Anonymous wrote:

I wonder if prepping is really going to help very much. I have my doubts. I am not against it but wonder if prepping will raise the score very much. I can understand going over the format of the test, but just don't know if practicing it is in reality going to help enough.

Why are you wondering?! Don't do it if you don't believe in it. Are you an adult? Prepping is like religion, some belief and some don't. What's the big deal. Follow your faith.

"You're a raging anti-prep-ite!"

I wonder if prepping is really going to help very much. I have my doubts. I am not against it but wonder if prepping will raise the score very much. I can understand going over the format of the test, but just don't know if practicing it is in reality going to help enough.

Why are you wondering?! Don't do it if you don't believe in it. Are you an adult? Prepping is like religion, some belief and some don't. What's the big deal. Follow your faith.

I wonder if prepping is really going to help very much. I have my doubts. I am not against it but wonder if prepping will raise the score very much. I can understand going over the format of the test, but just don't know if practicing it is in reality going to help enough.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We got this from our school today. Prepping is recommended...

"Since the beginning of the school year, our teachers have been preparing our students for the more rigorous tests. Parents can view narrated demonstrations of the new test items, online SOL practice tests, and grade level content reviews to help their children prepare for the tests by visiting http://www.fcps.edu/is/news/mathsol.shtml. Parents are reminded that students test better when they are prepared physically and emotionally. FCPS’ Family and School Partnerships share these tips for test takers from The Parent Institute: don’t stay up late—get plenty of rest during test weeks—and eat healthy meals to keep mind and body nourished. "

That's about making sure your kids get to bed early the night before and eat breakfast the morning of the SOL. Totally different than the type of "prepping" that parents do for AAP tests.

Did you miss "online SOL practice tests, and grade level content reviews "

Anonymous wrote:We got this from our school today. Prepping is recommended...

"Since the beginning of the school year, our teachers have been preparing our students for the more rigorous tests. Parents can view narrated demonstrations of the new test items, online SOL practice tests, and grade level content reviews to help their children prepare for the tests by visiting http://www.fcps.edu/is/news/mathsol.shtml. Parents are reminded that students test better when they are prepared physically and emotionally. FCPS’ Family and School Partnerships share these tips for test takers from The Parent Institute: don’t stay up late—get plenty of rest during test weeks—and eat healthy meals to keep mind and body nourished. "

That's about making sure your kids get to bed early the night before and eat breakfast the morning of the SOL. Totally different than the type of "prepping" that parents do for AAP tests.

We got this from our school today. Prepping is recommended...

"Since the beginning of the school year, our teachers have been preparing our students for the more rigorous tests. Parents can view narrated demonstrations of the new test items, online SOL practice tests, and grade level content reviews to help their children prepare for the tests by visiting http://www.fcps.edu/is/news/mathsol.shtml. Parents are reminded that students test better when they are prepared physically and emotionally. FCPS’ Family and School Partnerships share these tips for test takers from The Parent Institute: don’t stay up late—get plenty of rest during test weeks—and eat healthy meals to keep mind and body nourished. "

Anonymous wrote:Based on what she told me about the testing, I am not sure how she could have been "prepped" for the WISC.

BINGO!!!!

This may seem like a silly question but when everyone is talking about prepping your DC for the test(s) - what are they talking about? We had my DD tested (WISC/Woodcock Johnson) because we considered moving her to public- she attends private school. The psychologist advised us not to move her into gened but to either apply for AAP or keep her in private. Based on what she told me about the testing, I am not sure how she could have been "prepped" for the WISC.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't bother asking the esol question as I know multiple kids in aap who are coded as esol but really aren't esol in the traditional sense of what esol is. If parents mark on kindergarten Forms that another language is spoken in the home, they are coded as esol.

You are correct. The form asks if another language than English is spoken in the home. For our first kid we answered honestly (yes) and getting him out of ESL took half the year until the test (it was called something like world languages test) was scheduled and he got cleared. According to the teacher they get extra funding for ESL so they pad the numbers with bilingual kids whether English is the first or second language.

For the second kid we just said no and avoided the drama.

Yes, ESL (English as a Second Lamguage) Became ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages). Native Speakers of English who are bilingual (or for that matter live in a household where sone other language is spoken) are considered ESOL. It does effect the funding (there is federal funding available) and creates some odd issues. For example, TJ has an ESOL program and surely there are no students who are not proficient in English that make it there. Funding makes funny things happen.

the kitchen table.

This is the most used and favorite spot over the last 5 to 6 years in our household for "prepping". No outsourcing, no extra bucks. Both kids are well rounded and attend test-in public school magnet programs. In-house, family nurture and enrichment has worked the best for us. Both kids are at least 4 to 5 grades above "local public school grade level" -- albeit, not a very high bar for even average performing pupils.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't bother asking the esol question as I know multiple kids in aap who are coded as esol but really aren't esol in the traditional sense of what esol is. If parents mark on kindergarten Forms that another language is spoken in the home, they are coded as esol.

You are correct. The form asks if another language than English is spoken in the home. For our first kid we answered honestly (yes) and getting him out of ESL took half the year until the test (it was called something like world languages test) was scheduled and he got cleared. According to the teacher they get extra funding for ESL so they pad the numbers with bilingual kids whether English is the first or second language.

For the second kid we just said no and avoided the drama.

This is great to know. Our zoned elementary school is almost 30% ESOL. I was very concerned thinking that almost 1/3 of the school could not speak English fluently. Based on the diversity of the neighborhood, I am not surprised at all at the 30% now. There is a pretty big Hispanic and Asian presence.

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't bother asking the esol question as I know multiple kids in aap who are coded as esol but really aren't esol in the traditional sense of what esol is. If parents mark on kindergarten Forms that another language is spoken in the home, they are coded as esol.

You are correct. The form asks if another language than English is spoken in the home. For our first kid we answered honestly (yes) and getting him out of ESL took half the year until the test (it was called something like world languages test) was scheduled and he got cleared. According to the teacher they get extra funding for ESL so they pad the numbers with bilingual kids whether English is the first or second language.

For the second kid we just said no and avoided the drama.

Anonymous wrote:Where do you go to prep your DC?

the kitchen table.

Anonymous wrote:Where do you go to prep your DC?

Depends on the degree of prep:
1. You can buy sample tests and let your kid practice a couple of times.
(basically what I did for some of my kids)
2. There are some tutoring/prepping school where they also prep kids for AAP entrance.

- One of my kids got in without prepping.
- One of my kids got great test scores without prepping (99% 98%), but denied due to mediocre GBRS of 9.
Got mad, got DC WISC sample test for familiarization, DC went through it a couple of times. DC got over 140 FSIQ and got in.
- For one of my kids, got DC CogAt/NNAT sample test for familiarization, DC went through it a couple of times.
DC got very great test scores(99%, no sub scores below benchmark), and still got mediocre GBRS of 9 again. However this time got in in the first round.

Where do you go to prep your DC?