Learning to Learn

It’s back to reality for parents, students and teachers now that schools are back in session around Ventura County. Yet it doesn’t have to be back to the same old ways of learning, according to local authors Mariaemma Willis and Victoria Kindle Hodson.

The Ventura educators are co-authors of “Discover Your Child’s Learning Style,” a book that helps identify learning styles and figure out what to do about them. They will appear at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Ventura Barnes & Noble to discuss and sign the book.

“We’ve just got too many people growing up and graduating who don’t think they’re smart because they did poorly in school,” Willis said. “Their natural talents and interests were not tapped into.”

During the 11 years Willis spent directing a school for children with learning problems, she met kids--supposedly learning-disabled--who were so smart that it didn’t make sense to her that they were dysfunctional, she said. During research about learning styles, Willis met Hodson, who was trained in special education and had spent 30 years developing an alternative way of viewing learning in children. They joined forces to produce their own materials and systems.

“What our book is all about is empowering parents with the information and then giving them specific things to do,” Willis said. “For instance, it will have a tip for working with auditory kids. Auditory learners have to say something out loud before they get it.”

The book includes complete profile assessments that cover such things as disposition, talents, interests and environment--aspects of a person’s learning style. The profiles are applicable for preschoolers through adulthood, so all family members can check themselves out, Willis said.

“Our theme is coaching for learning success,” Willis said. “We want parents and teachers to be coaches.”

HAPPENINGS

* Sunday--1 p.m. Gold Coast Fiction Writers will hold a panel discussion titled “2,000 Ways to Publish Your Romance Novel.” Free to members and first-time guests. Brunch at your own expense. Nona’s Courtyard Cafe, 67 S. California St., Ventura. For more information, contact the group’s president, Carol Givner, at (310) 454-6264 or e-mail goldduets@aol.com.

* Sunday--1 p.m. Kindergartners through sixth-graders and their parents are invited to a discussion of science fair requirements. Handouts provided. Thousand Oaks Barnes & Noble, 160 S. Westlake Blvd., 446-2820.

* Monday--7 p.m. Ongoing discussion of Neale Donald Walsch’s “Conversations With God” series. Borders, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, 497-8159.

* Monday--7 p.m. A new group will meet to share works with other writers. Ventura Barnes & Noble, 4360 E. Main St., 339-9170.

* Tuesday--11 a.m. Steve Zikman will discuss and sign “The Power of Travel.” Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center Foundation, 3050 Los Angeles Ave. Contact Roseanne Savo at 491-3387 for more information.

* Tuesday--noon. A discussion of “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats” by T.S. Eliot, followed by highlights of the musical “Cats” by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. Thousand Oaks Barnes & Noble, 160 S. Westlake Blvd., 446-2820.

* Tuesday--7 p.m. The Partners in Crime Mystery Group will hear T. Jefferson Parker discuss his works, including this month’s pick, “Laguna Heat,” and his latest, “The Blue Hour.” Book signing to follow. Borders, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, 497-8159.

* Tuesday--7 p.m. The Short Stories Group will focus on Sherwood Anderson’s “The Strength of God” from the “Oxford Book of American Short Stories,” edited by Joyce Carol Oates. Borders, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, 497-8159.

* Wednesday--9:30 a.m. Story time with “Snow” by Uri Shulevitz and “The Snowball” by Jennifer Armstrong. Ventura Barnes & Noble, 4360 E. Main St., 339-9170.

* Wednesday--7 p.m. Russell and Kathlyn Spencer will discuss their experiences writing and publishing “Windshield Adventures Through the Mojave Desert” and “Windshield Adventuring in Southern Nevada” at the monthly meeting of the West Ventura Chapter of the Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network. Free to members, $5 for nonmembers. For more information, contact Patricia Fry at 646-3045, or e-mail PLFaol.com.

* Wednesday--7 p.m. Dr. Cal Ezrin will discuss and sign “Type II Diabetes Diet Book.” Borders, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, 497-8159.

* Wednesday--7 p.m. The Sci Fi/Fantasy Group will discuss Lois Lowry’s novel, “The Giver.” Borders, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, 497-8159.

* Wednesday--7:30 p.m. Author Marcia Wieder will discuss and sign “Making Your Dreams Come True,” a step-by-step guide to achieving your New Year’s resolutions. Thousand Oaks Barnes & Noble, 160 S. Westlake Blvd., 446-2820.

* Thursday--noon. Author Marnie Davis Kellogg will discuss and sign “Birthday Party.” Mysteries to Die For, 2940 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, 374-0084.

* Thursday--7 p.m. Kindergartners through sixth-graders and their parents are invited to a discussion of science fair requirements. Handouts provided. Ventura Barnes & Noble, 4360 E. Main St., 339-9170.

* Friday--7 p.m. Story time with books having the “Three Little Pigs” as a theme, such as the “Three Little Dinosaurs” by Jim Harris. Ventura Barnes & Noble, 4360 E. Main St., 339-9170.

* Friday--8 p.m. Local author Fawn Parish, author of “Honor,” will discuss how to deal with difficult people. Ventura Barnes & Noble, 4360 E. Main St., 339-9170.

* Saturday--10 a.m. Thomas Perry will discuss and sign “Bloody Money.” Mysteries to Die For, 374-0084.

* Saturday--10:30 a.m. Story time on “Snow” by Uri Shulevitz, “Millions of Snowflakes” by Mary McKenna Siddals and “Snowballs” by Lois Ehlert. Thousand Oaks Barnes & Noble, 446-2820.

* Saturday--3 p.m. Peter J. Levinson will discuss and sign the biography “Trumpet Blues: The Life of Harry James.” Calabasas Barnes & Noble, 4735 Commons Way, (818) 222-0542.

* Saturday--7:30 p.m. Local authors Mariaemma Willis and Victoria Kindle Hodson will discuss and sign “Discover Your Child’s Learning Style.” Ventura Barnes & Noble, 339-9170.

Information about book-signings, writers groups and publishing events can be e-mailed to anns40@aol.com or faxed to 647-5649.