[-]i rented a cot a few years ago from www.grandmasrentals.com . I can't find them online. Any recs to rent cot or furniture in NYC?
2 replies [ Reply | Watch | Options ]
[-]hi: i'm still looking for a middle school or ongoing school for my bright dyslexic son. he's been in a school for kids with learning disabilities, but has overcome most of his issues and really scores quite high in some areas. he needs a place where can be way ahead in math and even reading, but still need some direct teaching (and understanding) in terms of writing. we live in manhattan but are willing to relocate to other boroughs or suburbs if need be. public or private. thank you in advance for responding.
17 replies [ Reply | Watch | Options ]No flames, please, but I know a few kids from LD schools who have been "mainstreamed" into Browning. You may also want to check into BWL.
[ Reply | Options ]I don't know what type of learning issues or what ages these kids are, but my experience with browning is very different. The school really does not have the resources to support dyslexics and the like and these boys tend to leave (generally by their own choice after the pace picks up in terms of writing skills needed, etc. at third or fourth grade. Birch has a much better support system and resources available, but is very traditional in its academic approach. I know a boy who has mainstreamed into Claremont with great success. I don't think that they have the resources birch has, but they have been warm and welcoming and he loved the more progressive style in the classroom.
[ Reply | Options ]^also, whatever you do, stay away from York. They have this huge support system "for a price" and, as a for profit school, no interest whatsoever in getting these kids to the point of not needing the extra assistance. Also check out Columbia grammar. They have a good system for mainstreaming but have been over-subscribed in recent years and weren't taking more kids into the program as far as I know (but it is always worth inquiring). Good luck!
[ Reply | Options ]Agree, but the kids who were "mainstreamed" were because they no longer needed support.
[ Reply | Options ]
You might want to call the Gow School (it is in upstate NY). Gow is a boarding school for dyslexic boys. They are very tied into schools who support dyslexic students. They might be able to steer you in the right direction. You might also want to call the the Dyslexic Association in NYC (forget the full name). Good luck!
[ Reply | Options ]
[-]Looking up some old posts about preschools in westchester - particularly Elmwood in White Plains. Most seem very favorable but a while back someone called Elmwood a "Pressure cooker". What does that mean and does anyone know how it is now?
1 reply [ Reply | Watch | Options ]
[-]Had to give up breastfeeding at 6 weeks due to db having a milk protein allergy, and although I know that it was necessary, I am still upset that I had to give it up. I know I tried as much as I could, even went on a dairy free diet and everything. I am not depressed or anything, but I'm totally obsessed. I see others breastfeeding their babies, and I get so upset that I had to stop. Anyone bt?
18 replies [ Reply | Watch | Options ]yup. dc had milk protein allergies AND i have inverted nipples AND he had latch issues AND i had mastitis AND i had ppd. i pumped for 7 months and felt like sh&t because i couldn't do more. but you know what? i did what i could and so have you. your dc will be healthy and happy and will never remember if he was bf'd or not. let go and enjoy your beautiful db.
[ Reply | Options ]Yes. My first had severe latch issues--even after 2 months of pumping and trying everything, lactations consultants, etc, I gave up. I felt terrible about it, and wondered what I did wrong--she just never took to it! I've since had 3 children who all breastfed easily, so I still wonder why it didn't work out with dd.
[ Reply | Options ]I have BTDT. My child had/has severe reactions to dairy as well as bad reflux and I powered through. Proud to say he's never had an ounce of formula. It was brutal but has gotten much better. Why was it necessary to give up bf-ing? How come modifying your diet didn't have an impact?
[ Reply | Options ]I couldn't bf either because my dd was biting down (with her gums) and I ended up with welts and bruises. I used to cry when bottle feeding her and would go into the breastfeeding rooms when we were out b/c I felt like all the BF moms were judging me. She is now 2, smart and everything but the regret I have hasn't gone away. I actually cried for about a week b/c I wanted to but I just couldn't.
[ Reply | Options ]I exclusively bf for two months and then was told that my baby was not gaining well due to acid reflux. Freaked me out (even though doc and husband assured me no big deal), completely undermined my self-confidence that I knew what to do. I started supplementing with formula and stopped bfeeding around 4 months. I regret it everyday (dd now 7 months, is fine and wonderful but can't believe that I just didn't stick with it)
[ Reply | Options ]I'm sorry this was your experience. I think what you describe is common and that more women would breastfeed through these types of challenges if the social support were there. Sorry you didn't have that. Stinks to have regret. But I'm sure your dd is healthy and thriving, so enjoy!
[ Reply | Options ]
I'm surprised the with a totally dairy free diet that you couldn't have kept going.
[ Reply | Options ]-
sometimes people think they are dairy free, but not. daity is everywhere in the form of whey, cassein. also, some babies who react to dairy also react to soy, which is also everywhere (soy lecithin in bread). signed, mom who gave up all traces of dairy and soy for 12 months of bfing.
[ Reply | Options ]
-
[-]Does anyone have an idea of how big the UB user community is? I feel like it's more or less the same people talking all the time...
3 replies [ Reply | Watch | Options ]
-
neither. just make sure your child gets plenty of rest and read to them a lot and analyze stories and pictures
[ Reply | Options ]
[-]Anyone know what medical condition the head of Friends Seminary has? Does she have Bell's Palsy? Was impressed with how well she handles it and carries herself if she does.
5 replies [ Reply | Watch | Options ]
[-]I am going to get flamed but here we go, schools process is stressful for everyone no matter your position. Dh and I legacy at two TTs and everyone is snippy, sour and waiting for us to fail which is more than possible. Sucks.
38 replies [ Reply | Watch | Options ]Which just goes to show that it does matter whether you went to a TT school...maybe you are more sensitive to it because you've bought into the hype?
[ Reply | Options ]Exactly what I mean, that comment says it all. Always a backhanded comment from someone. People who did not go to TT buy into it, my comment is not that we will die if DC does not get in, it is the way people are practically cheering for it to happen.
[ Reply | Options ]This is a total "stroke me" complaint...just like when an obviously pretty girl complains about people telling her she's pretty or treating her like an object. You are just looking for validation when you whine like this. Have some dignity. If you need a compliment, just ask for one--don't try to get it out of people by "complaining" about your privileged life. Pathetic in a big way.
[ Reply | Options ]
NP -- uh, NO. Maybe you need to criticize because you are jealous? My family has a connection at a school and we are stressed too, OP you have my sympathy. Having a connection is like being the chess wiz, everyone EXPECTS you to win, and in some ways the stress is higher.
[ Reply | Options ]Thank you, we don't feel like dc is smarter than any other it has to do with us it is like the parents are hoping that we don't get in. And, let me remind everyone, if we do get in it will only ever be because we are 'connected' and dc is a dolt.
[ Reply | Options ]of course parents are hoping you won't get in. there are a limited number of spots and if you don't get in their dc has a better chance.
[ Reply | Options ]-
Is your other point that you are connected? Obviously that helps. Schools even say so. That doesn't imply that your dc is a dolt but it does mean they have an advantage so if there are two equal dcs, yours and an unconnected, yours would more likely get in. Of course the unconnected parents resent that.
[ Reply | Options ]
-
-
-
that person is a stranger to you and wouldn't have said anything if you hadn't posted this. unless you tell people you are legacies they don't know. so it seems you could have avoided everyone knowing by not talking about the process so much.
[ Reply | Options ]
-
-
The process was completely unstressful for us last year. We're in a zone where we could live with the public school, DC got into half the schools we applied to, and a good G&T. There wasn't a stressful point during the whole thing.
[ Reply | Options ]
[-]What's the funniest, best, worst thing your DC has done on a school interview/playdate?
83 replies [ Reply | Watch | Options ]^^ Mine, for preschool, said not one word the whole time, kept lips tightly pursed and looked at DOA like she was insane when she tried to get the group singing the ABCs. Hard to describe but it was a look that seemed to say "Where did you come up with that stupid song, and why on earth are you singing to me"
[ Reply | Options ]not mine, but friend's dc tore all the pictures off the wall at a pretty stiff TT
[ Reply | Options ]-
-
not really, just very energetic and to the point above, not a good fit with the school!
[ Reply | Options ]-
Was this for pre-school or a kindergarten interview? If kindergarten - completely inappropriate and your friend should be mortified.
[ Reply | Options ]preschool. i guess kid was 2 at the time. and yes, she was completely mortified. but seriously, they are 2!
[ Reply | Options ]What on earth was your friend doing when her kid did this? Parents STAY with 2 yo. Says more about her parenting skills than the kid's behavior, imo
[ Reply | Options ]as i said above she was mortified. probably standing there horrified wishing for it to be over like we all are on those preschool things when/if our dc does someting "wrong". it is an odd, strange experience to take a 2 yo into a group setting like that and they generally tell you to stand back.
[ Reply | Options ]
-
-
-
best thing was my nephew, at intv for tt entry (he's 12). Asked what his favorite things / hobbies are, he replied: playing video games and watching TV. DOA commented on his 'refreshing honesty' to my sister afterwards. (PS: He got in, but was a sibling and plenty smart, so that helped).
[ Reply | Options ]I know a kid who had an admissions essay question that was something like what would you do with a completely free day, or what have you wanted to try or something. He wrote that he would like to go to a shooting range and/or play paintball because his mother never lets them have toy guns in the house. This was for a Catholic school. He got in.
[ Reply | Options ]OR: I love it. It's true, these two anecdotes describe healthy, normal, well rounded boys!!! Whou wouldn't accept them????!!! (biased loving aunt here). At the time though my sis was a bit worried as she wasn't sure how the DOA really meant that "refreshing" ..whether she was ruffled by his pedestrian response or not...
[ Reply | Options ]
-
Said, at circle time, she drank chocolate milkshakes for breakfast every day (really protein shake from healthfood store because she was SUCH a slowpoke of an eater in the morning).
[ Reply | Options ]had an accident......of the poop variety. It was lovely let me tell you! I can laugh about it now, so that good, but it was not so funny then!
[ Reply | Options ]JCC, teachers took out Brown Bear Brown Bear to read. This was after all this false 'fun' effort at "play". DC sat there with the juice cup in front of him, and burst into tears. Who could blame him. What on earth were we doing there? Who WERE these ppl? He had heard that story about 100 times before...and none of it, from the puzzles to the boring story, was fun. We were politely WL'd.
[ Reply | Options ]-
waiting for the playgroup to start, my dc went around to all the others (they were given paper, books, crayons to amuse them while waiting) and started "correcting" their coloring/letters or reading the books their parents were trying to read to them. DH and I were mortified. It was very odd, as if DC thought this was a competition and he was trying to rattle or impress the others.
[ Reply | Options ]For preschool my 2year-old dc reached out to a very well-endowed teaching assitant and after touching her breasts, exclaimed, "WOW what's in there?"
[ Reply | Options ]Moving to NYC from out of town, we showed up late. When asked what other schools we were applying to, we said "none", and we didn't say that we were comfortable with our public option. So, we got an intro lecture on the competitiveness of NY private school admissions. Humiliating and didn't show us in a very positive light. WL, ultimately accepted.
[ Reply | Options ]for a preschool playdate, our 2 year old was playing at the sand table and flicked a shovel full on the kid next to him. the teacher asked him to stop and he did it again. and again. my dh got up and removed him ... we were sitting in a corner and not supposed to intervene. polite wl that should have been a reject. btw, our ds is probably one of the best behaved kids in his preschool class now. the terrible two's were an awful time to do preschool playdates!
[ Reply | Options ]At Friends ds kept asking when the playdate was going to start. When they eventually told him it was happening right now, he said "that's not true because the room is not like a classroom, it's boring, there's nothing fun to do and the grown-ups are not doing anything interesting, so it can't be a playdate". Feedback was "He did not have a good playdate" YA THINK!!!
[ Reply | Options ]Funniest - preschool playdate, just turned 2 - walked into the classroom, went to a corner behind a chair and took a big, stinky dump in her diaper. Then she walked over to me, smiling, "Mommy, poopy." I took her to a bathroom, changed her and brought her back. She promptly walked over to another DC and swiped the toy he was playing with. I thought we were toast. She got in anyway.
[ Reply | Options ]Beginnings playdate, many years ago. DC#1 was only 1.5 y.o., and I had just had DC#2 a few weeks before. DC#1 was so jealous she completely regressed, and spent the entire playdate crawling on the floor and babbling like a baby -- all the more humiliating because other kids were reciting colors and counting in Spanish to their adoring parents. We left thinking that we wouldn't want to go to any school that accepted a DC like ours appeared to be that day!
[ Reply | Options ]Bribed ds to do Riverdale playdate; we had rented a car & everything. We get there & he refuses to get out of the car. I said (horrible!) "But u won't get any candy if you don't go." He thought about it, then "Ok. I won't have the candy." Good for him!
[ Reply | Options ]Friend took DC to a playdate for PS applying as a very young 2. DC couldn't walk yet and she didn't want it to be used against her so she kept acting like DC was only playing around saying things like "she's so funny, not sure why she wants to crawl today!..."
[ Reply | Options ]
[-]I think that I may have offended a friend. She recently had a miscarriage and in the email I sent her (she's overseas), I said, "I'll be thinking of you, DH and your baby." She's prolife/religious and referred to the pregnancy as her baby, several times, but even so, DH said that was weird of me to say. WDYT?
12 replies [ Reply | Watch | Options ]I think you meant well and if I were the friend I would recognize that and not give it another thought. Don't worry you are fine.
[ Reply | Options ]http://awning-patio.s.0am.jp/index.html awning patio http://cover-furniture-patio.s.0am.jp/index.html cover furniture patio http://cushion-furniture-patio.s.0am.jp/index.html cushion furniture patio
[ Reply | Options ]
-
I had a miscarriage last year. I would not be offended, I would be touched. I think one of the things that hurts after having a miscarriage is when people kind of dismiss the lost--there will be another, things happen for a reason, etc. So recognizing that she felt it was a baby was pretty sweet, IMO.
[ Reply | Options ]-
[-]A big thank you to all the people who posted they would give to a charity looking to buy presents for foster children in NYC. For those of you who are interested, you can go to www.essnyc.org and give to their Winter Wonderland project. You guys are the best!
2 replies [ Reply | Watch | Options ]
[-]Hollingworth Science camp parents - read your post. Fascinating. If you don't mind - what is he cost of the camp? Thanks
42 replies [ Reply | Watch | Options ]-
It is 2200 for the month of July. It is a great camp. Yes, it is tough to get into, but for a few hours of pain, your dc can go there for the next 4 or 5 summers. And it is completely untrue and unfair to say they get a kick out of it. We've done the waiting overnight thing twice now for 2 dc and we've found them to be extremely nice and respectful.
[ Reply | Options ]I agree w/you. The admin. does not get a kick out of it. There are just more dc than the camp can accommodate, and this being NYC, the line waiting becomes another endurance trial. That said, the camp is a wonderful learning experience for dc and worth some hours of parental discomfort.
[ Reply | Options ]NP: Former Hollingworth Preschool parent here. There are much better ways they could handle the science camp sign-up that would avoid having people line up at 3am and they know it. Lisa likes it.
[ Reply | Options ]-
but then it would be entirely chance whether your kid gets in or not. At least this way, the parent has some control over the process.
[ Reply | Options ]NNP: The process is basically only fair now to people who read UB. Normal people would show up shortly before the stated time, not at 4am. Therefore, they have no chance. It's BS.
[ Reply | Options ]actually, the Hollingworth people were the ones who first warned me that I would have to show up early. They wouldn't tell me how early, but I took it upon myself to figure it out via a UB search. I feel bad for the parents who didn't know, but there's always next year. I noticed that the two parents who arrived at 8 pm the night before were parents who showed up too late the previous year.
[ Reply | Options ]
Sorry, this is summer camp, anyone who is interested and able to apply within a reasonable time frame should have a shot at getting a spot for their child. It isn't a question of who is the absolutely freakiest parent who can get there 2 days before and sleep out.
[ Reply | Options ]I think you should be able to apply for summer camp in March frankly. It's New York, there are a lot of people. As a parent of kids who go there I liked knowing that I had some control about them getting in. It is an amazing camp for kids who enjoy science and I'm determined to find the money for it as long as my kids want to go there. At least you don't have to wait in line every year and they do try to make it nicer with food etc.
[ Reply | Options ]-
np: either the lottery will suck or lining up will suck. I think it's better to let parents who really want their kids to attend to be able to do what it takes to get them in, i.e. stand in line for hours. There's a large degree of self-selection here -- kids who come from families where the parents are extremely motivated and involved and want the best for their kids. Not saying that parents who don't line up aren't like that, but the ones who do are definitely like that.
[ Reply | Options ]-
You are one of those parents who would have to stand there 36 hours in advance if necessary, right? A lottery would put a stop to your competitiveness. How about the folks that don't have the time to stand in line like that? They are not supposed to have a shot for their children?
[ Reply | Options ]it's not competitiveness, but you're entitled to view it in the most negative light possible. It's a bunch of parents who are willing to stand in line for their kids. What's wrong with that? And we weren't in line for 36 hrs. More like 5 hrs and it was in the early morning hrs, so it's not as though most of us has other things to do (other than sleep).
[ Reply | Options ]
-
-
-
I think it's great that the parents are willing to do this, once, for their kids. It's more fair, IMO, than a lottery, which is dumb luck. Can't phone this one in. Parents aren't freaky, or not more than any other place in NYC, for sure - but it does select for families for whom this will be a longtime, valuable experience and they know it.
[ Reply | Options ]I live in NYC and think this is ridiculous. A lot of the popular summer camps fill up early (Oct-Nov-Dec). I know when I called Riverdale in Feb to get a spot for my dc that year, I was told they had been filled up in November for his age group. So the next year, I knew better and signed him up in October. Point is, why does H-worth have this line up thing? Why can't they just accept apps (in the mail) starting on X date (with an earlier date for returning campers) and then when an age group fills up, it fills up. But the middle of the night thing is just plain idiotic.
[ Reply | Options ]Hollingworth camp only has 30 spots or so for kindergarteners and they fill up in a matter of minutes, not days or weeks. And there are very few spots (1-2) for older grades. So it would be really difficult to accept apps via mail. Admission would then be left up to the efficiency, or lack thereof, of the mail service. You would have people wanting to hand delivery their apps to make sure they get in early enough, and then you'd end up with the same problem. The main issue here is the high demand for very few openings.
[ Reply | Options ]
-
[-]for those of you who are divorced and have joint custody... do you not see your dcs for several days at a time (or even a week) and how do you deal with that? I don't think I could! I wouldn't necessarily mind missing them every other weekend, but longer than that would be very difficult.
2 replies [ Reply | Watch | Options ]-
[-]Nightingale: that is or is not considered tt? Can anyone w/direct experience tell me about it from the point of view of a parent?
14 replies [ Reply | Watch | Options ]NBS is a solid school, and I know many, many great families there. This board doesn't believe it is "tt", which is fine I guess, but you really need to focus on fit.
[ Reply | Options ]Can you describe anything about the culture of the school. Our PSD described it as a bit precious and with some of the finishing school atmosphere. Accurate at all?
[ Reply | Options ]np: we are not there but i hear it is pretty traditional, structure and rule oriented.
[ Reply | Options ]The lower school is fairly traditional but I would not describe it as precious in any way. There are all sorts of girls and families there. The kids are encouraged to try all sorts of things academically. The structure comes from the school stressing each girls' organization and working on skills to help each on achieve.
[ Reply | Options ]
The education is not as good as the other girls schools but that does not mean it is not a great school if that makes sense. NBS appeals to a certain type of family and dd so go in with an open mind and remember you can't go wrong with any of these schools really. GL
[ Reply | Options ]
i'm sure it's a good school academically but when we toured it the parent guide proudly pointed out that the girls are required to carry their books a certain way (against their chest, not hanging from their arms), with their identical pencil cases on top. 'nuff said as far as we were concerned.
[ Reply | Options ]funny. when we had our group Q & A with the HOS, she mentioned how it she thought it was so important that they teach the girls how to sew on buttons and set a proper table.
[ Reply | Options ]As a parent of two children there - one in lower school and one in upper - these are crazy comments. I can not see Ms. H. saying anything about sewing as a skill that does anything except help small motor development in the very young, the books thing is nuts - look around during school. People should look for themselves!
[ Reply | Options ]NP: As an NBS parent I think the "setting a proper table' comment has suffered a bit of the "telephone" game. Its actually an exercise in planning and stategy. Setting a dinner table is a simple, everyday task that very young students - boys or girls - can do to learn how to make a plan or set a strategy....for example do we set each setting at once or all the plates, then the forks etc. NBS seems to stress the why and how of things and IMO teaches the students to ananlyze and understand why and how things are done...and that's the beginning of critical thinking and innovation.
[ Reply | Options ]
I know several girls there in high school (kids of friends) and I am always impressed with how poised, smart and nice they are. They are serious about school. I get the feeling they get a TON of homework, testing etc. It sounds like a bit of a grind to me, but they all seem to like it and are very good students as well as social, interesting girls. Has definitely impressed me from afar.
[ Reply | Options ]
[-]Claremont Prep - please give me your feedback on the school. What do you know about it? Would you send your DB there??? TIA
16 replies [ Reply | Watch | Options ]We started recently and have been very happy and feel secure there. It's a little big for us (5 kindergarten classes of 16 kids), but maybe just because we are coming from a different preschool. It has the benefits of a large school through (great afterschool program, great facilities, great extras (DC is doing half year of French twice a week, music program has them singing hard stuff (DC demonstrated warm up vocal scales they do and last week told me the song they are singing is hard and my DC has taken private music lessons for almost 2 years)), etc. Most importantly, I feel that if there were ever any issues (behavior, academic, etc), they would be there in a second to do what it takes to solve this problem. All the heads of the sch...
[ Reply | Options ]-
-
only in K but seems like they have it in hand. Heard from a mom with a 1st and 3rd grader that they have weekly spelling tests. In K math they are learning place value (up to 100), coin values and equivalencies, skip counting, measuring with unifix cubes, general stuff that they prob do at all other privates I would think. They are learning about various parts of a narrative (I can't remember details too well...think it was something about how to give details in different ways, POV, things like that). Also do journals (standard I assume everywhere), handwriting without tears, etc. Also go library (a kind of big one) once a week and do swimming once a week and PE twice a week. I'm sure I'm not doing justice to teachers' efforts, but th...
[ Reply | Options ]
I don't get it. Dc is in kindergarten and has been taking private music lessons for almost 2 years? What does that mean?
[ Reply | Options ]My dc also just started in K and so far I am so impressed with the school. I really have a hard time imagining what more he might be getting at a "TT." His teachers are amazing-- better even than at his fancy preschool-- and the parents seem really nice. I like the headmaster very much and agree about the overall professionalism. I think the school has managed to hire very good people who really know what they're doing. It's well organized. The kids in ds' class seem nice, bright. Haven't seen any behavior issues so far. Ds loves it and we're really pleased. I would suggest checking it out if you're interested and don't give too much weight to what you read here. I haven't come across any unhappy parents there yet.
[ Reply | Options ]
-
2.5 years there. Pulled our son out. There is a culture of Bullying at that school that can no longer be ignored. 80+ families left last year. Parents were promised 2 teachers in each classroom, now it's a shared assistant without telling the families ahead of time. It's a mess, and the headmaster is professional schmoozer who is only interested in getting families to donate. He is not a problem solver, and clearly leans in the favor of the wealthiest families.
[ Reply | Options ]
[-]Did anyone hear that story awhile ago where that husband and wife in another country wanted to name her son '4real' with the actual number as part part of the name. The government didn't allow her to use that name so they changed it to 'Superman' but they call him 4real. We should have this policy for celebrities here too.
1 reply [ Reply | Watch | Options ]
[-]Did KTSS jack up their prices? $60?! Anyone have last years and want to sell it?
37 replies [ Reply | Watch | Options ]I'll put mine on Ebay buy-it-now this Saturday (I have to dig it out way to busy this week- I'm done with it kid got into citywide hope it works for you.
[ Reply | Options ]-
nah, you shouldn't let them do that btw - as the K children are not given pencils or anything on test day - really important that they listen and point and not get used to holding a crayon pencil or something - they are not going to be allowed to fill in the ovals - and you don't want them to anyway.
[ Reply | Options ]are you sure? i was told (and I was shocked) that some testers ask the K children if they'd like to mark the answers themselves.
[ Reply | Options ]let me answer it this way, I'm sure that is how it is supposed to be (with incoming K students - it says that in the DOE OLSAT Handout you get when you sign up - flip through it ) and I'm sure that is what happened with my son - OTOH, I also heard (on this board not IRL) that some did not have the same experience and they were using it for grounds for appeal. There is much about this process that is just luck - we were fortunate to get a very experienced teacher who had my son engaged and telling stories as they walked away; I watched another child crying as they went down the hall for testing - that could not have gone well.
[ Reply | Options ]My dd had to bubble and I appealed and won based on that. She had poor fine motor skills and was a bubbling perfectionist - took her an hour and 20 min and she came out looking like she had just done a tour of duty. None of the other kids on that site had to bubble (parents were asking as they came out). THe DOE actually did investigate it - I believe they spoke to the tester and verified.
[ Reply | Options ]
The year our kid took the OLSAT, there was a lot of conflicting information circulating about whether the child actually had to bubble. So I did have my kid practice bubbling just in case. I think in the actual test, she did not have to bubble.
[ Reply | Options ]The practice test given out with this year's registration has the instructions tell the kid to bubble in the answer. If a pre-k student can't do that simple thing, maybe he shouldn't be wasting anyone's time taking the OLSAT test.
[ Reply | Options ]4 year olds, especially boys, don't have great find motor skills. You're right that the practice test says to have the children mark the test, however the page right before the practice test has a not for parents of Pre-K children that says they won't have to bubble in but "must be able to clearly indicate with a pencil their answer". I'm not sure what that means -- circling, pointing..?
[ Reply | Options ]
get the bright kids one for $30 more. better questions and quality. BTW not affliated with the company and really hate tutoring companies.
[ Reply | Options ]There they are again, spamming away. Their new tag line is that they "hate tutoring companies" to make them look more credible.
[ Reply | Options ]Y- no one can believe anything that's said about bright kids. Too bad really. But they did it to themselves.
[ Reply | Options ]-
Anyone who has actually tried the Bright Kids book, please chime in. I want to purchase it, but don't want to waste money if it's crap. I ordered KTSS already, but my son goes through these things so quickly, I'd like to get something else to give him more practice. Anyone? Anyone?
[ Reply | Options ]I bought Bright Kids and I'm not impressed. In fact, for some of the questions I think my dc answered correctly and the book is wrong.
[ Reply | Options ]For example, Mark under picture (not 'the' picture) of the animal in between the other two animals that roar. My dc selected the picture of a monkey in between a lion and a tiger. The book says the answers is a lion in between a zebra and a giraffe. IMO, "the other two animals that roar" would have to be the lion and tiger. Roar, not roars, is correct for multiple animals it would be describing the other two animals, not the one in the middle.
[ Reply | Options ]actually i received the book and they included a correction letter in mine. I work for random house -and you have no idea how common this is. I compeleted two sections and it was great practice for my son.
[ Reply | Options ]I didn't get a letter with mine. I really don't think having some adults take the test after the book is put together to see if its correct is all that difficult. even if I "have no idea how common this is" the people who are publishing and selling the book should, its part of their business. If its so common they should have looked for errors and had them corrected or even sent a letter to everyone who ordered it.
[ Reply | Options ]
I liked the book. The non-verbal visuals are great. I also like the instructions. i reviewed the book. i think that was the only error. that seems like a printing error-it happens in every book(there were 2 confusing ones in KTSS as well-the spicy pizza one one answer was wrong). The math questions are right on as well. The instructions are good. the quetsion about the snake and the cages are very similar to the last OLSAT math question my son had with the horses and the saddles. 200+ questions. i think it was the best one out there (i have them all -call me crazy if you will)
[ Reply | Options ]I'm just curious - why did you think BK was better than Junior Test Prep because that looked pretty good to me as well.
[ Reply | Options ]- this question does not get answered - but if you think about it they really should be about the same thing
[ Reply | Options ]not sure. it is a website with a bunch of books to resell and unclear who wrote the book or what makes it credible. no reserach, no kids to get through. At least BK is a tutoring company who has children who can pilot the book-they can test the questions over and over. The teachers can write startegies and they paid a bunch of experts to help write the book including former consultants form pearson. KTSS and BK should be better because of the contributors and amount of research that went into the production of the books. Also, BK is coming out with a sample test I was able to get a free copy as i agreed to contribue and comment and be a part of the focus group. i like the approach frankly.
[ Reply | Options ]Totally agree. I worked with proprietary information before, and I know that this sounds fishy. Anyone working for Pearson with actual access to the test would have to sign a huge non-disclosure agreement once they left. That test is very well guarded, and it's fine to speculate, but I doubt anyone working for BrightKids actually has a copy of it.
[ Reply | Options ]I am sure they have a copy of the tests and more. Also many consultants from companies like pearson are freelancers. As a lawyer, i know that non-competes for frrelancers do not hold up in court as it is very hard to proove that they gave information to a company. many ways aroung this ladies. I am pretty sure they had enough connections to get access to what they needed. Also OLSAT has been around a while in other states, so may not be hard as you think. also many techers, professors get it for research purposes.
[ Reply | Options ]
KTSS is not the OLSAT...i dont know who is bashing this company bright city (who knows on UB) but i have the book and actually our school teaher who reveiwed it recommended it and she administers the OLSAT. i can not imagine anyone reading through this book who knows anything about the OLSAT not loving it.
[ Reply | Options ]
-
-
Argh! I don't have any idea when you posted this, but if you're still watching, please email me at mariweb@hotmail.com. Thanks!
[ Reply | Options ]
Most Watched Posts
- What's the funniest, best, worst thing your DC has done on a school interview/playdat...
- If there's the dc of a celeb/"bold-named" in your dc's class is it completely 'normal...
- My dd (who is almost 2 1/2) weighs 24 pounds, which isn't bad but puts her in the 10%...
- Has anyone with a still 3 YO scored above 142 on the SB?
Most Popular Topics
- Ivies+Duke+Chicago+MIT+Stanford+Amherst+Williams+Caltech (20005-09): Brearley 53%, Ho...
- Religious UBers: where is God when little girls and boys are getting raped and sodomi...
- Was in a store near ps 186 (I think) and those DCs were more obnoxious and entitled t...
- The fact is that schools promote their biggest donors to the best schools. So even if...
- I am going to get flamed but here we go, schools process is stressful for everyone no...
- I'm expecting triples girls! What do you think of the names Anita Louise, Clarice Ama...
- Annual fund question: is it common for a school to send out different versions of th...
- my friend got caught having an affair. pain to her dh, her child etc is enormous. not...
UrbanBaby Asks...
Are you or your partner ever naked in front of your children?
Already voted? View Results
Flashback
The Kid's Menu
Video: Cooking With Grandma Gigi
Granddaughter Olivia helps make plantation casserole...
Also:Lunchbox Recipes
School Lunch Obsessive (video)
Make your Own Baby Food
Baby Food Taste-Off
Is it wrong to ask minors to mix martinis?
Can you tell a pregnant boozer to stop?
