Karen and Michael Answer Questions of the Week
(Audio Teleseminar Jan. 6, 2011) – Top 1% and Top 5%
Listen to the teleseminar above as Karen Quinn and Michael McCurdy answer parent questions about gifted testing, private school admissions, NYC gifted programs, and helping young children prepare for cognitive assessments.
In this 53-minute teleseminar, Karen and Michael discuss some of the most common questions parents have about assessments such as the ERB, WPPSI, OLSAT, Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales, and the Bracken School Readiness Assessment.
Parents will hear practical guidance on what happens during testing, how results are used during admissions, and how schools and testers may evaluate children beyond simple scores. Karen and Michael also explain important differences between cognitive ability tests and achievement-based assessments so parents can better understand the admissions process.
The teleseminar also covers questions related to Hunter College Elementary School admissions, including how students are selected for Round 2 consideration, whether gender plays a role in admissions, and what parents should know about teacher and parent observation forms. Families applying to NYC gifted programs will also hear advice about school ranking choices, lotteries, appeals, and the admissions process for programs such as NEST+M.
Additional topics include helping children with sensory, language, handwriting, or fine motor challenges during testing, understanding how OLSAT questions are organized, and strategies for supporting children who struggle with geometric or spatial reasoning tasks.
Questions answered during this teleseminar include:
• What is the difference between the ERB and the WPPSI, and are they measuring the same skills?
• Do testers skip questions when they see a child already understands the material?
• Are there handwriting requirements for assessments like the OLSAT, Bracken, or Stanford-Binet?
• When do families receive gifted testing scores, and when should parents begin applying to schools?
• How does Hunter Elementary select students for Round 2, and are admissions based only on test scores?
• What qualities should parents and teachers emphasize on observation forms for gifted school admissions?
• How do school rankings, lotteries, and admissions appeals work for NYC gifted programs like NEST+M?
• What should parents know about private schools such as the Blue School and Packer Collegiate Institute?
• Should parents inform testers if a child has an IEP, sensory issues, or fine motor challenges?
• Are OLSAT questions grouped by category or mixed together throughout the test?
• Will testers provide parents with feedback immediately after the exam?
• How can parents help young children who struggle with geometric shapes, spatial reasoning, or following directions?
This teleseminar offers valuable insights and practical advice for parents navigating gifted education, cognitive testing, and private school admissions.
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