A Pecha Kucha is a type of presentation - 20 slides with 20 seconds devoted to each slide. Watch the Conference Pecha Kucha to find out the inside scoop about the 2014 Conference. New for 2014 - see the featured speakers for hands-on, interactive Boxed Lunch sessions! Space for these sessions is limited, so register today!
3. 2013 Conference Survey Results: Why
Do You Attend the MRA Conference?
① Professional presentations
② Professional conversations with other
educators
③ Hands-on ideas
④ Common Core
⑤ Variety of topics
4. 2013 Conference Survey Results:
What Topics Do You Want at the
MRA Conference?
① Common Core
② Assessment
③ Writing
④ PARCC
⑤ DESE Units
⑥ Technology
Massachusetts Reading Association holds an annual conference every spring where educators from across the state and region gather together to learn, network, socialize and be inspired about teaching. We’ve got a great conference planned for April 2014! Let me tell you all about it – we think it will transform your world!
The theme for the conference is New Literacies: Connecting Students to the World! The time seemed right to explore how New Literacies, which are the skills students need to use and interact with technology, can have a positive impact on teaching and learning. The MRA conference is the perfect place to learn about techniques and resources you can use to connect your students to the world through technology. Let me tell you more about all the conference offerings.
Based on the 2013 post-conference survey, the number one thing people like about attending the MRA conference is the opportunity to see professional presentations. They want to talk with other educators, go to hands-on sessions and learn how the Common Core will impact teaching and learning. As you can see from this feedback, variety is key! You want variety? We’re going to give you variety!
As the Family Feud host likes to say, Survey Says! The results were very clear: Common Core is on everyone’s mind. Tied to Common Core is assessment, writing, PARCC and the model units created by the DESE. Technology rounded out the top 6 topics. That gave us great direction, and we think we’ve got the perfect lineup to meet everyone’s interests!
Many speakers will address Common Core in some way. The opening keynote on Thursday will focus on Writing and the closing keynote on Friday will address Informational Text. In between we have speakers who will address New Literacies, Adolescent Literacy, and technology. Plus we’ve got a great author to inspire you! Now let me tell you more about our keynote and featured speakers!
Lucy Calkins is recognized as a leading authority on writing and reading instruction and the workshop model. Lucy is now providing guidance on how teachers can address the Common Core standards in their literacy instruction. Come see Lucy’s keynote presentation that opens the MRA conference on Thursday when she will address Common Core and writing instruction.
MRA has a longstanding tradition of inviting the incoming IRA president to speak at our annual conference. In 2014 we are honored to have Jill Lewis-Spector as the Sylvia Brown Luncheon Speaker on Thursday. Jill is well known as an education advocate and for her work in adolescent literacy. Join us at the Thursday Luncheon as Jill talks about being a literacy advocate.
Author/illustrator Laura Vaccaro Seeger will receive the MRA Children’s Literature Award in 2014. Laura has won numerous awards for her books includingthe Caldecott Honor Award, the New York Times Best Illustrated Book Award and the Boston Globe/Horn Book Award for Best Picture Book. We’re sure you will love Laura’s books and keynote presentation.
DonLeu’s work focuses on two questions: 1. What are the new skills, strategies, and dispositions students need to comprehend what they read on the Internet? And 2. How can we prepare our students for these new literacies? Come learn about strategies and tools you can use to facilitate student’s online learning on Friday of the conference.
Julie Coiro iswell known in the field of New Literacies research, but her work is always framed from the perspective of the classroom teacher. Julie is the speaker at the Leo Hanley MACURE luncheon. She will share information on the nuances of online reading comprehension and opportunities this presents for educators.
Nell Duke’s work has focused on literacy for young children, especially on the topic of reading informational text. With the Common Core focus on informational text and the shifting percentages of informational text all students beginning in Kindergarten should be reading, we thought Nell would bring a great perspective to teaching informational text. She is our closing keynote speaker and we know you’ll love what she has to share!
A new feature for 2014 are Boxed Lunch sessions that are hands-on and interactive. Renee Hobbs is one of the nation's leading authorities on media literacy education. Her work explores how children and teens use and consume media, and fair use and copyright issues. Join Renee during a lunchtime session to learn hands-on digital literacy skills!
We’re so excited to have Kathy Schrock as one of our lunchtime presenters. Kathy, who calls herself an educational technologist, may be best known for her website that was chock full of great online resources for teachers. Join her hands-on workshop called “HOTS For Bloom’s” where you will explore apps for higher order thinking skills among the many great activities she has planned!
Yaya Yuan and Leah Reiser come to us from LitWorld, Pam Allen’s International non-profit organization that fosters resilience, hope, and joy through the power of story. Yaya and Leah will show you how to use Skype in your classroom as they connect with their network of partner schools around the world.
Good News! There will be free Wi-Fi for everyone at the conference. Many of the presentations will feature hands-on activities, so we encourage you to BYOD – that’s bring your own device to follow along! The conference will be interactive and we encourage you to connect to MRA through social media on Twitter and Facebook.
Once again the conference will be at the Boston Marriott Quincy. Come early and stay over Wednesday or Thursday night so that you are ready to join us bright and early in the morning! MRA has a special room rate and you can enjoy the hotel amenities which include a restaurant and bar, fitness room, lap pool and whirlpool. Why not join us for two days for a little professional getaway?!
The 2014 conference keynote speakers hail from respected universities and colleges from New England and beyond. In addition to the keynote speakers, other presenters represent institutions you may know well. Another great reason to join us at the conference is to see your former professors or classmates. The MRA conference presents a unique opportunity for you to catch up with old friends and to make new connections.
In addition to stars from the field of literacy and maybe a former college professor or two, who else might you meet at the MRA conference? As you can see from this pie chart, the majority of the attendees at the 2013 conference were reading specialists, elementary teachers, and reading or literacy coaches. MRA can be your professional support network – these are your colleagues, peers, mentors and friends!
To learn more about MRA and the 2014 Conference, go to www.massreading.org. You can register individually or with a group of colleagues. Make the MRA Conference part of your professional development plan! Tell your principal how your attendance at the conference will help you address the Common Core standards in your teaching. We hope to see you in April!
