In education circles, Marva Collins is a living legend. So much so that her story 鈥� about founding the Westside Preparatory School in Chicago 鈥� became a made-for-television movie starring Cicely Tyson. Collins also authored 7 books, including , in which she shared her educational method that helped turn struggling inner-city students into academic superstars, many of them Ivy League graduates. Here, Collins talks about how she inspired kids to read:
鈥淚 had a little girl tell me once, 鈥業 can’t learn to read鈥� and she ended up graduating summa cum laude from the University of Kentucky. How did I do it? I gave the kids in my school confidence. I told them, 鈥榊ou are so bright. If I touch your head, do you think I’ll be as bright?鈥� I told them, 鈥楨verybody is a star鈥� and they believed it. I told them, 鈥榊ou have a mind, you have a brain, and you can do anything anyone else can do.鈥� There’s no pride like a little 4-year-old who can read.鈥�
Here鈥檚 how 4 other parenting experts say to respond…
Melissa Taylor
Don’t despair, says Book Love author Melissa Taylor. Instead, try these three secrets to get your reluctant reader hooked on books. Format: Video (1:58)
Bruce Feiler
The bestselling author of The Secret of Happy Families did his research and discovered the best way to respond. Format: Video (1:39)
Carol Dweck
Read between the lines, says Stanford psychologist and Mindset author Carol Dweck. Why? Because kids mean something very different when they object to reading. Format: Video (1:06)
Jane Bluestein
Don鈥檛 force it, advises education consultant Jane Bluestein. If a child resists reading, there are plenty of ways to lure him in. Format: Article
