Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
When people refer to test "prep," they are referring to what you have described as extreme, first, second, and third. Many people see what you call "fourth" as tutoring for kids who need extra help to understand what is happening in the classroom, not really test prep, although I see how it could be. The remaining categories are simply general educational enrichment, not what people consider test prep.

Google the words "test prep" and you will find all kinds of companies offering services and products that promise to raise test scores. Here's how Wikipedia is defining it: "Test preparation (abbreviated test prep) or exam preparation primarily refers to educational courses, tutoring services, and educational materials/learning tools designed to increase students' performance on standardized tests, particularly entrance examinations...."

Reading at home, playing games, doing puzzles, going to museums and historic sites with your child all add to the child's education in a positive way, but they are not test prep.

I agree with you, but I also know that some of the things we do at home for fun are sold by web sites dedicated to test prep. Example - the game "Set". We have it - both the cards and the ipad version. I play it more than my kids, but they do play it. One of them is surprisingly good at it for her age. I know of at least one web site that sells "Set" as a test prep activity for the NNAT. Did I know that when I bought it off Amazon? No. Will I stop playing it with her because she hasn't taken the NNAT yet? No, we both enjoy playing it. Am I prepping my kid? You tell me.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:which one would Mercer's test prep book be?

I would think it's third, since nobody sued them of stealing current/past real tests.

Anonymous wrote:which one would Mercer's test prep book be?

Anonymous wrote:
When people refer to test "prep," they are referring to what you have described as extreme, first, second, and third. Many people see what you call "fourth" as tutoring for kids who need extra help to understand what is happening in the classroom, not really test prep, although I see how it could be. The remaining categories are simply general educational enrichment, not what people consider test prep.

Google the words "test prep" and you will find all kinds of companies offering services and products that promise to raise test scores. Here's how Wikipedia is defining it: "Test preparation (abbreviated test prep) or exam preparation primarily refers to educational courses, tutoring services, and educational materials/learning tools designed to increase students' performance on standardized tests, particularly entrance examinations...."

Reading at home, playing games, doing puzzles, going to museums and historic sites with your child all add to the child's education in a positive way, but they are not test prep.

Anonymous wrote:
I guess I'd have to say Fifth - If you really consider that "enrichment" equals "prep". For us, it's just what we do. DH and I are both well-read, well-educated, dare I say, geeks. We're not athletic in the least. We both enjoy reading, puzzles, legos, cooking (measuring, experimenting, trying again). If the things we do at home are above DC's grade level, it's because it's closer to our level and we expect DC to work UP not for us to work DOWN. If that's prep, so be it. And yes, DC is center-eligible.

Anonymous wrote:"Prep" the NNAT/CoGAT/FxAT tests is a very thorny subject in the AAP arena, but with confusing definitions.
Let me see if I can put the shades of grey into some kind of organized forms. Feel free to provide your additions.

Extreme degree: steal the upcoming tests (it's cheating and illegal, and not sure if any exists)
First degree: paid service using leaked exact tests from previous years (the existing is not proven)
Second degree: paid service using materials close or target to the tests (quite some venues in the county)
Third degree: in-home enrichment using materials close or target to the tests (those materials are commercially available)
Forth degree: paid service for generic enrichment/tutoring (Kumon, Mathnasium, etc)
Fifth degree: in-home generic enrichment beyond regular school learning (above grade math, reading, writing, etc)
Sixth degree: in-home generic enrichment similar to regular school learning (same grade math, reading, writing, etc)
Seventh degree: nothing at all outside classroom, only look at bring-home HWs

If you feel sharing, please share which degree your "prep" is, what's your DC NNAT/CoGAT/FxAT/GBRS, and eligible status. No need to brag your 160/99%/16 DC with seventh degree prep.

Anonymous wrote:"Prep" the NNAT/CoGAT/FxAT tests is a very thorny subject in the AAP arena, but with confusing definitions.
Let me see if I can put the shades of grey into some kind of organized forms. Feel free to provide your additions.

Extreme degree: steal the upcoming tests (it's cheating and illegal, and not sure if any exists)
First degree: paid service using leaked exact tests from previous years (the existing is not proven)
Second degree: paid service using materials close or target to the tests (quite some venues in the county)
Third degree: in-home enrichment using materials close or target to the tests (those materials are commercially available)
Forth degree: paid service for generic enrichment/tutoring (Kumon, Mathnasium, etc)
Fifth degree: in-home generic enrichment beyond regular school learning (above grade math, reading, writing, etc)
Sixth degree: in-home generic enrichment similar to regular school learning (same grade math, reading, writing, etc)
Seventh degree: nothing at all outside classroom, only look at bring-home HWs

If you feel sharing, please share which degree your "prep" is, what's your DC NNAT/CoGAT/FxAT/GBRS, and eligible status. No need to brag your 160/99%/16 DC with seventh degree prep.