abacusmom Admissions, ERB Prep, NYC Private Schools, Private Schools

AABL for NYC Private School Kindergarten Admission: How Did Kids Score?

AABL test scores, required for 2015 admission to NYC private school kindergarten at Horace Mann, Riverdale, Collegiate and Avenues, are coming in. NYC preschool directors and families are reporting AABL scores all over the map, with some surprised at children's doing poorly in specific AABL sections that they were thought to know well. Children receive … Continue reading AABL for NYC Private School Kindergarten Admission: How Did Kids Score?

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

New NYC Private School Kindergarten ERB Test Announced for 2014-2015

Big news that the old NYC private school ERB--the WPPSI--is being replaced with a new ERB--the AABL (Admission Assessment for Beginning Learners) at Horace Mann and Riverdale.  As the summer approaches, we will see which other private schools will follow. From Horace Mann's site: Horace Mann School requires the Educational Records Bureau (ERB) Admission Assessment for … Continue reading New NYC Private School Kindergarten ERB Test Announced for 2014-2015

abacusmom ERB Prep, NYC Private Schools

Why ERB Prep Will Not Get Your Preschooler Banished from Exclusive Private School Kindergartens

There is an urban myth, kept alive by some in the NYC private schools community, that if you prep your preschooler for the ERB (WPPSI), she will be sussed out by her omniscient ERB tester.  The ERB tester will then write up her score report, using damning language written in a private code, and little … Continue reading Why ERB Prep Will Not Get Your Preschooler Banished from Exclusive Private School Kindergartens

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, Books, Brooklyn Private Schools, Children's Books, Educational Consulting, ERB Prep, ERBs, Kindergarten, Manhattan Private Schools, NYC Private Schools, Parenting, Private Schools, Reading, Riverdale Private Schools, School advisor, Westchester Private Schools

ERB / WPPSI III Practice Tests? Bright Kids or Aristotle Circle ERB Workbook?

People often ask me where you can find ERB / WPPSI III practice tests. Two companies sell them, Aristotle Circle and Bright Kids.  The next natural question: Which ERB workbook to get? Aristotle Circle's costs $200 more, but is a little longer and more brightly colored.  Families I have worked with have used both Bright … Continue reading ERB / WPPSI III Practice Tests? Bright Kids or Aristotle Circle ERB Workbook?

abacusmom Admissions, Brooklyn Private Schools, Children's Classes, Educational Consulting, ERB Prep, ERBs, ISEE Prep, Manhattan Private Schools, NYC Private Schools, Private Schools, Riverdale Private Schools

Private School Edge New Option for ERB Prep

Colin Raybin, President of Private School Edge, a well-respected Manhattan tutoring firm, sent Abacus Mom the following info about her firm’s approach to the ERB kindergarten test.  Private School Edge, a tutoring company geared to the needs of private school students in New York City, has launched a new manual for the ERB Kindergarten Test. … Continue reading Private School Edge New Option for ERB Prep

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

Kindergarten ERB Test Preparation: ERB Test Prep Flood Continues: Workbooks, Books, Toys Galore

Some years ago almost nobody prepped for the ERB (WPPSI), the private school kindergarten admissions test. Then some savvy moms started picking up a few educational workbooks and toys like Mighty Mind , Block Buddies and  BrainQuest. It was still pretty touch and go. Not anymore. Everything changed in 2009.  Two companies--Bright Kids and Aristotle Circle published ERB prep workbooks, essentially giving parents access … Continue reading Kindergarten ERB Test Preparation: ERB Test Prep Flood Continues: Workbooks, Books, Toys Galore

abacusmom Admissions, Books, Brooklyn Private Schools, Educational Consulting, Educational Toys, ERB Prep, ERBs, Hill Schools, Kindergarten, Manhattan Private Schools, NYC Private Schools, Parenting, Private Schools, Riverdale Private Schools, Westchester Private Schools

ERB: More on ERB Prep: Should You Do It and How?

People keep calling and asking me how they should prep their children for the kindergarten ERB test. There are different ways to skin this cat. All we know right now is that the private schools are upset about all the WPPSI prepping, and while supposedly they will discriminate against a child who has prepared, at … Continue reading ERB: More on ERB Prep: Should You Do It and How?

abacusmom Admissions, Educational Consulting, Educational Toys, ERB Prep, ERBs, Hill Schools, Manhattan Private Schools, NYC Private Schools, Private Schools, Westchester Private Schools

New York Magazine Cover Story: The Myth of the Gifted Child

Thanks to Jennifer Senior of New York Magazine, for a penetrating, insightful, original look at testing and test prep for the preschool set.  The article's key points: the ERB, Stanford-Binet, and OLSAT don't do a good job predicting intelligence, and the children of wealthy, educated, savvy parents benefit most from all the preparation options now available. … Continue reading New York Magazine Cover Story: The Myth of the Gifted Child

abacusmom Admissions, Educational Consulting, Educational Toys, ERB Prep, ERBs, Hill Schools, Kindergarten, Manhattan Private Schools, NYC Private Schools, Westchester Private Schools

Confidential Source Indicates Private School Directors of Admissions “Pissed”

Unsurprisingly, a confidential source in-the-know tells me that private school directors of admissions are indeed "pissed" by the two New York Times articles this fall disclosing all the ERB prepping going on for kindergarten.  Chances are, private schools will place less emphasis than usual on ERB scores and more on child interview performance. I have … Continue reading Confidential Source Indicates Private School Directors of Admissions “Pissed”