69th MRA Conference: Full Schedule

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

10:30am EST

Reading, Writing, and Belonging: Creating a Culturally Responsive Classroom LIMITED

Saturday March 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EST

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

Heather Palmer

Literacy Consultant, Wayne RESA

Carrie Fromm

Saturday March 8, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Grand Gallery F (DeVos Place)

Elementary (K-5) Literacy Coaching

Strand(s) Culturally Responsive Instruction, Disciplinary Literacy, Writing in the Content Areas

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

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+)

Strand(s) Disciplinary Literacy, Writing in the Content Areas, Written Expression

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

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+)

Strand(s) Digital Literacy, Disciplinary Literacy

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

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

Strand(s) Disciplinary Literacy, Diverse Literature for Children and Young Adults, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ)

10:30am EDT

Decolonizing the Bookshelf: STEM Books That Celebrate Black and Brown Brilliance LIMITED

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

Grand Gallery B (DeVos Place)

We'll dig into engaging, gorgeous STEM picture books and informational books that center Black and Brown experiences. We'll explore how these books can support elementary-age learners in growing STEM identities and aspirations, as well as content area learning and literacy skills. Participants will share resources for decolonizing the bookshelf and teaching for literacy and STEM equity.

Speakers

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 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
Grand Gallery B (DeVos Place)

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

Strand(s) Culturally Responsive Instruction, Disciplinary Literacy, Diverse Literature for Children and Young Adults

10:30am EDT

Empowering Literacy with Scaffolded Writing and AI Tools Across Disciplines FULL

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

Gallery Overlook D (Devos Place - Upper Level)

Join us for an engaging and transformative session that delves into the profound impact of scaffolded writing and AI tools on literacy across all content areas. This session is designed to equip educators with practical strategies to enhance literacy instruction, support all learners, and integrate innovative AI tools into their teaching practices.

Speakers

Jenelle Williams

Literacy Consultant, Oakland Schools

Jenelle Williams joined the Leadership and School Improvement unit at Oakland Schools in 2017 following 18 years of experience in public schools at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. She has served as a classroom teacher, IB Middle Years Programme Coordinator, teacher... Read More →

Sunday March 9, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
Gallery Overlook D (Devos Place - Upper Level)

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

Strand(s) Digital Literacy, Disciplinary Literacy, Writing in the Content Areas

12:30pm EDT

Come to Camp! Creating an Inclusive, Positive Literacy Summer Camp Experience for Middle School Students LIMITED

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

River Overlook A (DeVos Place - Upper Level)

How can middle-grades students reconnect to their love of reading and writing? Invite them to a Summer Camp to rebuild their literate identities! Presenters share how an ISD-created middle school literacy program has helped students read and write more while optimizing choice, collaboration and creativity. Learn about the basic summer camp structure, low-cost resources, and how to collect data.

Speakers

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 →

Sara Belvedere

Secondary English & Continuous Improvement Consultant, Macomb ISD

Sunday March 9, 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm EDT
River Overlook A (DeVos Place - Upper Level)

Middle School to Post Secondary (6-12+)

Strand(s) Disciplinary Literacy, Diverse Literature for Children and Young Adults, Written Expression

1:45pm EDT

Getting to the Heart of Disciplinary Literacy in the Secondary Classroom LIMITED

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

Gallery Overlook B (DeVos Place - Upper Level)

In this two-part series, we’ll dive into the why and the how for integrating reading, writing and discussion in the classroom. Teachers will walk away with an understanding of literacy research and practical strategies for the classroom that link strong purposes for reading to focused writing tasks & discussions. Plus, participants will gain access to a toolkit of ready-to-use resources.

Speakers

Emily Toy

6-12 ELA and Social Studies Curriculum and Instructional Technology Specialist, Warren Consolidated Schools

Kevin Bullis

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

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

Strand(s) Disciplinary Literacy, Writing in the Content Areas, Written Expression