69th MRA Conference: Full Schedule

Add sessions to your personal schedule to register your attendance (Check-In).

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

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!

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

Strand(s) Assessment and Evaluation, Early Language and Literacy, Literacy Coaching and Leadership

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

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+)

Strand(s) Assessment and Evaluation, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ), Foundational Reading Skills, Literacy Educator Preparation

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

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

Strand(s) Assessment and Evaluation, Diverse Literature for Children and Young Adults

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

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+)

Strand(s) Assessment and Evaluation, Culturally Responsive Instruction, Writing in the Content Areas

10:30am EDT

Data Data Everywhere: Understanding Reading Assessments to Plan Small-Group Instruction in the Upper Grades FILLING

Sunday March 9, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT

Grand Gallery D (DeVos Place)

The Essential Practices tell us that we should plan targeted small group instruction based on “children’s observed and assessed needs in specific aspects of literacy development.” Two literacy coaches will share how to efficiently gather and analyze Oral Reading Fluency data to plan effective small group instruction for students in grades 3-5.

Speakers

Jessica Crawford

District Literacy Coach, Fitzgerald Public Schools

Kristie Marks

Elementary Literacy Coach, Utica Community Schools

Sunday March 9, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
Grand Gallery D (DeVos Place)

Elementary (K-5) Literacy Coaching

Strand(s) Assessment and Evaluation

10:30am EDT

Building Reading Identity through Reading Community in the Middle Grades LIMITED

Sunday March 9, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT

River Overlook B (DeVos Place - Upper Level)

In this session, upper elementary and middle school teachers will learn tips and tricks for creating a vibrant, engaging independent reading community in their classroom. The presenter will share classroom ready strategies and activities with links and resources embedded into the presentation.

Speakers

Jenny Sanford

Teacher, Springport Public Schools

Sunday March 9, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
River Overlook B (DeVos Place - Upper Level)

Middle School to Post Secondary (6-12+)

Strand(s) Assessment and Evaluation, Diverse Literature for Children and Young Adults

12:30pm EDT

Empowering Student Voices: Composing and Communicating in a Digital Age LIMITED

Sunday March 9, 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm EDT

Grand Gallery D (DeVos Place)

In today’s educational landscape, digital technologies are vital for student expression and engagement. This session will explore how students can compose and communicate using digital tools while developing essential digital literacy skills. We will discuss various platforms—like blogs, video software, and social media. that foster creativity and collaboration.

Speakers

Elaina Heard

Chief Executive Officer, Watson's Way ABA

Sunday March 9, 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm EDT
Grand Gallery D (DeVos Place)

Early Childhood (Birth-K) Elementary (K-5) Literacy Coaching

Strand(s) Assessment and Evaluation, Digital Literacy, Diverse Literature for Children and Young Adults, Written Expression

1:45pm EDT

Braided Pathways: Funding Literacy Innovations LIMITED

Sunday March 9, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm EDT

River Overlook B (DeVos Place - Upper Level)

Unlock the secrets to successful grant writing in this engaging session! Discover five essential principles for securing funding to fuel projects aligned with the literacy essentials. "Read it in" as you uncover key insights into the grant-writing process, and "Write it out" with powerful strategies to craft winning proposals. Plus, gain access to a Padlet packed with tools to support your journey. Best of all, you’ll learn about any grants that are open and ready for submission right now! Don’t miss this opportunity to turn your ideas into funded realities—let’s make grant writing fun and rewarding!

Speakers

Carol Ann Paul

Manager of State and Federal Programs and Special Populations, Wayne RESA

Carol Ann Paul is the Manager of State and Federal Programs and Special Populations at Wayne RESA, bringing over 20 years of experience in education. With a career spanning elementary through collegiate levels, she has held key roles including Reading Specialist, Executive Director... Read More →

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 →

Sunday March 9, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm EDT
River Overlook B (DeVos Place - Upper Level)

Appropriate for All Levels

Strand(s) Advocacy, Assessment and Evaluation, Literacy Coaching and Leadership

1:45pm EDT

Write It Out: Telling Your Coaching Story with Data and Digital Tools LIMITED

Sunday March 9, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm EDT

Grand Gallery E (DeVos Place)

Data stories can be challenging, especially for literacy coaches. Deciding on data points to highlight as well as how to communicate that data to stakeholders can be daunting. This hands-on session will show literacy coaches an array of digital tools to help analyze and effectively present audience-friendly data stories for a variety of purposes. Participants are encouraged to bring a device.

Speakers

Heather Rottermond

Assessment & Instruction Consultant, Wayne RESA

Laura Gabrion

Literacy Consultant, Wayne RESA

Laura Gabrion is an English Language Arts Consultant for Wayne RESA. In 2017, Laura defended her dissertation in Reading Education with an emphasis on improving student writing. Her current projects and interests involve disciplinary literacy, literacy coaching, family/community engagement... Read More →

Sunday March 9, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm EDT
Grand Gallery E (DeVos Place)

Literacy Coaching

Strand(s) Assessment and Evaluation, Digital Literacy, Literacy Coaching and Leadership

1:45pm EDT

Helping Students Connect to Text-Based Assessments and Facilitating Creative Essay Writing LIMITED

Sunday March 9, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm EDT

River Overlook C (DeVos Place - Upper Level)

In this session, teachers will learn ways to help middle and high school students connect to informational texts. Teachers will then learn how to use those student connections to inspire students to write creative text-based assessment essays.

Speakers

Liz Ropp

Literacy Coach, KEYS Grace Academy

Sunday March 9, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm EDT
River Overlook C (DeVos Place - Upper Level)

Middle School to Post Secondary (6-12+) Literacy Coaching

Strand(s) Assessment and Evaluation, Writing in the Content Areas, Written Expression