Abacus Mom

Why NYC Preschool Directors Ask Parents For Their "Bucket List"

Do preschool directors want to know what parents hope to accomplish before they die?

Get their children into Dalton?

Sort of. 

Right now many preschool directors are asking parents how they rank the private schools to which their children are applying to kindergarten, and to put those schools into metaphorical "buckets". 

ie

Bucket 1.  Dalton, Brearley

Bucket 2.  Chapin, Manhattan Country School, Caedmon

Bucket 3.  Spence

Bucketing is no easy decision, because it's the precursor to brokering.  Unsurprisingly, because this is kindergarten admission in Manhattan (or Brooklyn, or Riverdale), intricate strategy is involved.

The Top 5 New York City Private Schools Blogs

These blogs will keep you up to speed with latest NYC private schools news.  In alphabetical order.

1.  Abacus Mom

News and views about NYC private schools and parenting, from a long-time admissions consultant and school advisor.

2.  Gotham Schools

A running conversation about what works and doesn't in schools.  Gotham Schools is an independent project of OpenPlans, a Manhattan-based nonprofit dedicated to empowering civil society through technology.

3.  New York City Private Schools Blog

A public guide to NYC private schools, with contributions from numerous professionals in the field.

4.  Schoolbook

News, data and conversation about schools, from the folks at the New York Times.

5.  Urban Baby Schools Board

Not a blog, but still indispensable information and gossip about Manhattan, Brooklyn, Riverdale and Westchester private schools.  Read with a hefty grain of salt.

Have we missed your blog?  Email us at best NYC schools blogs.

Public School Drop Outs? Top Zoned New Yorkers Considering Other Options

A lot of public school parents have been calling me lately because they're considering applying to private high school or middle school, or switching to private.  Surprisingly often these parents are from places like Bronxville, Scarsdale, and PS 6.  This is what's typically on their minds: 

1. Too many budget cuts.  They're talking about firing the teachers' aids, or combining the elementary school with the high school in the next town, shutting down the chess program or eliminating third grade... it's too much. 
2. Too many students in the class.  How can my child learn if there are 30 other kids in the class, half of whom are delinquents, and of course my child is gifted?  Naturally, the teacher can't teach to my child's level, and with all the professional development days, she's absent half the time anyway.
3. Too much state testing.  My child is 9.  She has spent so much time mastering filling in a bubble with a #2 pencil, that she cannot yet ride a bike.
4. Too much prep for state testing.  Analogies, reading comp, vocab--4th grade is the new 11th grade.
5. Not enough high level courses and enrichment.  I want my child to be able to take Mandarin Chinese or fencing and the budget cuts make this impossible.

I am being flip here but the truth is it is a serious loss for New York State and New Yorkers that the public school educational experience is being damaged by an overreliance on testing and data collection and that even the best public schools are seeing their programs cut back due to the negative economic situation.  

Parent Thanks Toby Glick for Helping Special Needs Child Find the Perfect School

My colleague Toby Glick helps students who are underperforming (because or not because of a special need) do better in school.  Toby just received this email today from a recent client (with identifying details removed):

Dear Toby,

Last Spring you met my son and recommended <prestigious special needs school>. I wanted to tell you that my son was accepted at the school and we moved in July so that we could be closer to the school. The second week of 6th grade at his new school, <son> told his psychologist that out of a scale of 1-10, he rated his new school "between 10 and 11." This past fall, he was awarded "Student of the Month" and was showcased in the school's newsletter. He just got on Honor Roll for the first time.

I can't thank you enough for recommending <school> for my son. If it wasn't for you, I never would have heard of it. Thank you a million times, Toby!

Sincerely, <mom's name>

To help your underperforming child find the right school and special support, call Toby now at 646-300-1881 or contact her at toby(at)parentconfidante.com  Toby's 2012 schedule is filling now.

Mohawk Country Day School New Option for Manhattan PreK, Kindergarten, and 1st Graders

Barbara Schainman from the well-known, well-respected Camp Mohawk sent Abacus Mom the following info:
  
Calling Manhattan Kindergarteners & Preschoolers: Mohawk Country Day School Has Space for You This September
Newly Renovated Classroom Space Designed for the 2012-2013 Year is Ready Now!
Offering Two-Way Transportation and Relief to Waitlist Woes

Due to many inquiries and early construction completion, Mohawk Country Day School is opening its doors to Manhattanites for the upcoming 2011-2012 year.  In response to the city's overcrowding issue, the private school located 30 minutes from Upper Manhattan in Westchester County is offering kindergarten, first grade and 4 year-old students newly renovated classroom space; to which the school will provide two-way transportation service.  The tuition is approximately half that of Manhattan private schools, and offers equally competitive programming.

The Schainmans have been serving camp families from the city for years. To bestow the same luxury for school children, at a time when the demand for quality education far exceeds the supply, seems only logical.The 80 year old school comes equipped with an experienced permanent staff and is chartered by the New York State Department of Education.

Mohawk Country Day School is considered one of the best in its class, with a significant international population, and a unique indoor/outdoor learning environment.  Located on a 40-acre facility in White Plains- complete with an operating farm, play village, bicycle center, nature trails and more, for NYC parents and kids, the opportune answer to education woes, may be just a bus ride away.  $16,210 for Kindergarten and 1st grade, $13,140 for 4 year olds, optional hot lunch and transportation to and from Manhattan, public school birthday requirement for kindergarten children turning 5 by December 2007.  Serves children from 2 years, 9 months through first grade.

www.mohawkcountrydayschool.com  Call (914) 949-2635 for more info!

Just How Messed Up the New York City Public Schools Kindergarten Situation Is

Today a mom emailed me for information about my NYC private schools admissions consulting programs.  This is what the mom wrote:

How Can We Help You:    Need to find out if we can get into a good private school as a back up if daughter can't get in a good public NYC school

That is how messed up NYC public school kindergarten admission is.

Asians and New York City Private Schools

As someone who works with Asians and non-Asians helping them cultivate the social skills and messaging necessary to succeed in NYC private school admissions, I was fascinated by Wesley Yang's exceptional article, Paper Tigers / Asian Like Me.  New York Magazine describes the essay:

Amy Chua’s triumphalist screed about intense Asian-style parenting triggered hysteria among other parents scared that their children were falling behind. But the Tiger Child generation has the opposite fear: that their upbringing has bled them of the assertiveness and social skills necessary to succeed as American adults.

In the article, Yang describes what he believes are the social skills usually necessary to succeed in the American workplace and in romantic life.  As a student of social skills as well as a coach who teaches them within the private school admissions context, I am fascinated by the parallels between my work and Yang's findings. 

Yang's essay references Hunter College High School and Stuyvesant, two elite selective NYC public schools that are majority Asian.  As a Hunter graduate and a frequent visitor to Stuy, I believe Yang accurately captures the white/Asian dynamic.  After reading Yang's essay, you may find yourself reexamining how you perceive other people and how other people perceive you.

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. 

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

ThinkFun Bilingual Zingo! Spanish

Apples to Apples Junior - The Game of Crazy Comparisons!

ThinkFun Rush Hour

Monopoly Junior Edition

Qwirkle Board Game

Least Expensive NYC Private Schools?

Thanks are due to a Good Samaritan on UrbanBaby, who posted what looks to be solid information about less expensive NYC private and parochial schools.  A list of New York City area independent schools with tuition equal to or less than 25K/year

Urbanbaby is a fascinating place.  Some of the anonymous NYC schools chat is gossip and fiction, but some of it is useful, exclusive and true.