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07.06.08, 18:10 PM New York City
29 replies
OK, honest answers please. Is "everyone" prepping their children for the OLSAT? I am not a prepper kind of parent, but we NEED a good public option, and I want dc to have as equal a playing field as possible. Does it really seem like everyone is doing advance prep for the OLSAT or can we just do it normally? [ Reply | Watch | Flag ]
New York City 07.06.08, 06:10 PM Flag
 

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We got our first choice placement; no prep other than doing the sample test DOE provided. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.06.08, 06:11 PM Flag
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I like you. np btw. I'm trying to stay 'normal' in all this and am glad to know other parents have done the same [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.06.08, 06:12 PM Flag
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Same here. Only did sample test 1 time about 2 weeks before the test. ITA with responder below about just normal every day parenting will be enough. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.06.08, 06:14 PM Flag
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Same here. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.06.08, 06:48 PM Flag
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we got our first choice as well, and didn't even do the sample test as for some reason we never received it. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.07.08, 05:28 AM Flag
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I have NO idea what the OLSAT is or what is on it, so I am not prepping. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.06.08, 06:12 PM Flag
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No prep. If your kid is "right" for g&T, then all of the normal every day "teaching" that you do as parents will be enough. if you prep and your kid isn;t really ready for g&T, it is just a disservice to your kid. Best of luck! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.06.08, 06:12 PM Flag
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what is the OLSAT [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.06.08, 06:13 PM Flag
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we did nothing, other than the sample test twice (and on the 2nd time dc balked saying it was too easy because he had done it already). Got 99 and fc. this is an honest answer, btw. I think some kids could benefit, and some either don't need prep, would be confused or turned off by it or won't cooperate. so I guess the answer is, it depends on your dc. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.06.08, 06:14 PM Flag
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[ Removed by moderator ] [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.06.08, 06:15 PM Flag
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LOL. Our playground is more than enough prep for that. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.06.08, 06:16 PM Flag
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I am prepping now, db still in the womb [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.06.08, 06:23 PM Flag
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you mean like taking OLSAT prep classes or purchase the prep kit from the Internet? Hell, no. Practicing the format of the test using the provided sample? Of course. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.06.08, 07:19 PM Flag
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When you sign up for the test they give you a practice test to do at home with your kid. If you don't do it you are a fool. A lazy fool. If you do it and discover that your kid doens't understand a basic test concept, then you are stupid if you don't spend a day or two trying to teach him/her this concept that he/she is probably totally ready to grasp just hasn't been exposed yet. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.06.08, 07:34 PM Flag
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I guess many posting here did not find that their kids needed further teaching once they did the practice test. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.06.08, 07:38 PM Flag
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I couldn't agree more. I did that and dc did well. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.07.08, 04:11 AM Flag
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Makes sense. The thing, though, is that the sample has nothing much in common with the real OLSAT except for the format. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.07.08, 06:14 AM Flag
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np: I think the sample was harder than the real test. Out of 20 questions in the sample, my dc got 4 wrong. Surprisingly, she did much better on the actual test. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.07.08, 07:37 AM Flag
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We didn't prep at all, for any of the tests. DC did very well. I don't doubt a lot of people prep, but I don't think it's as rampant as you fear. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.06.08, 07:55 PM Flag
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We did prep and it worked out very well. It does not hurt to prep, does it? GL [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.07.08, 05:42 AM Flag
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My best advice: make peace NOW with the fact that testing 4 yr olds is inherently arbitrary. It might work out well for your dc, and it might fail miserably. You can prep until the cows come home, and your kid could still bomb the test for reasons wholly outside your control. Remember also that the G&T test really has nothing to do with your dc's ability to succeed in school. The sooner you realize this, the better off you will be in the long run. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.07.08, 05:52 AM Flag
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There's prepping and there's prepping. Yes, you should certainly do the sample test. Probably twice -- three weeks before and maybe once more closer to the test. But I see nothing wrong with doing fun workbooks or Brain Quest cards to give your child a chance to get familiar with some concepts he/she may not have encountered before, like sequencing or differences. So many schools these days are progressive and they don't teach any of this stuff. It falls on you. Other things to know for the BRSA -- does your child know all his or her shapes? Mine didn't. I didn't know that. How silly not so show him or her. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.07.08, 07:33 AM Flag
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I'm prepping. Got stuff from the internet. I don't think my child is naturally brilliant, but whatever advantage I can give her is great. Our local school really sucks. And I don't even know where to move now, because it seems that all the good schools will be rezoned in the next year. G&T is my only hope at this point. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.07.08, 07:45 AM Flag
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Are you in D2? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.07.08, 07:46 AM Flag
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OP: No, I'm in Brooklyn. And NOT in district 15. And all of our schools are bad, so citywide is our only option, otherwise we are moving to suburbs. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.07.08, 06:25 PM Flag
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Repeat after me. The purpose of a G&T school is NOT to avoid your zoned school. I though the current changes made that very clear. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.07.08, 07:56 AM Flag
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do it normally. Just do the usual stuff you would do anyway: puzzles, read to dc, block building, maze games, stuff like that. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.07.08, 06:27 PM Flag
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I, personally, think that most of the above posters are lying to get an advantage for their dds (so that other kids would do worse). Why wouldn't you prep??? If you have time - of course! But, of course, I could be wrong, and everyone's kids are just naturally 99.5 brilliant. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.07.08, 06:55 PM Flag
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yes, you should prep for the OLSAT if you want to give your dc the best opportunity. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.07.08, 07:25 PM Flag
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