Our children learn the phonetic method, which is why they're very good spellers, I suppose. Because rather than ABC or just saying a word, they'll have to go a as in apple and all the other a's there are in the English language. They learn that when they're four. Children all over America can tell you that a, e, i, o, u, and sometimes y are vowels. But you ask them about that "sometimes y," and they can't tell you.
Marva CollinsA person cannot all of a sudden become good at what they do just by switching streams.
Marva CollinsPeople have to live by rules in the world. Why do we pretend in school that they don't?
Marva CollinsThat's how I try to think of education - a school is a miniature society where children learn to function in a real world.
Marva CollinsI was very, very unhappy with even the so-called very elite schools. The one thing I've always done every day with my children is to watch what they do at school, and I was always a bit unhappy with the academic program. It was a kind of hit and miss.
Marva CollinsExcellence is not an act but a habit. The things you do the most are the things you will do best.
Marva CollinsI'm not one of those who say this is the way. I'm not that opinionated. I can only say this is my way. Even the $1,000 scholarship that my son could have gotten from the state of Illinois to go to college, we didn't want. I'd rather get out and work and have my children know that their money comes from their parents and we have to work for it.
Marva Collins