Get Kids to Listen without Nagging, Reminding or Yelling! TestingMom.com is excited to partner with Amy McCready, founder of Positive Parenting Solutions to offer a free live training webinar on Wednesday, June 8th from 9-10 PM Eastern Time. This will help you when you work with your child on OLSAT practice test questions! We hope […]
Google (you know, the search guys and gals!) invited TestingMom.com to Washington DC to discuss how Google has helped TestingMom.com launch at the national level in super fast speed. TestingMom.com co-founders, Karen Quinn and Michael McCurdy, spent the day meeting members of Congress and their staff members to discuss the positives aspects of the internet […]
We’ve heard from many of you regarding the school tours for the NYC gifted and talented program! Now that the OLSAT test is long-gone the school selection process is even MORE stressful! Here’s what we’ve heard from a few of our TestingMom.com members! Tell us your story. Dear Michael, thanks for talking to me last […]
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There’s a recent article in the Wall Street Journal. According to the article there was a 3% increase in students taking the OLSAT test this year get a spot in the coveted NYC gifted and talented program. The article also mentions the “test prep effects” when it comes to the overall score of 99’s children […]
The NYC Department of education delivered results for the Otis Lennon School Abilities Test and the Bracken test to anxious parents in New York City for acceptance into the gifted and talented program. The NYC DOE actually gets an A++ for sending out the results early this year! The test results for the OLSAT and […]
It looks like the NYC department of education site still indicates the OLSAT test results for the New York City gifted and talented program will be announced to parents in early May. We’re getting lots of anxious parents as they wait for the test results for the OLSAT and Bracken tests that were taken in […]
Our Top 1%, 5% and 10% members get free access to our amazing, monthly P.A.L. workshop series held in NYC. Email us at help@tesitngmom.com for registration information for this free event for our top members! It will be located at the Downtown Community Center in Manhattan. This Tuesday we will have a gang buster line up […]
Those who attended the latest workshop in our P.A.L. Series got a crash course in Gifted and Talented admissions testing. We also invited reading expert, Dr. Marion Blank to share her insights to the anxious crowd. We called in the powerhouse experts on gifted and talented admissions process, Dr. Janet Jackson Dr. Robin Arronow to […]
Are G&T kids more academically successful because of their natural gifts or because they are afforded a special environment? Any child fortunate enough to place in the NYC Gifted and Talented program (or any other G&T program in the USA) is undoubtedly expected to perform at a higher level, and the results show that many […]
Kim Hamer, L.A. Admissions Advisor, interviews Karen Quinn, the Testing Mom, about test prep for young children. Kim Hamer is the CEO and founder of www.GetIntoPrivateSchool.com. Her focus is to demystify the private elementary admissions process. Her goal is to guide parents through the process, offer tools and proven strategies that enable them to have […]
Karen recently interviewed co-author of NutureShock – New Thinking About Children – Ashley Merryman. Listen to Karen’s interview on the 30-Minute Mom radio show. Or you can read the transcribed version of the show below: Karen Quinn: Welcome to The 30 Minute Mom on WebTalkRadio.net. I’m Karen Quinn, mother of two and your host. Like you I’m […]
Karen Quinn, interviewed Dr. Bernardo Carducci, an expert in child shyness! Here is a transcript of the interview: Karen Quinn: Welcome to The 30 Minute Mom on WebTalkRadio.net. I’m Karen Quinn, mother of two and your host. Like you I’m too busy with real life to read all those advice filled parenting books. On this […]
Listen to the 30 Minute Mom radio show where Karen Quinn interviews Dr. Marion Blank, an expert in child literacy and one of TestingMom.com’s experts! Here’s the transcribed version of the radio show if you prefer to read it instead. Karen Quinn: Welcome to The 30 Minute Mom on WebTalkRadio.net. I’m Karen Quinn, mother of […]
Listen to the 30 Minute Mom radio show where Karen Quinn interviews Dr. Kim Har, an expert in educational testing. Dr. Har has a PhD in education from UCLA and she’s the Director of Early Childhood Education at Aristotle Circle, one of the premiere test prep companies in New York City. Here’s the transcribed version […]
Karen and Michael Answer Questions of the Week (Audio Teleseminar Feb. 28, 2011) – Top 1% and Top 5% https://cdn.testingmom.com/uploads/Karen-Michael-weekly-review-test-review-and-QA-jan12-2011.mp3 In this 33-minute audio teleseminar, Karen Quinn and Michael McCurdy answer a wide range of parent questions related to gifted testing, private school admissions, kindergarten readiness, speech development, motivation, and school interviews. Parents of preschool […]
Karen Quinn, the Testing Mom, was recently featured in a Chicago Tribune story pertaining to the gifted and talented testing in Chicago. The article talks about the secrecy behind this mysterious test given to pre-K children applying for the Chicago Public Schools gifted and talented program. As with NYC, many parents in Chicago hire private […]
Karen and Michael Answer Questions of the Week (Audio Teleseminar Feb. 1, 2011) – Top 1% and Top 5% https://cdn.testingmom.com/uploads/Karen-Michael-weekly-QA-feb1-2011.mp3 Listen to the teleseminar above as Karen Quinn and Michael McCurdy answer parent questions about private school admissions, gifted testing, interview anxiety, and preparing young children for academic evaluations. In this 48-minute teleseminar, Karen and […]
We are pleased to announce that ALL Top 1%, Top 5% and Top 10% active members of TestingMom.com receive free admission to The P.A.L. (Parents of Accelerated Learners) – PARENT WORKSHOP SERIES The workshop series starts on Feb. 15 and is every month through June 2011. Email us at help@testingmom.com to receive your special promo […]
Karen and Michael Answer Questions of the Week How to Review Questions with Your Child (Audio Teleseminar Jan. 12, 2011) https://cdn.testingmom.com/uploads/Karen-Michael-weekly-review-test-review-and-QA-jan12-2011.mp3 Click on the player just above to listen to the audio teleseminar hosted by Karen Quinn, the Testing Mom, and Michael McCurdy, NYC Gifted and Talented Parent Expert. Topics covered during this teleseminar […]
Back by popular demand! We’re having another free teleseminar this Thursday (Jan. 13) night at 8pm to answer more of your questions. Space is very limited so make sure you call in a few minutes early. ‘ Time: 8pm ET, this Thursday, Jan. 13 Call-in Number: email help@testingmom.com to get the phone number! During this teleseminar questions […]
Congrats to Karen on her new radio show. We’ll be posting her weekly show on TestingMom.com so come back often to listen! Here’s a summary of her show: Every parent wants to raise a great kid. Even if we don’t all agree on what it means to be a great kid, we all know one […]
The race is on! The OLSAT testing for the NYC G&T program officially launched today across the city. We’ll be getting updates from parents over the next few weeks over what happened at the testing sites. Stay tuned for more as we head into testing season! Michael ~ NYC gifted and talented parent expert.
Karen and Michael Answer Questions of the Week (Audio Teleseminar Jan. 6, 2011) – Top 1% and Top 5% https://cdn.testingmom.com/uploads/Karen-Michael-weekly-QA-jan6-2011.mp3 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, […]
We receive this question quite a bit from parents and the answer is “yes and no”. For the NYC Gifted and Talented Program OLSAT test, you do have the opportunity to review your child’s OLSAT test results, but you must schedule a time to go to the NYC Dept. of Education (located downtown at 400 […]
Our elementary school has informed us that they will be testing our son using a test called the MAP. Do you have any insight or familiarity with this test? Yes, the Measures of Academic Progress, commonly called the MAP test, is a very widely used academic assessment given in schools across the United States. Many […]
My daughter is having trouble with the verbal math questions for the OLSAT®. I keep trying to practice with her using the workbook we bought but she’s not getting it. What do I do? It’s completely normal for young children to struggle with the verbal math questions on the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test. These questions […]
Hunter College Elementary Round 2 Hunter College Elementary is a school in Manhattan for gifted and talented children. The school is publicly funded and only open to residents of Manhattan. It is not part of the public school system. The Hunter School is very competitive because it is unique in that it is a research […]
Whether the child can change his or her answer is decided by the proctor on a case by case basis. Generally, the proctor will allow the child to change answers if they do so before moving on to another question. Most proctors are very flexible and care about making sure the child gives their best […]
When answering the questions, does the child mark an answer sheet or tell the examiner verbally? If verbally, does the examiner mark the answer sheet? The answer depends on the child’s age and the specific test being administered. Many early childhood assessments — including tests such as the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence […]
Testing in Pre-K tends to be done in a one-on-one setting, but testing in kindergarten is less consistent. Your daughter may take the test one-on-one or in a group with three or four other children, depending on how big her class is. You should check with your daughters school to get information regarding the test […]
Karen and Michael Answer Questions of the Week (Audio Teleseminar Dec. 16, 2010) – Top 1% and Top 5% https://cdn.testingmom.com/uploads/Karen-Michael-weekly-QA-dec16-2010.mp3 Listen to the teleseminar above. Here are the questions answered during this 33-minute teleseminar. When does the school notify the parents when their child will take the exam? I know the dates for next year, […]
Karen and Michael Answer Questions of the Week (Audio Teleseminar Dec. 2, 2010) – Top 1% and Top 5% https://cdn.testingmom.com/uploads/Karen-Michael-weekly-QA-dec2-20101.mp3 Listen to the teleseminar above as Karen Quinn and Michael McCurdy answer parents’ questions about gifted testing, school admissions, learning differences, and how to help children succeed during the admissions process. In this 31-minute teleseminar, […]
Karen and Michael Answer Questions of the Week (Audio Teleseminar Nov. 18, 2010) – Top 1% and Top 5% https://cdn.testingmom.com/uploads/Karen-Michael-weekly-QA-nov18-20101.mp3 Listen to the teleseminar above for expert advice from Karen Quinn and Michael McCurdy. In this 41-minute teleseminar, they answer parent questions about gifted testing, private school admissions, test preparation, motivation, and helping children build […]
Our daughter currently speaks 3 languages at home (Japanese, Chinese, and English) with a heavier emphasis on Japanese and Chinese. What challenges and/or accommodations might we expect from the testing process? What is your advice to parents regarding children who speak multiple languages and testing? Raising a child who speaks multiple languages is an incredible […]
When I ask my child questions to try to prepare her for the test, she sometimes gives wrong answers on purpose just to be silly. Or she’ll roll her eyes and say, “That’s too easy, Mommy,” and then give me the wrong answer. I’m afraid she’ll do this when she’s actually tested. Any advice? This […]
If I am going to prepare my child for testing, how often can I give her sample questions? How much time should we spend on it each day? Should I stop working with her closer to the test so the material is fresher when she’s actually tested? There is no perfect formula for how often […]
The ability to focus and remain attentive for extended periods of time, like any other skill, is something that can be improved with practice. Start out by first finding out what your child’s current “threshold” is by working with him/her and simply seeing how long he/she can go before starting to get distracted or bored. […]
Do not expect too much right away. Developmentally, young children simply cannot acquire and retain large amounts of new information overnight. The best way to prepare is to start working in advance, just 10-15 minutes a day. Slow and steady wins the race.
Is preparation really necessary for these tests? If parents prepare their child for testing with the test prep game or the workbooks, how can we make sure we aren’t overdoing it and stressing our child out, or putting them at risk of being disqualified? Many parents wonder whether test preparation is truly necessary for gifted […]
Your question touches on a truly complex issue in the social realm. We regularly use terms that seem clear and simple—concepts that we are sure we understand. But if you have to pinpoint exactly what the terms mean, the concepts resist definition. Try, for example, getting five people to agree on the meaning of words […]
My son was born in the fall and would qualify for a public gifted (and regular) program next year, but not a private school. We are interested in exploring both public and private options. What advice do you have for us? Families with children who have fall birthdays often face a complicated decision when comparing […]
My son has his 5th birthday late in the year. So he qualified for public kindergarten, which has a Dec. 31 cut-off, but he didn’t qualify for private kindergarten, which has an August 31 cut-off. Currently, he’s in public kindergarten. If we apply him to a private school next year, will they make him repeat […]
Do they account for a child’s comfort level when testing? For instance, if a child is shy and has to warm up to the testing administrator before opening up? Yes, experienced testers and evaluators are usually very aware that young children can be shy, nervous, cautious, or slow to warm up in unfamiliar situations. Many […]
If you are a member of TestingMom.com, you can go to the section on the site for the test your child is taking and go through 20 – 30 minutes of practice questions as long as your child is able to focus. The questions can be printed or you can use our interactive practice questions. […]
No, most private middle schools open up at least one full classroom of spaces, sometimes more. They take many children who are leaving public school. Your child will have to test to get into the private school, so you may have to hire a tutor to prepare her, but you will have saved many years […]
Private schools are looking for children who will do well in their program. For example, if it is a tougher, academically-oriented school, then higher scores on a test will be the first hurdle toward acceptance. Private schools are looking for classes that are balanced in terms of boys, girls, diversity and temperaments. So, if a […]
They should, but if you sent the application in and they haven’t contacted you in a reasonable amount of time, call them. You can say that you are calling to confirm that they received the application. As long as you have them on the line, go ahead and set up the appointments. In some cases […]
Avoid talking to other parents who are going through the admissions process at the same time you are because you’ll hear things that will freak you out. Half the time, what they say will be wrong. They may repeat gossip they’ve heard or share information about school reputations, which are often years out of date. […]
If at all possible, identify a public school in your zone that you can absolutely send your child to if you want to. If you have a good back-up school you can rely on, you won’t be as stressed going through the admissions process for private school or gifted programs. If you can’t find a […]
This will depend on the school district you are in. In some cases, the same test is given for kindergarten entry and for 1st grade (and beyond) entry. If the test is the same, it tends to get more difficult as the grade levels go up. In other cases, the tests themselves may change to […]
In Testing For Kindergarten, I talk about the 7-abilities children need to do well at testing and in school. They are: language/listening, knowledge/comprehension, memory, math, thinking, visual-spatial, and fine-motor skills. Any good nursery school curriculum already incorporates all of these abilities into the material they teach. The teacher may not be thinking about every activity in […]
If you are going to take your child to a testing facility or a psychologist’s office to be evaluated, here are some tips to help her do well: Make sure your child is rested and feeling well on the day of the test. Reschedule if she isn’t feeling well. Don’t take your child to be […]
When you have more than one child that you are trying to get into private school, it can get tricky. There are usually a limited number of spots in a private school, and with twins, one family gets two spaces. Private schools depend on parents giving to the annual fund and by letting one family […]
There are no fees for public school, just your tax dollars. And yes, you still have to pay those even if your child is in private school. I want to point out, however, that even if you have a child in private school, if your child has learning delays, your local Board of Education still […]
I’m not a huge fan of tutoring because I think parents can do so much more at home in the course of daily life. That said, it may be helpful for some kids who are very shy and need to learn to warm up to an adult tester. If you do use a tutor, make […]
How do you manage conflicting timelines of private school acceptance and gifted program acceptance? Can I hold a spot at a private school while I wait to hear from the gifted programs? Managing the different timelines for private school admissions and public gifted program decisions can be one of the most stressful parts of the […]
Administrators try to take the “personality” aspect out of the equation as much as they can. In a city such as NY, where thousands of tests are being administered, proctors are given specific instructions that they can say the question, but they cannot repeat it. They cannot prompt a child or clarify a question, that […]
How are exams graded (i.e., WPPSI®) in terms of things like coding? For example, do vertical or horizontal lines need to be perfect in order to be counted? On tests such as the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, scoring is typically much more structured and standardized than many parents realize. Examiners follow detailed […]
I’m assuming you are in NY and if this is the case, you can’t really hold your child back a year and get her tested later in the hopes that she will do better. This is true in most public school districts across the country. You have a window of time that your child must […]
I know there are math questions on the OLSAT®, but my daughter is not interested in doing math questions when I try to do them with her. Any suggestions for making math interesting and something she’ll want to do? Many young children especially preschoolers — do not respond well to traditional “math practice.” The good […]
What advice do you have for helping a very shy child warm up to a tester or interviewer when going through the admissions process? When my daughter first meets a new adult, she rarely speaks and sometimes hides behind me. Once she gets to know someone, she can become very talkative. Many young children are […]
If you suspect your child has weak fine motor skills it may be beneficial to have him evaluated at an early age for some early intervention work. The younger the child receives the intervention the less it will interfere when the demand and need for fine motor skills is present in his life, such as […]
How do you prepare your child (a boy!) to focus on a tester’s or an interviewer’s questions? My son is very smart, but easily bored and distracted. He is also fidgety and has trouble sitting still if he isn’t engaged. Many bright young children — especially energetic, curious, or highly active ones — have difficulty […]
What is your best advice to parents who want to make sure their child is ready to start kindergarten, ready to hit the ground running? Depending on where you live and where your child will attend school, the Kindergarten teachers will have different expectations. I would advise you to read with your child each day. […]
My bright son has a July birthday, and while he’d be in the middle of the class age-wise if we sent him to public school, we’re not sure a private school would take him with his late birthday. We know he’s ready for school, and we’d like to send him to a private school. Any […]
Can factors like a good interview and recommendation from the nursery school make up for lower scores at the top schools like Dalton, Trinity, or Riverdale? At highly competitive New York City private schools such as Dalton School, Trinity School, and Riverdale Country School, admissions decisions are usually based on a combination of factors rather […]
We applied to several private schools before our daughter took the ERB. I’m so nervous that she won’t score well and we’ll be knocked out of consideration by many of the schools we applied to. How important are the scores in the overall decision? For many competitive private schools, Educational Records Bureau testing scores can […]
What advice do you have on how to pick the right private school that is a good fit for your child and your family? It’s so hard to know after just a tour and a few visits which school is the best for you. Choosing the right private school can feel overwhelming for many families. […]
At what age should I begin teaching my child sight words? When should I start trying to teach my child to read? Should parents do this or should we wait for school to start? Many parents wonder when they should begin teaching sight words and reading skills at home. The answer is not the same […]
How do scores between the Stanford-Binet®, OLSAT®, and WPPSI®-III correlate? If we know a child’s Stanford-Binet® score, does that indicate how they will score on one of the other tests? The Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales, Otis-Lennon School Ability Test, and Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence are all designed to measure aspects of cognitive ability […]
My 3.5 year old is bilingual, with English spoken at school, not at home. How do I evaluate his language skills to see whether he can do well on the OLSAT® in English? What I can I do to enhance his skills? Is there research on whether being bilingual presents a disadvantage for children being […]
There are many attributes of gifted children. Some children may be gifted in the arts, such as music and drawing, while others might be gifted with certain athletic abilities. When it comes to gifted testing in the schools it’s more on the academic side of being gifted. If you think your child is gifted review […]
Over the past few weeks members of the TestingMom.com team attended the parents information sessions for the NYC gifted and talented program in each of the 5 boroughs! The crowds were strongest in Manhattan and Brooklyn with Queens not too far behind. We even hopped on the ferry to attend the session in Staten Island […]
Karen and Michael Answer Questions of the Week (Audio Teleseminar Nov. 11, 2010) – Top 1% and Top 5% https://cdn.testingmom.com/uploads/Karen-Michael-weekly-QA-nov11-2010.mp3 In this 36-minute audio teleseminar, Karen Quinn and Michael McCurdy answer parent questions about gifted testing, verbal development, school readiness, and helping children succeed academically and emotionally. Parents preparing children for gifted and talented programs, […]
This past weekend Michael McCurdy, co-founder of TestingMom.com, presented at the AGATE (Advocacy for Gifted and Talented Education in New York) conference in New Rochelle, New York. Parents and educators gathered to hear gifted and talented experts from all over the nation to go over a variety of topics pertaining to gifted and talented in […]
Karen and Michael Answer Questions of the Week (Audio Teleseminar – Nov. 4, 2010) – Top 1% and Top 5% https://cdn.testingmom.com/uploads/Karen-Michael-weekly-QA-nov4-2010.mp3 Preparing a child for gifted-and-talented testing or private school admissions can feel overwhelming for many parents. In this audio teleseminar, Karen Quinn and Michael McCurdy answer some of the most common questions parents have […]
Last night I attended the NYC Department of Education Parents Information Session for the Gifted and Talented Program in the Bronx. The parents came out in force and I estimated over 150+ involved moms and dads rushing into the session to learn more about the program, OLSAT testing and how the process works. I was […]
Tonight there was a NYC gifted and talented program information in Queens at Long Island City High School. Parents streamed into the auditorium to hear representatives from the NYC Department of Education give an overview of the gifted and talented program, OLSAT test procedures, transportation to gifted and talented schools in NYC along with a few […]
Our very own Karen Quinn, the Testing Mom, was recently featured in a Miami Herald article. The article features Karen’s new game IQ Fun Park along with her incredible book Testing for Kindergarten (a must have for all parents!). Of course, TestingMom.com is mentioned as well and the article mentions quite a few testing tips for parents […]
[audio:https://cdn.testingmom.com/uploads/questions-from-info-sessions.mp3] Listen to the teleseminar above where Karen and Michael of TestingMom.com answer questions from parents attending a recent information session about Gifted and Talented programs in Public vs Private Schools. (42 minutes) 1. Can you talk about the difference between a G&T program versus a regular public classroom versus a private school? 2. In […]
The past few days were super busy for TestingMom.com and all the guest speakers for our seminars for NYC gifted and talented programs, private school admissions and OLSAT, WPPSI and Bracken testing. Parents crammed into the downtown community center in Tribeca where Karen Quinn, the Testing Mom, Dr. Har, testing expert from Aristotle Circle (and […]
The NYC department of education posted the NYC gifted and talented program handbooks for parents and also dates for the information sessions to take place next week! All 5 boroughs will have information. We’ll be posting details from the information sessions in the coming days.
The NYC DOE Announces the Dates and Locations of Information Sessions for Gifted and Talented. They’ll answer questions about the testing and OLSAT and Bracken test dates, times, locations. October 18, 2010 – 6:30-8:00pm Gifted and Talented Parent Informational Forum Louis D. Brandeis Educational Campus 145 West 84th Street, New York, NY 10024 October 25, […]
Last night Karen Quinn and Michael McCurdy from TestingMom.com held an Insiders Guide to the Kindergarten Admissions Process at Big City Moms on the Upper East Side. We had well over 50 parents parents attend to learn more about the process for gifted and talented and private school programs in New York City. Karen and […]
For Parents in the New York City Area Seminar: Insiders Guide to the Kindergarten Admissions Process in New York City – Private Schools and Gifted and Talented Programs for pre-k to 2nd grades Date and Times – You’ll Be Sent Location After You Pre-Register. Please no children. Thursday, October 7 at 7pm Tribeca/Downtown area – […]
Hi TestingMom.com members – The NYC Department of Education announced some dates for the NYC gifted and talented test handbooks for students in grades pre-K through second grade. There are two tests given for NYC G&T – the OLSAT test (Otis-Lennon) and the Bracken Test (BSRA). October 12, 2010 Gifted and Talented Information Handbooks will […]
