abacusmom Admissions, Brooklyn Private Schools, ERB Prep, ERBs, Manhattan Private Schools, NYC Private Schools, Private Schools, Riverdale Private Schools, Westchester Private Schools

NYC Private School Kindergarten: Should You Prep Your Child for the ERB?

Officially, the word is No.  Do not prep your child for the ERB. Urban legend even holds that if you do prep your child for the ERB, he or she will be found out and shut out of NYC private school kindergarten. However, this is what I have seen in my almost 14 years of … Continue reading NYC Private School Kindergarten: Should You Prep Your Child for the ERB?

abacusmom Admissions, ERB Prep, ERBs, Ivy League Colleges

Is It Worth Paying a NYC Tester to Discuss Your Preschooler’s IQ Test Results?

Manhattan testers often offer a fee-based service: interpreting your child's IQ test results.  Many concerned parents, often first-time parents,  eagerly sign up.  For example, if a child's IQ test scores are uneven, a nervous mom may want to understand how this could have happened. Parents worry if their children have deficits.  IQ tests like the … Continue reading Is It Worth Paying a NYC Tester to Discuss Your Preschooler’s IQ Test Results?

abacusmom Admissions, Brooklyn Private Schools, ERB Prep, ERBs, Kindergarten, Manhattan Private Schools, NYC Private Schools, Private Schools, Riverdale Private Schools, Westchester Private Schools

When Should My Child Take the ERB to Get Into NYC Private School Kindergarten?

How old should my child be when she takes the ERB to get into private school kindergarten? The ERB, also known as the ECAA or WPPSI, is the test required by Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Riverdale private schools for admission into kindergarten, 1st grade, and in many cases, pre-kindergarten. To apply to kindergarten, children have to … Continue reading When Should My Child Take the ERB to Get Into NYC Private School Kindergarten?

abacusmom Admissions, Children's Books, Educational Toys, ERB Prep, ERBs

ERB WPPSI III Practice Test Now Available

Attention parents who want to get some sense of how their preschoolers will score on the ERB:  Bright Kids has a new workbook just for you, right in time for ERB prep season. ERB WPPSI III Practice Test According to Bright Kids, The Bright Kids ERB-WPPSI-III Practice Test provides parents with a home assessment tool … Continue reading ERB WPPSI III Practice Test Now Available

abacusmom Admissions, Brooklyn Private Schools, ERB Prep, ERBs, Kindergarten, Manhattan Private Schools, NYC Private Schools, Private Schools, Riverdale Private Schools

Eagerly Awaiting 2012 NYC Kindergarten Admissions Stats

All anecdotal reports suggest that this was the hardest year in recent memory for Manhattan, Brooklyn and Riverdale private school kindergarten and pre-kindergarten admission.  Reports of shut-outs abound, even at the most prestigious Manhattan nursery schools, with many angry and disappointed parents.  (See UrbanBaby for written evidence.) With roughly 700 elite kindergarten seats available at … Continue reading Eagerly Awaiting 2012 NYC Kindergarten Admissions Stats

abacusmom Admissions, ERB Prep, ERBs, ISEE Prep

Why You May Want to Start Your Child’s ISEE Prep this Spring

Many of our educational consulting clients from public school and even many private schools complain that their children's vocabulary, writing skills and/or math skills are lacking.  For these students, early prep can help not only with ISEE or SSAT test scores, but also with school grades and essay writing. Here's what we offer at Private … Continue reading Why You May Want to Start Your Child’s ISEE Prep this Spring

abacusmom Admissions, ERB Prep, ERBs, Kindergarten, Manhattan Private Schools

My Child Has to Take the ERB! Wait, What is the ERB?

If your child is applying to prekindergarten (at many, but not all, private schools), kindergarten (at almost all schools) or 1st grade, she will be asked to take the ERB.  Other ERB names you may encounter are WPPSI or ECAA. The ERB is supposedly an IQ test, but if you ask around you will find … Continue reading My Child Has to Take the ERB! Wait, What is the ERB?

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

Which NYC Private Schools Don’t Require the ERB for Kindergarten?

Little Red? Village Community School? Ramaz? Lycee Francais? Corlears? Sorry, these Manhattan private schools changed their entrance policies.  They want the ERB for kindergarten. So which private schools don't? Saint Ann's City and Country Manhattan Country School Bank Street Calhoun Mandell and a few more which I share with my School Selection clients.  I also … Continue reading Which NYC Private Schools Don’t Require the ERB for Kindergarten?

abacusmom Admissions, Brooklyn Private Schools, Educational Consulting, ERB Prep, ERBs, Learn to Read, Manhattan Private Schools, NYC Private Schools, 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

More on When Should My Child Start Kindergarten

Thanks to Jessica Kelmon of GreatSchools for her excellent article, When should kids start kindergarten?  Kelmon writes: Yet another part of the equation with today’s high-stakes testing is that we expect more of kindergartners. Unfortunately, they’re less prepared for success. "Kindergarten is much more academic than ever," says Emily Glickman, a Manhattan-based educational consultant. "Many people feel that kindergarten is … Continue reading More on When Should My Child Start Kindergarten

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

More Favorite Educational Games for Preschool, Kindergarten, and First Grade

Families I work with love hearing about the best educational games for preschool, kindergarten, and first grade.  Here are the top games families and teachers are playing with kids now for ERB and school interview prep as well as fun: ThinkFun Zingo Apples to Apples Junior - The Game of Crazy Comparisons! ThinkFun Rush Hour … Continue reading More Favorite Educational Games for Preschool, Kindergarten, and First Grade