MRA Café-Coffee and Conversations
Welcome to the March updates of the Massachusetts Reading Association. MRA Café is a monthly publication that connects our members, inspires joyful collegiality, shares insights into literacy education, and celebrates success stories.
March Reading Challenge
Brighter Day Press (click here for more information) has provided the following March reading challenge book list! Take the challenge and read each book for each day in March!
2026 Conference Schedule
We are thrilled to announce and share this year’s MRA 2026 Conference Schedule. The theme is Literacy and Learning: Connecting Classrooms and Communities.
Wednesday, April 8, 2026 Schedule
Register for MRA 2026 Conference
Join us at the Boston Marriott Newton Hotel, Newton, MA
April 9 and 10, 2026
Pre-Conference Institute April 8th
PLEASE REGISTER FOR YOURSELF. If you are attending with a group of colleagues from the same school or institution, we ask that you register individually. You may all reference the same PO#, and please be sure that all attendees are listed on the PO.
There are several reasons for this. First, your Annual MRA Standard, Student, or Retiree Membership is included with the Conference Registration fee. You will want MRA to have your current contact information. The second reason is to allow you to make your own Session, Meal, and Event Selections. Attendees will be able to pre-register for their choice of session for EACH time slot, as well as the traditional Keynotes, Special Ticketed Events, and Lunch options.
THOROUGHLY REVIEW the Wednesday Pre-conference Institute as well as the complete Thursday and Friday Schedules below, think about your first choice for each time slot, plan ahead for your lunch and event preferences, fit in some down time, and then click below to register. Best to register early as some sessions will fill up and close out quickly.
WEDNESDAY PRE-CONFERENCE INSTITUTE
$50 includes the Pre-conference Session and a copy of the related book.
THURSDAY AND FRIDAY CONFERENCE
Fees below include all Keynotes, choice of one Breakout Session for each time slot, The MRA Cafe each morning, an Annual MRA Membership, and an Annual ILA Membership.
Boxed Lunches, Plated Luncheons with speaker, and Authors and Appetizers are optional and may be ordered when you register.
Register at https://web.cvent.com/event/04de9569-4022-4d53-9af6-2f1c03b76cb6/summary
Reserve Your Conference Hotel Room
The Boston Marriott Newton Hotel is available Wednesday, April 8 to Saturday, April 11, 2026, at the Conference Discounted Rate of $189/night plus tax.
Please click here to reserve your Group Rate for the Conference using the link provided. MRA needs you to use this link so that the hotel provides you with the discount code.
Recommend the Next Honor Reading Society
Email mraabrieskeulenski@gmail.com or susanflis47@gmail.com to recommend a college or university that would be a great place to start the next reading honor society chapter in Massachusetts!
Upcoming Events and Programming
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MACURE - Building Collective Agency in Education with Dr. Rachel Gabriel. 4:30 PM
Members free, all others $10.Time
11:00am - 11:30am (EST)
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31 | Southeast Regional Reading Council (SERRC) Virtual Presentation on Dyslexia with Hollie Costa. $10
4:30 PM
Thank you for your dedication to literacy. Together, we can ensure every student becomes a confident and capable reader, writer, and learner.
MRA information
The Massachusetts Reading Association is a professional non-profit organization of individuals whose primary purpose is to improve the quality and level of literacy in the state of Massachusetts. The MRA is affiliated with the International Literacy Association (ILA), a worldwide literacy organization. Our Mission The mission of the Massachusetts Reading Association is to promote literacy for all learners through professional development, research, publications, and advocacy.
