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

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

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)

Strand(s) Diverse Literature for Children and Young Adults, Social-Emotional Learning and Wellness, Written Expression

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

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

Strand(s) Culturally Responsive Instruction, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ), Literacy Educator Preparation, Social-Emotional Learning and Wellness

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

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

Strand(s) Digital Literacy, Social-Emotional Learning and Wellness, Written Expression

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

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

Strand(s) Culturally Responsive Instruction, Digital Literacy, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ), Social-Emotional Learning and Wellness, Written Expression

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

Lindsay Stoetzel

Professor, Grand Valley State University

Matilyn Mumm

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 →

Lexi Marzolf

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+)

Strand(s) Culturally Responsive Instruction, Social-Emotional Learning and Wellness, Written Expression

10:30am EDT

Making Mischievous Writers LIMITED

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

River Overlook C (DeVos Place - Upper Level)

In this session, we will explore a very unique writing kit that includes unorthodox writing prompts and artifacts that will inspire students to write in a way that is joyful, meaningful, and a little mischievous. The presenter will share the method behind the madness for what is a truly fun and unique writing experience.

Speakers

Jonah Lane-Moore

7th Grade English Teacher, Michigan Virtual Charter Academy

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

Middle School to Post Secondary (6-12+)

Strand(s) Foundational Writing Skills, Social-Emotional Learning and Wellness, Written Expression

10:30am EDT

Empathy & Digital Literacy: A Sample Unit Plan for Adolescent Developing Readers LIMITED

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

River Overlook A (DeVos Place - Upper Level)

In this session, middle school and high school teachers will be guided through a unit plan that engages developing adolescent readers in viewing and analyzing digital texts, and understanding and synthesizing multiple perspectives through writing. Participants will leave with a ready-to-implement unit plan, and will be equipped to apply these strategies to their own teaching contexts.

Speakers

Julee Boland

Reading Specialist and Director of Professional Development and School Improvement, Washtenaw Technical Middle College

Hello! I’m a high school reading specialist and the Director of Professional Development and School Improvement for Washtenaw Technical Middle College in Ann Arbor. I have more than 20 years of teaching experience working with adolescent readers. At WTMC, I've conducted action research... Read More →

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

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

Strand(s) Digital Literacy, Social-Emotional Learning and Wellness

12:30pm EDT

Moving Past Book Trauma for Neurodivergent Readers! Learn How to Reduce the Struggle so Students Can Strive in Reading and Writing. FULL

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

Gallery Overlook D (Devos Place - Upper Level)

Neurodivergent readers struggle with executive functions and self-regulation which form barriers when connecting to texts. In this session, we explore how some readers gasp while breathing in the words or freeze while breathing out the appropriate marks on paper. You will learn about co-regulation and how to use our Take Back to Class accommodation guide to build their reading and writing muscles!

Speakers

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 →

Megan Cavanaugh

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

Elementary (K-5)

Strand(s) Foundational Writing Skills, Language Comprehension, Social-Emotional Learning and Wellness