abacusmom Admissions, Brooklyn Private Schools, Educational Consulting, ERB Prep, ERBs, ISEE Prep, Kindergarten, Manhattan Private Schools, NYC Private Schools, Private Schools, Reading, Riverdale Private Schools, School advisor, SSAT Prep, Westchester Private Schools

How Do You Choose an Excellent ISEE or SSAT Tutor?

I've been helping students get into top Manhattan, Brooklyn, Riverdale, and Westchester private high schools and middle schools for over twelve years.  Before that, for five years I worked at a well-known national test prep tutoring company. Through these experiences, I've had the opportunity to meet many tutors.  Some were academics who knew subject matter … Continue reading How Do You Choose an Excellent ISEE or SSAT Tutor?

abacusmom Admissions, Brooklyn Private Schools, Educational Consulting, ERB Prep, ERBs, Hill Schools, ISEE Prep, Kindergarten, Manhattan Private Schools, NYC ISEE, NYC Private Schools, NYC Public Schools, Parenting, Private Schools, Public Schools, Reading, Riverdale Private Schools, School advisor, Westchester Private Schools, Westchester Public Schools

Manhattan Overflowing with Gifted Preschoolers, Naturally

Barbara Martinez of The Wall Street Journal today addresses the growth in the number of children testing as gifted:  Parents Fret as Kids Seek 'Gifted' Status  Martinez writes that the number of incoming kindergarteners taking the OLSAT and Bracken to get into NYC G & T programs increased by 13%, as did the number of children … Continue reading Manhattan Overflowing with Gifted Preschoolers, Naturally

abacusmom Admissions, Brooklyn Private Schools, Educational Consulting, ERB Prep, ERBs, Hill Schools, ISEE Prep, Manhattan Private Schools, NYC ISEE, NYC Private Schools, Private Schools, Riverdale Private Schools, School advisor, SSAT Prep, Westchester Private Schools

How Do You Get Into Top NYC Private High Schools and Middle Schools?

What exactly do top private high schools and middle schools want from applicants? In short, private high schools and middle schools want students who have it all: • Top ERB (ISEE) or SSAT scores• Excellent grades• Strong extracurriculars• Impressive student interviews• Well written and interesting essays As you might expect, private schools look for the … Continue reading How Do You Get Into Top NYC Private High Schools and Middle Schools?

abacusmom Admissions, Brooklyn Private Schools, Educational Consulting, ERB Prep, ERBs, Hill Schools, ISEE Prep, Ivy League, Ivy League Colleges, Manhattan Private Schools, NYC ISEE, NYC Private Schools, Parenting, Private Schools, Riverdale Private Schools, SSAT Prep, Westchester Private Schools

ERB (ISEE): When Should I Take the ERB (ISEE) to Get Into a NYC Private High School or Middle School?

Generally, it's best to take the ERB (ISEE) in December.  The ISEE is an academic-based test, the more you have learned, the better you do.  You're graded against a same-grade based peer group. From the ERB, the people who administer the ISEE: It is important to note that the ISEE may not be taken for … Continue reading ERB (ISEE): When Should I Take the ERB (ISEE) to Get Into a NYC Private High School or Middle School?

abacusmom Admissions, Brooklyn Private Schools, ERB Prep, ERBs, Hill Schools, ISEE Prep, NYC ISEE, NYC Private Schools, NYC Public Schools, Parenting, Reading, Riverdale Private Schools, School advisor, Westchester Private Schools

More on ERB (ISEE) Scoring Mistake

Thank you to Abacus Mom reader Al Binetti, who wrote in today with an interesting ISEE question: Glad to see that your students got in. Funny, if the test is so unimportant why do they give it, and why do they give ERB President Dr. David Clune close to $400,000 per year in total compensation … Continue reading More on ERB (ISEE) Scoring Mistake

abacusmom Admissions, Books, Brooklyn Private Schools, Educational Consulting, ERB Prep, ERBs, Hill Schools, ISEE Prep, Manhattan Private Schools, NYC ISEE, NYC Private Schools, Parenting, Private Schools, Riverdale Private Schools, School advisor, SSAT Prep, Westchester Private Schools

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

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More Top Educational / ERB Prep Toys for Preschoolers Applying to Kindergarten

Parents keep asking me for my top picks for educational toys for preschoolers. Parents seek educational toys that can help with NYC private school kindergarten interviews, ERB and WPPSI prep, and oh yes, learning.  If you already own the ubiquitous Brain Quest and MightyMind and are now looking for exciting new educational toys, here are some less well-known games … Continue reading More Top Educational / ERB Prep Toys for Preschoolers Applying to Kindergarten

abacusmom Admissions, Books, Brooklyn Private Schools, Educational Consulting, Educational Toys, ERB Prep, ERBs, Hill Schools, Kindergarten, Manhattan Private Schools, NYC Private Schools, NYC Public Schools, Private Schools, Reading, Riverdale Private Schools, School advisor, Westchester Private Schools

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?

abacusmom Admissions, Asperger's NYC, Auditory Processing NYC, Books, Brooklyn Private Schools, Children's Books, Educational Consulting, ERB Prep, ERBs, Hill Schools, Kindergarten, Manhattan Private Schools, NYC Private Schools, NYC Public Schools, Occupational Therapy NYC, Parenting, Physical Therapy NYC, Private Schools, Public Schools, Reading, Riverdale Private Schools, School advisor, Special Needs Manhattan, Special Needs NYC, Speech Therapy NYC, Westchester Private Schools, Westchester Public Schools

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)