors' Garden
Saturday March 8, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm EST
Ambassador West (Amway)
Great things bloom in gardens—especially in the Authors' Garden, hosted by this is a bookstore & Bookbug! This special space is dedicated to celebrating our guest authors. Stop by to meet your favorite author and enjoy the company of fellow book lovers!
Speakers
avatar for Shannon Anderson

Shannon Anderson

Author, Brain Coach, Professor, Motivational Speaker, www.shannonisteaching.com
Shannon Anderson has taught for 25 years, from first grade through college level. She also served as the gifted coordinator for her school district and on the board of directors for the Indiana State Literacy Association. A highlight of her teaching career was being named one of the... Read More →
avatar for Alice McGinty

Alice McGinty

Author, SCBWI Michigan
As the author of over 50 books for children, both fiction and nonfiction, I love to visit schools and libraries and to feel the magic that happens when connecting with young readers! With award-winning books like Bathe the Cat, Pancakes to Parathas: Breakfast Around the World, and... Read More →
avatar for Kelly J. Baptist

Kelly J. Baptist

Kelly J. Baptist is the award-winning author of eight books for kids, including Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero, The Electric Slide and Kai, and the NAACP Image Award-nominated Eb & Flow. Kelly was the 2023 Gwen Frostic Award recipient. She lives and writes in Southwest Michigan, where her... Read More →
avatar for Vera Ahiyya

Vera Ahiyya

Presenter, The Tutu Teacher
Vera Ahiyya (thetututeacher.com) (née Corbett) was born in Germany and raised in El Paso, TX with her wonderful mother and amazing grandparents. Originally a pre-med student, Vera realized her calling as an educator at Austin College in Sherman, TX, where she majored in History and Psychology and earned her MA in... Read More →
avatar for Nancy Roop

Nancy Roop

Publisher, Developmental Texts, LLC
I publish early chapter books in a developmental format to support reading comprehension with sensory-friendly, early chapter books. Using dialog, nonfiction, and storytelling, the reader's path is wrapped around the topic which is real, relatable, and relevant!I promote neurodiversity... Read More →
avatar for Dana VanderLugt

Dana VanderLugt

Secondary Literacy Consultant, Ottawa Area ISD
Dana VanderLugt is a writer and literacy consultant for the Ottawa Area ISD who has taught reading and writing in middle school, high school, and college classrooms.Her first book, Enemies in the Orchard: A World War 2 Novel in Verse was published by Zonderkidz in September 2023... Read More →
JR

Janet Ruth Heller

Past President, Michigan College English Association
avatar for Cindy Williams Schrauben

Cindy Williams Schrauben

Author, Cindy Williams Schrauben Books
Cindy Williams Schrauben lives in west Michigan where she writes books for children that range from the truly serious to the seriously silly. When not writing or sharing her books, this award-winning author might be found dissecting her grandsons’ shenanigans for story ideas, reading... Read More →
avatar for Anna Roseboro

Anna Roseboro

Mentor/Coach
Anna J. Small Roseboro is widely known for her work with groups like the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), the Conference on English Leadership, the California Association of Teachers of English, the Michigan Council of Teachers of English, and the California Association of Independent Schools . With 40 years experience in public and private schools, she is a National Board Certified Teac... Read More →
EH

Elaina Heard

Chief Executive Officer, Watson's Way ABA
avatar for Dr. Erica Robertson

Dr. Erica Robertson

CEO, Adventures Publishing House
Adventures Publishing House is an international publishing house that provides books, content, curriculum, and experiences that educate, inspire, heal, and empower generations of young people, educators, families, and caretakers. We keep up with technological advances such as VR... Read More →
SA
avatar for John Schu

John Schu

Author and Children's Librarian, Bookelicious
John Schu has made a career out of advocating for the people and things he cares about most: kids, books, and the people that connect them. He was named a Library Journal Mover and Shaker for his dynamic interactions with students and his passionate adoption of new technologies... Read More →
avatar for Dr. Jarred Amato

Dr. Jarred Amato

Founder, Project LIT Community
Dr. Jarred Amato is an award-winning English teacher, the co-founder of Project LIT Community, a grassroots literacy movement, and the author of Just Read It: Unlocking the Magic of Independent Reading in Middle and High School Classrooms. Jarred is an avid reader and writer who enjoys... Read More →
avatar for Emmy Kastner

Emmy Kastner

Emmy is an author and illustrator of children’s books, including SO TORTOISE DUG (2025), WHILE YOU’RE ASLEEP, and A VERY BIG FALL. A former high school teacher, Emmy taught English and science in San Francisco, CA. Moving back to Michigan, she co-founded the youth writing cen... Read More →
Saturday March 8, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm EST
Ambassador West (Amway)
  Appropriate for All Levels

4:00pm EST

Books 'N Bites
Saturday March 8, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm EST
Ambassador East (Amway)
Saturday March 8, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm EST
Ambassador East (Amway)
  Appropriate for All Levels
 
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Ambassador East (Amway)
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Gallery Overlook A (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
Gallery Overlook B (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
Gallery Overlook C (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
Gallery Overlook D (Devos Place - Upper Level)
Grand Gallery A (DeVos Place)
Grand Gallery B (DeVos Place)
Grand Gallery C (DeVos Place)
Grand Gallery D (DeVos Place)
Grand Gallery E (DeVos Place)
Grand Gallery F (DeVos Place)
Imperial Ballroom (Amway)
River Overlook A (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
River Overlook B (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
River Overlook C (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
River Overlook D (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
River Overlook E (DeVos Place - Upper Level)
River Overlook F (Devos Place - Upper Level)
Virtual Event
  • Appropriate for All Levels
  • Early Childhood (Birth-K)
  • Elementary (K-5)
  • Literacy Coaching
  • Middle School to Post Secondary (6-12+)
  • Strand(s)
  • Advocacy
  • and Justice (DEIJ)
  • Assessment and Evaluation
  • Community and Family Literacy
  • Culturally Responsive Instruction
  • Digital Literacy
  • Disciplinary Literacy
  • Diverse Literature for Children and Young Adults
  • Diversity
  • Early Language and Literacy
  • Equity
  • Foundational Reading Skills
  • Foundational Writing Skills
  • Inclusion
  • Language Comprehension
  • Literacy Coaching and Leadership
  • Literacy Educator Preparation
  • Literacy Policy for Equity and Justice
  • Multilingual and Multidialectal Literacy
  • Social-Emotional Learning and Wellness
  • Writing for Equity a
  • Writing in the Content Areas
  • Written Expression