abacusmom Admissions, Books, Brooklyn Private Schools, Children's Books, Educational Consulting, ERB Prep, ERBs, Kindergarten, Manhattan Private Schools, NYC Private Schools, Parenting, Private Schools, Reading, Riverdale Private Schools, School advisor, Westchester Private Schools

ERB / WPPSI III Practice Tests? Bright Kids or Aristotle Circle ERB Workbook?

People often ask me where you can find ERB / WPPSI III practice tests. Two companies sell them, Aristotle Circle and Bright Kids.  The next natural question: Which ERB workbook to get? Aristotle Circle's costs $200 more, but is a little longer and more brightly colored.  Families I have worked with have used both Bright … Continue reading ERB / WPPSI III Practice Tests? Bright Kids or Aristotle Circle ERB Workbook?

abacusmom Admissions, ERB Prep, ERBs, ISEE Prep

ERB: No more ERBtest.org: Now it’s ERBlearn.org

The Educational Records Bureau, which could always be found on the web at http://www.erbtest.org, recently acquired a new, more PR-friendly web address: erblearn.org.  ERB learn?  According to the ERB's website: Welcome to ERB!  Our goal is to help light the pathway to student learning with quality assessments to inform "next steps" instruction and admissions decisions. Still … Continue reading ERB: No more ERBtest.org: Now it’s ERBlearn.org

abacusmom Admissions, Books, Brooklyn Private Schools, Children's Books, Educational Consulting, Educational Toys, ERB Prep, ERBs, Kindergarten, Learn to Read, Manhattan Private Schools, NYC Private Schools, NYC Public Schools, Parenting, Private Schools, Public Schools, Riverdale Private Schools, Special Needs Manhattan, Special Needs NYC

Private School Kindergarten Interviews: Books and Crayons to Help Your Preschooler Develop His Fine Motor Skills (Handwriting)

At the student interview, private schools typically ask preschoolers applying to kindergarten and prekindergarten to draw pictures and write their names.  Many parents, seeking to ensure that their children's fine motor skills make the cut, seek out books and tools that help develop handwriting and drawing skills.  Here are some that we recommend to our … Continue reading Private School Kindergarten Interviews: Books and Crayons to Help Your Preschooler Develop His Fine Motor Skills (Handwriting)

abacusmom Admissions, Brooklyn Private Schools, Educational Consulting, Kindergarten, Manhattan Private Schools, NYC Private Schools, Parenting, Private Schools, Riverdale Private Schools, School advisor, Westchester Private Schools

NYC Private School Acceptance / Notification Dates

We're almost at the end of the 2010-2011 NYC private school admissions process, with acceptances due in a few weeks.  I'm working closely with our Private School Admissions Support clients as we approach the finish line. Good luck to everyone! GRADE ENTERING NOTIFICATION MAILING   Kindergarten/Grade 1 Mailed on Friday, Feb. 11*   On-Going Schools3, … Continue reading NYC Private School Acceptance / Notification Dates

abacusmom Manhattan Private Schools

Horace Mann Nursery School: Make Sure You Cover Your Ears

Horace Mann Nursery School, on 90th Street between Park and Madison, has the misfortune of being located right next door to Dr. Mitchell J. Blutt's new home. Blutt, a physician and head of Consonance Capital, has chosen to move into not one but three townhouses, which he is in the process of combining.  Blutt has demolished everything … Continue reading Horace Mann Nursery School: Make Sure You Cover Your Ears

abacusmom Admissions, Books, Brooklyn Private Schools, ERB Prep, ERBs, ISEE Prep, Kindergarten, Manhattan Private Schools, NYC Private Schools, Parenting, Private Schools, Riverdale Private Schools, School advisor, Westchester Private Schools

NYC Private School Kindergarten Admissions Books

Dear Abacus Mom, Our family will shortly be applying to NYC private school kindergarten.  What books do you recommend? Downtown Mom Dear Downtown Mom, Manhattan and Brooklyn families we know applying to private school kindergarten have typically liked to stock up on the following books: Testing for Kindergarten  If you do everything Karen Quinn recommends … Continue reading NYC Private School Kindergarten Admissions Books

abacusmom Admissions, Brooklyn Private Schools, Educational Consulting, Hill Schools, Kindergarten, Manhattan Private Schools, NYC Private Schools, Private Schools, Riverdale Private Schools, School advisor, Westchester Private Schools

Is 2010-2011 the Most Competitive Year Yet for NYC Private School Kindergarten Admissions?

Many preschool directors are telling their NYC private school kindergarten applicant families that this is indeed the most competitive year yet.  Truth, or an effort to cover themselves if their Manhattan or Brooklyn preschools' private school admissions placement is less than stellar? We know that private school kindergarten interviews have not even wrapped up yet, … Continue reading Is 2010-2011 the Most Competitive Year Yet for NYC Private School Kindergarten Admissions?

abacusmom Admissions, Ivy League, Ivy League Colleges, Parenting

Parents Don’t Trust Schools

After blogging about it for weeks, I went to see Race to Nowhere last night at my local elementary school. A lot has been said about this movie, but what struck me is the mistrust parents now feel toward schools.  The film explains how schools are making kids sick with stress-related illness.  The message: parents have to … Continue reading Parents Don’t Trust Schools