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How did your child do on the ERBs?
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Anonymous
| Obviously not a random sample. Not obsessing, just curious. |
Anonymous
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Better than yours!
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Anonymous
Really? I didn't list my kid's scores. Anyway, fourth grade, some sevens, some eights, one nine (independent). |
Anonymous
| Boy, grade 5, all 9s National, 8s and 9s Suburban & Independent . |
Anonymous
| Do some of the independents design curriculum around this test? Just curious. |
Anonymous
Wow, they're actually serious.... 
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Anonymous
What do you mean? |
Anonymous
| Knowing ERB scores is useful to determine if your school's academics are preparing your child well for future schools/college. And if the answer across the school (not just for your child) appears to be no, then I suppose it would be good to know if other schools were doing a better job. But the idea of independent schools "teaching to the test" is a horrifying one. Using ERB scores to compare students, similar to the WPPSI discussions common on this site, are also unappealing. |
Anonymous
| I was the OP. I was curious is all. Don't read so much into it. I guess I'm interested in knowing what's going on in the neighborhood. I feel like this is a very intellectual community (DCUM) so I was curious about how these kids do on an achievement (not intelligence) test, and equally, as you mention, how the schools do. |
Anonymous
| Hi OP. 10:16 here. Didn't mean for my post to sound like an attack ... I am curious about the scores too. I just fear that this thread will go down the same path as those for WPPSI scores. I'm not so sure how "intellectual" the DCUM crowd is ... reactionary and competitive seems more apt! |
Anonymous
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Anonymous
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Who cares!
Part of the reason my kids go to private is because they are not test obsessed. |
Anonymous
| I think the question that I posed earlier "do certain schools teach to the test" is a relevant one. Our school does not, and we have kids far below 8s and 9s for the Independent portion (my child included) - I'm talking 5, 6, 7s as the norm for some segments. These same kids go on to gain entrance to some of the big three as well as prestigious boarding schools - remember - these tests are not part of the admissions process - so these are very smart kids scoring lower on certain portions. When I hear parents reporting that their kids are getting all 8s, 9s etc. - I just have to wonder - does your school teach to the test or prep the kids?? |
Anonymous
| Independent school teacher here. The ERB's are not designed to be 'taught to'. For example, the test creator does not release tests to allow for targeted practice. Additionally, the timing of when the test is administered usually does not fall at the beginning or end of a full school year--hence, it is difficult to align curriculum pacing to this test. Do not think of it as a high-stakes test (one that opens the door to further opportunity); instead think of it as a 'snapshot' or slice of information of what your child shows he or she knows (relative to that particular test--I find the ERB a bit arcane) on the day of testing. This information is used as one more piece of feedback to guide instruction. It also might be valuable information for you about how your child 'tests'. If the results seem very skewed it might indicate anxiety, fatigue or unfamiliarity with the testing format. I have been guided that a 5 or above in 'Independent Schools' statistics was a very comfortable score. If you want something to focus on, focus on presenting testing in general to your child as a fun challenge--however one that will be with them for their life (driver's license, GRE's...). Talk to them about understanding the question (circling key information), eliminating answers, and double-checking their selection against the information given. Don't build up anxiety over the ERB's -- you will pay later as they dread testing and anxiety fogs their minds. Most independent schools have thoughtful, measured practice they offer as the children get close to a 'high-stakes' test--those for exiting or entering another institution. If they don't, look into getting it from a reliable source. Test literacy is just another type of literacy and some children are more equipped than others to 'see through' the distractors and fancy wording of those wily test-makers. Extra, non-fraught practice for high-stakes exams does help. Good luck to you and your children! |
Anonymous
I'm the poster with the son with the 8s and 9s in Independent. No, his school doesn't teach to the test. There was maybe a week of prep before it was administered this spring. Just reminders to fill in the circles without smudges and guess your best. His teacher used a practice booklet for 3 days the week before, I really wouldn't consider that test prep. While he was at Beauvoir an ERB tester came in for a Q and A after we received our scores. She suggested that we stay on top of summer reading. She said, every summer make sure that your child reads every single book on their reading lists. And parents should know the books well enough to ask questions to determine how well their child is making inferences and learning new vocabulary. The ERB tester shared that she did this each summer with her son and he had nearly perfect SAT scores in critical reading and writing. My son has always been strong in math. |