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

March: A Quiet Month for NYC Private School Admissions?

All is relatively quiet on the NYC private school admissions front. Incoming 9th graders and high school students are finalizing their decisions; all of my clients this year are struggling to choose between multiple exciting options. The new crop of kindergarten aspirants are starting to emerge.  Families are booking for my School Selection and Private … Continue reading March: A Quiet Month for NYC Private School Admissions?

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, Kindergarten, Learn to Read, Manhattan Private Schools, NYC Private Schools, NYC Public Schools, Parenting, Private Schools, Public Schools, Reading, Riverdale Private Schools, School advisor, Westchester Private Schools, Westchester Public Schools

Again, Not Enough Room in Some NYC Public School Zoned Kindergartens

Do you pay your city taxes? Do you think your children are entitled to decent schooling in your own neighborhood? Well, forget it. If you live in Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Queens, for another year, overcrowding is leading to waitlists at some renowned local public kindergartens.  The New York Times's Fernanda Santos tells the story:  In Packed … Continue reading Again, Not Enough Room in Some NYC Public School Zoned Kindergartens

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

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

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, 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, Brooklyn Private Schools, Educational Consulting, Educational Toys, ERB Prep, ERBs, Hill Schools, Kindergarten, Manhattan Private Schools, NYC Private Schools, Parenting, Private Schools, Reading, Riverdale Private Schools, School advisor, Westchester Private Schools

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?