69th MRA Conference: Full Schedule

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

10:30am EST

Rookie to Rockstar: Empowering New Teachers for Long-Term Success LIMITED

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

Infusing the JOY framework into our comprehensive professional development by unleashing the potential of new teachers, guiding them with support around the four pillars throughout the year, and fostering a culture of joy, excellence, and lifelong learning.Our comprehensive mentor training program is designed to empower and equip new teachers, prevent burnout, and ensure long-term success.

Speakers

Kate Rossetter

Engagement and Literacy Educational Consultant, EduKateR- LLC

Annemarie Johnson

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

Literacy Coaching

Strand(s) Advocacy, Literacy Coaching and Leadership, Literacy Educator Preparation

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

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

10:30am EDT

Professional Book Clubs for Teachers Writers LIMITED

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

Grand Gallery E (DeVos Place)

Participants will learn how the Chippewa River Writing Project book club was founded and what core values could guide adult professional book clubs; this includes supporting and encouraging each other to consider best practices and implement new strategies into our diverse classrooms. We will also brainstorm strategies and provide resources for building your own beloved learning communities.

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 →

Megan Kowalski

Special Education Teacher, Chicago Public Schools

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

Literacy Coaching

Strand(s) Literacy Coaching and Leadership, Literacy Educator Preparation

12:30pm EDT

Teacher Book Studies: Fostering Collaborative Professional Learning LIMITED

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

Grand Gallery E (DeVos Place)

Discover the power of teacher book studies as collaborative professional learning. This session explores the importance of educators learning together through organized book studies, drawing from years of experience, including pandemic adaptations. Learn to set up effective book studies, nurture teacher literacy, and translate insights into classroom practice.

Speakers

Kate Rossetter

Engagement and Literacy Educational Consultant, EduKateR- LLC

Melissa Brooks-Yip

Education Consultant, Doctoral Candidate, Teacher Education for Action, TEA LLC

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

Literacy Coaching

Strand(s) Literacy Coaching and Leadership, Literacy Educator Preparation

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