69th MRA Conference: Full Schedule

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

10:30am EST

Enhancing Literacy Instruction: Selecting, Piloting, and Implementing High-Quality ELA Materials LIMITED

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

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

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

Strand(s) Literacy Coaching and Leadership

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

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

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

Strand(s) Early Language and Literacy, Language Comprehension

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

12:30pm EDT

Enhancing English Literacy through Content-Based Instruction and L1 Support: Strategies for Engaging Multilingual Learners LIMITED

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

Grand Gallery B (DeVos Place)

In a world of increasing linguistic diversity, effectively nurturing English literacy among multilingual learners, is crucial. This session will focus on two powerful strategies: employing content-based instruction (CBI) to engage students and leveraging first language (L1) literacy skills and background knowledge to support English literacy development.

Speakers

Austyn Sabin

Newcomer ESL Teacher, Kalamazoo Public Schools

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

Elementary (K-5) Literacy Coaching

Strand(s) Culturally Responsive Instruction, Multilingual and Multidialectal Literacy

1:45pm EDT

Curating Dynamic & Diverse Classroom Libraries that Engage Students and Encourage Reading LIMITED

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

Grand Gallery B (DeVos Place)

This session provides elementary school teachers with the tools and resources needed to build a classroom library that packs a powerful punch and gets kids to spend more time reading. The presenter will share evidence-based practices, tips & tricks for library management, book acquisition suggestions, and titles that interest and inspire young readers. Attendees will have the chance to win a Birdie's Book Box filled with 35 books to take home and add to their K-5 elementary classroom libraries.

Speakers

Alyce Hartman

Founder & Executive Director, Birdie's Bookmobile

Alyce Hartman is a dedicated urban educator and curriculum developer with over ten years of experience in teaching and the non-profit sector. She specializes in early language, literacy, and diverse and culturally relevant literature for children and young adults. She teaches STEAM... Read More →

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

Elementary (K-5) Literacy Coaching

Strand(s) Diverse Literature for Children and Young Adults, Early Language and Literacy