{"id":7296,"date":"2018-04-20T09:00:06","date_gmt":"2018-04-20T09:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/laverne.edu\/news\/?p=7296"},"modified":"2022-01-12T12:49:24","modified_gmt":"2022-01-12T20:49:24","slug":"university-la-verne-family-learning-conference-draw-1000","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/laverne.edu\/news\/2018\/04\/20\/university-la-verne-family-learning-conference-draw-1000\/","title":{"rendered":"University of La Verne Family Learning Conference to Draw 1,000"},"content":{"rendered":"

Marga Madhuri told students at a Glendale middle school in February that she is learning a second language by reading children\u2019s books in Spanish. What\u2019s her secret to faster learning? She said it\u2019s being proficient in her native language.<\/p>\n

\u201cI could pick up Spanish more quickly because I was already literate in English,\u201d said Madhuri, a professor in the University of La\u00a0Verne\u2019s LaFetra College of Education.<\/p>\n

The message resonated with the children so much that 14 of them are coming to the University of La\u00a0Verne on April 28 for the 13th<\/sup>\u00a0annual\u00a0Family Learning Conference, which centers around activities that children can do with their parents at home to improve their academics in the classroom. More than 1,000 preschool through 8th<\/sup>\u00a0grade students are expected to attend with their parents and other family members.<\/p>\n

John Archambault<\/a>, the bestselling author of\u00a0Chicka Chicka Boom Boom<\/em>, is one of 15 authors who will talk to children about their work. University of La\u00a0Verne education students, along with teachers from local school districts, will show children how to create comic books with an iPad, write a novel, experiment with a 3D scanner, and offer healthy eating tips.<\/p>\n

The Glendale students will give presentations that encourage Spanish-speaking parents to teach their children how to read and write in their language. That will ultimately help them learn English more efficiently.<\/p>\n

\u201cA couple of the kids, even though they learned (to speak) Spanish, didn\u2019t learn to read or write in Spanish,\u201d Madhuri said. \u201cThey consider it a disadvantage.\u201d<\/p>\n

Two students from Claremont High School, who started a book club at their school, will share with children how they can start their own book club.<\/p>\n

University of La\u00a0Verne students Laura Tooma and Gina Spencer, who are pursuing teaching credentials at the university\u2019s College of the Canyons location, will give a presentation called \u201cSuper Shapes.\u201d They will show children and their parents how to learn math concepts by building shapes with simple items found around the house.<\/p>\n

Madhuri said some children have come every year for the last five years. And aspiring teachers get the experience of interacting with parents, something that can be considered stressful in the professional world.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is one of those events where everybody wins \u2013 the people who volunteer love it, the parents love it, the kids have a good time. That\u2019s why I keep doing it year after year,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The event \u2013 organized by Madhuri and Associate Professor of Education Dr. Andy Steck with the\u00a0LaFetra College of Education<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 is supported by the\u00a0Webb Family Enterprises<\/a>. The organization will provide food for the event, as well as shipping costs for the more than 1,000 books that will be given away to children.<\/p>\n

Event Details<\/h2>\n