69th MRA Conference: Full Schedule

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

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

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

Strand(s) Culturally Responsive Instruction, Foundational Reading Skills, Social-Emotional Learning and Wellness

10:30am EST

Maximizing Phonics Success: Practical Strategies for Multisensory Engagement and Orthographic Mapping FULL

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

Jen Vanderground

Faculty of Literacy Instruction, Grand Valley State University

Ellie Esman

Preservice Teacher, Grand Valley State University

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)

Strand(s) Early Language and Literacy, Foundational Reading Skills, Foundational Writing Skills

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

Jill Erfourth

Elementary Literacy Consultant/Coach, Utica Community Schools

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)

Strand(s) Early Language and Literacy, Foundational Reading Skills, Foundational Writing Skills, Writing in the Content Areas, Written Expression

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

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

Strand(s) Diverse Literature for Children and Young Adults, Foundational Reading Skills, Language Comprehension

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

Mr. David Higgins

Principal, Dearborn Public Schools

Anfaal Shaout

Mariam Albachachy

Peggy Honer

Saturday March 8, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Grand Gallery F (DeVos Place)

Elementary (K-5) Literacy Coaching

Strand(s) Foundational Reading Skills, Language Comprehension, Writing in the Content Areas

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

Meghan Block

Chad Waldron

Marie Berrell Endowed Professor of Literacy, Central Michigan University

Andy J. Schoenborn

Saturday March 8, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Grand Gallery E (DeVos Place)

Elementary (K-5) Literacy Coaching

Strand(s) Early Language and Literacy, Foundational Reading Skills, Foundational Writing Skills

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

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

Angela Massey

Instruction Team Specialist, Institute of Multi-Sensory Education

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+)

Strand(s) Foundational Reading Skills, Foundational Writing Skills, Multilingual and Multidialectal Literacy

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

Gwendolyn Thompson McMillon

Professor of Literacy, Oakland University

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.

Qingxian Wang

Yujie Mao

Saturday March 8, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
River Overlook F (Devos Place - Upper Level)

Literacy Coaching

Strand(s) Community and Family Literacy, Culturally Responsive Instruction, Foundational Reading Skills

2:30pm EST

Building Bridges: Developing Community Partnerships that Improve Literacy Learning LIMITED

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

Gwendolyn Thompson McMillon

Professor of Literacy, Oakland University

Joshua McMillon

Saturday March 8, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm EST
River Overlook D (DeVos Place - Upper Level)

Appropriate for All Levels

Strand(s) Community and Family Literacy, Culturally Responsive Instruction, Foundational Reading Skills

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

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+)

Strand(s) Advocacy, Early Language and Literacy, Foundational Reading Skills

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

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

Strand(s) Diverse Literature for Children and Young Adults, Foundational Reading Skills, Literacy Coaching and Leadership

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

Sarah Stickney

District Literacy Coach MTSS Coordinator, Avondale School District

Jessica Guerra

Katie Carion

Helena Gorny

Saturday March 8, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm EST
Gallery Overlook C (DeVos Place - Upper Level)

Literacy Coaching

Strand(s) Foundational Reading Skills, Literacy Coaching and Leadership

10:30am EDT

Writing Inside the Room: Using the Reading Rope, Content Knowledge, and Shared Experiences to Build Strong Foundational Writing Skills in K-1 LIMITED

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

Grand Gallery A (DeVos Place)

This session will help early elementary teachers learn to simplify the process of teaching foundational writing skills by focusing on the separation of composition and transcription. The presenter will share classroom experience, strategies and resources to take writing from a stand alone subject to an integrated experience across the day.

Speakers

Nicole Cobb

Kindergarten Teacher, Almont Community Schools

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

Elementary (K-5)

Strand(s) Foundational Reading Skills, Foundational Writing Skills, Writing in the Content Areas

10:30am EDT

Leading Change that Increases Literacy Achievement FULL

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

Gallery Overlook A (DeVos Place - Upper Level)

In this session literacy leaders will discover effective reading and writing strategies to boost literacy achievement for all students. The presenter will draw on her experience as a district leader, where literacy scores rose by 20% in four years including one year of virtual instruction. Participants will learn how they can drive improvements that enhance student outcomes in reading and writing.

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

Literacy Coaching

Strand(s) Foundational Reading Skills, Foundational Writing Skills, Literacy Coaching and Leadership

12:30pm EDT

Read STOP Write: Teaching Foundational Skills in a Middle Grades Multicomponent Reading Intervention LIMITED

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

Gallery Overlook C (DeVos Place - Upper Level)

In this session, upper elementary and middle school teachers can experience a research based, multicomponent reading and writing intervention designed for middle grade students. This open source intervention uses science and social studies texts to integrate instruction in multisyllabic decoding, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing.

Speakers

Amy Edlefson

Graduate Student, Michigan State University

Laura Tortorelli

John Strong

Assistant Professor, University at Buffalo

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

Middle School to Post Secondary (6-12+)

Strand(s) Foundational Reading Skills, Language Comprehension, Writing in the Content Areas

12:30pm EDT

Silent Sustained Reading in High School: Fostering a Love of Reading in the Classroom and Building a Culture of Literacy within the School LIMITED

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

Gallery Overlook B (DeVos Place - Upper Level)

In this inspiring session, teachers will learn how we are creating a culture of literacy within our department and school by utilizing a strategic system of SSR, which embraces goal setting, metacognitive thinking, sharing progress, celebrating personal reading, and collective growth. As classroom teachers in the field, our resources will be embedded in the presentation for you to copy and adapt for your context. Just add books!

Speakers

Mrs. Becky Gerhart

High School English Teacher, Mason County Central

Teaching English full-time since 2008. Mother of 7-year-old boy/girl twins. I fly kites on the shore of Lake Michigan.

Katarina Moore

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

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

Strand(s) Advocacy, Foundational Reading Skills, Literacy Educator Preparation

1:45pm EDT

What Does Handwriting Have to Do with Reading? FULL

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

Grand Gallery C (DeVos Place)

This handwriting session dives into mirror invariance (MI) and its impact on early literacy. MI allows us to recognize objects regardless of its orientation. But, this can pose challenges for distinguishing between letters that look similar, such as b, d, or p. This can make learning to read and write difficult for children. Handwriting is crucial to address MI and reading success.

Speakers

Meagan Beam

Founder, OTTER Reading

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

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

Strand(s) Early Language and Literacy, Foundational Reading Skills, Foundational Writing Skills

1:45pm EDT

Our Journey to the Science of Reading: How One School Went from Sporadic Literacy to Systematic Literacy LIMITED

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

Grand Gallery A (DeVos Place)

Through three different lenses - Literacy Coach & Interventionist, 2nd grade teacher, and 6th grade teacher - participants will get an in-depth look at how the CKLA curriculum + LETRS training + daily dedicated intervention/enrichment time has equipped our teachers to implement the Science of Reading (SoR) in PreK-8th grade classrooms.

Speakers

Strand(s) Foundational Reading Skills, Foundational Writing Skills