Abacus Mom received this note today from our friend Irene Daria, who has helped some of our clients improve their reading skills. For 15 years, Steps Tutoring has been offering private academic enrichment lessons in reading, math, grammar, writing, and test prep to children in the best public and private schools in New York City. … Continue reading New Learn to Read Book Series from Steps
Kindergarten ERB / WPPSI IV Test Prep Kit Nonverbal Section: Best ERB Toys and Books
Parents tend to worry about the non-verbal section of the ERB / WPPSI test used in NYC private school kindergarten admission. "No question Joe is verbal. But non-verbal? What is that ERB section anyway?" The ERB / WPPSI IV non-verbal section tests children's short term memory, processing speed and accuracy, and reasoning skills. In April … Continue reading Kindergarten ERB / WPPSI IV Test Prep Kit Nonverbal Section: Best ERB Toys and Books
Free, Expert Information on NYC Private School Admission
We have just emailed out the April edition of our exclusive monthly newsletter, News about Schooling, Enrichment, and Parenting. It's not too late to get your free copy. Simply email info(at)abacusguide.com or click on newsletter sign up form. We'll send your copy right out. You'll learn about NYC (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Riverdale, Westchester) private school admission for kindergarten, … Continue reading Free, Expert Information on NYC Private School Admission
ISEE for NYC Middle School and High School: It’s a Little Late Now: ISEE Misgraded
Sarah Maslin Nir of The New York Times reports that 7,000 students received incorrect grades from the Educational Records Bureau (ERB) on their Lower Level or Upper Level ISEE exam. 7,000 Private School Applicants Got Incorrect Scores, Company Says Funny that caught in this embarrassing situation, the ERB played down the importance of the ISEE: Parents of the … Continue reading ISEE for NYC Middle School and High School: It’s a Little Late Now: ISEE Misgraded
Kindergarten ERB Test Prep: Is ERB Prepping Cheating? Can You Get Caught?
Would you believe that just a few years ago, most New York kids applying to private school kindergarten took the ERB test (WPPSI) cold? More concerned moms bought a few toys like Mighty Mind, Block Buddies and BrainQuest. Then in 2009, two companies--Bright Kids and Aristotle Circle published ERB prep workbooks, essentially giving parents access to the test questions: Aristotle Circle ERB/WPPSI … Continue reading Kindergarten ERB Test Prep: Is ERB Prepping Cheating? Can You Get Caught?
Help for Hyperlexia (Thoughts on Gilman’s The Anti-Romantic Child)
If you have, or work with, hyperlexic or other special needs children, you will be interested in Priscilla Gilman's new memoir, The Anti-Romantic Child. The book is about Gilman's experience shepherding her young hyperlexic son, Benj, through babyhood, preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school. Gilman covers in great detail Benj's developmental delays, social skills deficits, experiences with pediatricians, … Continue reading Help for Hyperlexia (Thoughts on Gilman’s The Anti-Romantic Child)
NYC Kindergarten Private School Interview: Does My Child Need Playgroup Assessment or Coaching?
A client asked me today if her four-year-old needs kindergarten interview/playgroup assessment and coaching, a service offered by a test prep company. No!!! Speaking as an educational consultant who makes her living helping families succeed in and manage the stressful private school admissions process, I try to make my clients' lives easier, not harder. Kindergarten … Continue reading NYC Kindergarten Private School Interview: Does My Child Need Playgroup Assessment or Coaching?
Big ERB WPPSI News: WPPSI-III Becoming WPPSI-IV?
When New Yorkers talk about the ERB for entry into preK, kindergarten, and 1st grade, they are referring to an exam that consists of subtests from a longer exam, the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI). This delightful so-called IQ test developed by David Wechsler in 1967 has gone through several iterations including … Continue reading Big ERB WPPSI News: WPPSI-III Becoming WPPSI-IV?
ERB / WISC Workbook Now Available for 2nd – 4th Grade NYC Private School Admissions
Bright Kids has released the first workbook specifically targeting the WISC, the test required for 2nd-4th grade admission in NYC private school. ERB/WISC-IV Preparation Guide Bright Kids says: The objective of The Bright Kids ERB/WISC-IV Preparation Guide is to provide practice material to help children succeed on this test. This is for children entering 2nd … Continue reading ERB / WISC Workbook Now Available for 2nd – 4th Grade NYC Private School Admissions
Do NYC Private Schools Teach Reading in Kindergarten or First Grade?
Times writer Sarah Maslin Nir addresses a key issue on many prospective private school parents' minds today, when NYC private schools teach reading: Reading at Some Private Schools Is Delayed. At some, often more progressive private schools, teaching reading has historically been on a more relaxed timetable, sometimes not until first grade. In the last few … Continue reading Do NYC Private Schools Teach Reading in Kindergarten or First Grade?