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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?

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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)

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York Avenue Preschool Fights Back

A client alerted me to York Avenue Preschool's revised website, which has testimonials from real-life parents about the school's many benefits.  Disappointingly, nobody reveals the real juice: Harvard admissions stats. York Ave. Preschool Website

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ERB / WPPSI Kindergarten Test Prep: Best Toys for ERB Block Design

Here are some toys and workbooks that will help your preschool-aged child do better on the ERB (WPPSI, ECAA) block design subtest and NYC private school kindergarten interviews. These may be especially helpful for doll-players and other children who don't take naturally to manipulatives like blocks and Legos.  And if your children already play with … Continue reading ERB / WPPSI Kindergarten Test Prep: Best Toys for ERB Block Design

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York Avenue Preschool Lawsuit Story Shocks, Amuses Foreigners

Barely a day after the New York Post broke the news of the mom suing York Avenue Preschool for not properly preparing her daughter for the ERB for kindergarten, and hence, Harvard, delighted Europeans have pounced on the story. From Will Pavia's amusing Mother Sues Nursery in the London Times: Observers from outside Manhattan, with its frantic … Continue reading York Avenue Preschool Lawsuit Story Shocks, Amuses Foreigners

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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?

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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?

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Best Educational Strategy Games for Preschool and Kindergarten-Aged Kids

Parents often ask me for educational strategy games appropriate for preschoolers and kindergarteners.  Here are some of my clients' children's favorites.  I hope your child, or your friend's child, enjoys them. Orchard Gobblet No Stress Chess Blokus Apples to Apples Junior and for a great educational word game (a simple Scrabble), kids love Bananagrams  

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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

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NYC High Schools: Selecting the Right Schools for You, Public and Private

The NYC Department of Ed announced this today for the NYC public school high schools: Students and their families are invited to attend the New High Schools Fair this weekend. At the fair, students will be able to meet with representatives from the new small high schools scheduled to open in September 2011.  The fair will be … Continue reading NYC High Schools: Selecting the Right Schools for You, Public and Private