Abacus Mom

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 the new first grade."

Kelmon has also written a worthwhile new story about When Should Kids Repeat a Grade.

Is Junior Kumon the Fast Track to Private School Kindergarten?

Some parents think so.  According to Kate Zernike's article, Fast-Tracking to Kindergarten?

Ms. Goldman, who works at an agency representing artists, took her son, Huxton, to Kumon last September, shortly after he turned 5, in an effort to make sure, she said, “that he wouldn’t be behind the curve” when he started kindergarten the next year.

If she was hesitant, her children’s preschool was “disgusted,” she said. But she saw immediate results — Huxton began reading, adding and subtracting — and Eze, newly 3, started soon after.

What do I think?  I discuss my position on Kumon with my NYC private school admissions clients.

Oddly enough, you can find the Kumon article in the New York Times' "Fashion and Style" section. 

Kindergarten ERB / WPPSI Test Prep Kit Performance Section: Best ERB Toys and Books

Parents tend to worry about the performance section of the ERB / WPPSI test used in NYC private school kindergarten admission.

"No question Joe is verbal.  But can he perform? What is the ERB performance section anyway?"

The ERB / WPPSI performance section tests children's eye hand coordination, processing speed and accuracy, and non-verbal reasoning skills.

Nowadays you can buy ERB test prep books specifically designed to crack the ERB performance section:

Aristotle Circle ERB Test Prep Workbook

Bright Kids ERB Test Prep Workbook

However, some families prefer to go around the problem: that is, prep their preschoolers in the skills and capabilities the ERB / WPPSI performance section tests rather than specifically working on the test questions themselves. 

If you fall into this camp, here are some useful ERB prep performance section books and toys.

ERB PERFORMANCE TEST PREP KIT

Coding

The Write Start: A Guide to Nurturing Writing at Every Stage, from Scribbling to Forming Letters and Writing Stories 

I Can Draw Animals (Kid Kits)

Melissa & Doug Jumbo Triangular Colored Pencils 24 pack 

Melissa & Doug Triangular Crayons - 24 pack 

Matrix Reasoning

Building Thinking Skills Primary

Early Visual Skills

Colorama Game

Picture Concepts

Same or Different Workbook

Block Design

Block Buddies

Tangoes Jr.

Picture Perfect

Magna Tiles

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 Districts, Lists for a School Spot Grow

This is a very serious problem for NYC.  How can you set down roots in a neighborhood where you don't know that your children can go to school?  New York City private schools and suburban publics will become more popular than ever with people who can afford them.

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 interview/playgroup assessment and coaching is an unnecessary program.  I would never offer or recommend it.

At NYC private school interviews, children often write and recognize their names, draw pictures, cut, paste, do simple addition and subtraction, listen to stories and directions, talk to teachers and peers, do puzzles, build--all tasks that children do everyday in nursery school.  Children do not need playgroup tutoring.   

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

 

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 through 4th Grade in New York City, but appropriate for children 6-16 years.The Guide includes: · Detailed overview of the WISC-IV and what it measures · Description of all 15 WISC-IV subtests · Insight into how the ERB administers, scores the test · 300 pages, 375+ exercises to practice for the 10 subtests that are administered by the ERB: Vocabulary, Similarities, Comprehension, Information, Arithmetic, Block Design, Matrix Reasoning, Picture Concepts, Coding, and Picture Completion · Strategies and recommended activities . 18 bi-color blocks ·

Do NYC Private Schools Teach Reading in Kindergarten or First Grade?

Times writer Sarah Maslin Nir addresses a key issue on many prospective private school parents' minds today, when NYC private schools teach reading:  Reading at Some Private Schools Is Delayed.

At some, often more progressive private schools, teaching reading has historically been on a more relaxed timetable, sometimes not until first grade.  In the last few years, I have found that more and more parents are focused on early reading and math.  My clients are often more interested in spending tuition dollars on schools where they feel their children will learn hard skills early.  For that reason, I was very interested in one headmaster's comment:

Stephen M. Clement III, who heads the all-boys Browning School on the East Side, said that “many of the early childhood programs are getting much more academic,” and as a result, “our curriculum has probably increased in its pace as well.”

Basically, more and more schools are meeting market demand.

 

Private School Kindergarten Interviews: Books and Crayons to Help Your Preschooler Develop His Fine Motor Skills (Handwriting)

At the student interview, private schools typically ask preschoolers applying to kindergarten and prekindergarten to draw pictures and write their names.  Many parents, seeking to ensure that their children's fine motor skills make the cut, seek out books and tools that help develop handwriting and drawing skills.  Here are some that we recommend to our clients and friends:

The Write Start: A Guide to Nurturing Writing at Every Stage, from Scribbling to Forming Letters and Writing Stories  Ideas from a pediatric occupational therapist.

I Can Draw Animals (Kid Kits) Simple animal drawings that even the youngest child will enjoy copying.

I Can Draw People Who doesn't like drawing ice skaters, ballerinas, and football players?

Melissa & Doug Jumbo Triangular Colored Pencils 24 pack  Triangular pencils and crayons help little hands develop a proper grip.

Melissa & Doug Triangular Crayons - 24 pack  Melissa & Doug certainly have a good business going.

Melissa & Doug Jumbo Triangular Crayons  Like I said.

Kumon ABCs Uppercase Write & Wipe Flash Cards  Kumon takes it beyond workbooks.

 

Help with Private School Interviews: Why Private School Interview Prep Matters

Here at Abacus Guide Educational Consulting, we help families in NYC and around the world prepare for private school interviews.  Whether it's a nervous parent or an inexperienced incoming middle or high schooler, we'll help you know what's asked and help you perform your very best at private school interviews.  You won't make costly mistakes and you'll be ready to shine.

One New England client sent us this email this week:

So, our interview went very well, I thought.  My husband, having realized how unprepared he was during our phone call with you, was finally willing to "study" with me last weekend, which helped him immensely--excellent wake-up call! We used many of your phrasings, too, that sounded elegant and polished. Though we have some significant disadvantages in applying to this highly selective school, our best advantage has been our preparation for this interview. Thank you for being instrumental! Fingers crossed!!

If you need private school interview or essay assistance, secure your spot now.  We prep families in person, and by phone and Skype.  Call 212-712-2228 or email eglickman(at)abacusguide.com today.