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Tuesday, April 10, 2007

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.

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