On Wednesday, second graders in Carrie Salapek’s class at Warren Area Elementary Center visited Family Consumer Science teacher Jamie Tagba’s parenting class at Warren Area High School.

The older students sat with small groups of younger students. They read books to them and then got them involved in an activity — mostly making — and eating — snacks.

Or drawing.

“We’re all in high school. We’re all going to be graduating. We’re going out in the real world, and this is a little basic start if you are going to be a parent,” Autumn Gourley said. “It’s a fun class.”

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Gathering around Warren Area High School sophomore Ben Salapek are Warren Area Elementary Center second-graders (from left) Gavin Haight, Lillith McGuire, and Zay Anthony. A second-grade class visited the WAHS Parenting class Wednesday for some story time, activities, and snacks.

“If you’re not around kids a lot, it’s good to be in a class like this to understand what it’s like,” Joey Sidon said. “It’s good to get used to being around kids.”

“It was fun,” Cara Anderson said. “You get a feel of what it’s like, have a hands-on experience, and see how they react to it.”

“They really enjoy working with the kids,” Tagba said of her high school students. “I get a lot of good feedback.”

The exercise brings home the importance of literacy and the value of reading to children, she said.

The classes did not get together by chance.

Salapek’s son is in Tagba’s class. Tagba’s is in Salapek’s.

“It’s a nice connection,” Salapek said. “Hopefully, we’ll keep doing this because it’s really awesome.”

“I would like to continue working with Mrs. Salapek,” Tagba said.

She hopes to continue the practice of bringing younger students to her older ones and possibly grow into other courses. “I would like expand it to the cooking class. You really learn when you teach.”