University of La Verne Holds Family Learning Conference
Around 1,000 parents and their children attended the University of La Verne’s 12th annual Family Learning Conference on April 15, a day of educational activities parents can do with their children at home to help them succeed in the classroom.
From showing adults how to read to their children, to fun activities that teach math, the conference – organized by the LaFetra College of Education – runs from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
“It gives families a chance to be together in a creative learning environment,” said Marga Madhuri, professor of education. “It gives them the chance to spend the day on a college campus, to spend time in college classrooms, and introduces them to the possibility of college in their children’s futures.”
The conference featured a record nine bilingual presentations due to rising demand by families in the region for bilingual education at the conference and within area school districts.
“It’s reflective of our minority language parents wanting to be more involved,” said Dr. Anita Flemington, professor of education who has worked as a bilingual teacher in K-12 districts. “I think they feel safer in California going out and saying ‘I need some help.’”
The rising need is also occurring just months after California voters passed Proposition 58, which brought to an end 18 years of restrictions on the use of languages other than English in K-12 classrooms. Starting in July, school districts throughout California will have an easier choice of how to teach English learners, including bilingual programs.
“We believe in culturally-relevant (curriculum) and bilingual education is a central part of that,” Flemington said.
Bilingual presentations included “Big Brains for Little People: Footsteps 2 Brilliance,” which demonstrates an electronic application allowing users to read, sing karaoke, and write stories in English and Spanish. Parents and children can also attend “Family Traditions and Storytelling,” which will show people how to learn language, vocabulary, and grammar by telling stories about their ancestors.
There were also numerous English presentations in math and literacy, including “Digital Storytelling with iPads,” a workshop where families can bond while making an animated cartoon together.
“One of the most important messages of the conference is that parents acknowledge themselves as their children’s first teachers,” Madhuri said. “We hope that by coming here, parents feel more empowered to share their wisdom with their children. Children with families who are involved in their education succeed at higher rates in all areas of learning.”
Ten children’s authors were at the event including René Colato Laínez, a Salvadoran award-winning author of bilingual books who works as a bilingual elementary school teacher.
