Marva Collins' Way

Marva Collins' Way by Marva Collins and Civia Tamarkin has found its way to the top of my reading stack (after Russ snatched and read it), and I am thoroughly enjoying it. Even though I am only a short way through the book, I can feel that Marva Collins will have a strong impact on the way I teach my children. The subtitle, Returning to Excellence in Education, is very appropriate. Her advice will be highly appreciated.

pg. 47

I didn't know anything about educational theory, and I have often thought that worked in my favor. Without preconceived ideas and not bound by rules, I was forced to deal with my students as individuals, to talk to them, listen to them, find out their needs. I wasn't trying to see how they fit into any learning patterns or educational models. I followed my instincts and taught according to what felt right. I brought my own experiences to the classroom, trying to figure out how I had learned as a student. I remembered what had bored me and what had interested me, which teachers I had liked and which ones I had disliked, and applied it all to my teaching.

Not having any formal theory or textbook methodology to follow made me receptive to new ideas. I was constantly learning along with my students, always looking for new ways to make a lesson more exciting.

The Marva Collins Story (1981) movie with Cicely Tyson and Morgan Freeman is waiting for me on my DVR. I can't wait to watch it after I finish the book. You can be sure I'll post more on the subject in the future.