Testing for Kindergarten: Simple Strategies to Help Your Child Ace the Tests for: Public School Placement, Private School Admissions, Gifted Program Qualification Paperback – Illustrated, July 6, 2010

This is not one of but THE book to read if you have small children and are preparing them to take one of the IQ tests out there for entrance into kindergarten.Although the title of this book is "Testing for Kindergarten," it actually teaches a parent the building blocks for a great relationship with one's child, which is the foundation for learning.I wish I had this book to read when I was pregnant with my son five years ago; alongside all the pregnancy books I read, I think all the tips and advice in Testing for Kindergarten would have added to the excitement of bringing a child into this world and of being a parent, and taking the role of being my child's first teacher seriously and earnestly.As a mom, you spend a lot of time with your child, often not knowing what to do, what games to play or what to talk to them about. When my son was a baby, I wasn't thinking about the day when he will be given an IQ test, but the day is soon approaching.While I greatly recommend this book to any mom or dad that is about to have children, I actually only got it a month ago, and I can truly say it has changed my approach to rearing my son (and daughter). I want to have fun with them, I want to teach them, because what the author does (Karen Quinn) is show you that learning can be incorporated in everyday activities that you do with your child. So now if I am walking with my son I talk to him, I point things out, I ask him questions. Maybe I did all that before, but having read Testing for Kindergarten, I am doing things in an informed way that will benefit my child academically and in life.I can't say enough of this book. There is much much more in the book than what I wrote about here. She gives so much information about the tests themselves (OLSAT, Bracken, Wechsler, Stanford-Binet, and Tag programs, and others)that is so hard to find anywhere else. I feel so lucky to have found this book and strongly recommend it.

I do not live in an area where school is as highly competitive as it is in bigger cities, but still am concerned that my child will be placed in the most advanced class that he is capable of. I have always had a mistrust of entrance tests because of the stories I hear now and again about my former Montessori classmate showed how just being smart alone doesn't make you prepared for school. This child was touted by those at the school as brilliant but the findings at his first grade placement testing were totally opposite. In just one scenario, the child sensed the teacher was not patient so when listing all the animals he could think of he cut it short for her by offering examples by category such as a mammal, an amphibian, and so on...and thus his list was short and he was labeled a dummy. Though I do not need to excessively coach my child for kindergarten greatness I want to be sure that he has a fair shot at a good education within his genuine ability level.I have a long ways to go before any placement test but I was curious as to what my child should be prepared for.Ultimately this book teaches parents not merely to coach for a test but how to measure their own child's ability and learn their strengths and short comings. It gives action plans for parents to engage their child and even maps out a learning plan. Even though I am not trying to get my child into an elite program this book is a great tool for me to see where I can help boost him up and where he already excels so I can encourage and stimulate his "gifts". I have found little blurbs and tools but this book is a great road map. It has also allowed me to see that the school we chose for him is indeed contributing to his learning and academic success for the future.

This book not only sheds light on the abilities and skills tested for admission to or placement in kindergarten, but offers hundreds of suggestions for low or no cost activities to entertain and teach your child. Most of the activities require little more than an active imagination. We have already tried a few of the recommended games and my preschooler gave them a thumbs-up. Even my older child wanted to get in on the games. The book also suggests fun educational products and games that you can buy separately that also help teach skills needed for early school success and readiness. I would recommend this book not only to parents, but to babysitters, daycare providers and early education teachers. This is a good read even if you have no intention of having your child sit for any of the standardized tests required for admission to private or selective public kindergarten. Well worth the price!

Families who visit my educational consulting blog, [...], frequently purchase Karen Quinn's Testing for Kindergarten. The book is popular because Quinn gives very good ideas for books and toys that help children do better on admissions tests like the ERB (the test required for admission to NYC and some other private schools). While nowadays you can buy expensive workbooks that very specifically teach to the test, Quinn's book is an economical option that allows parents to teach to the skills tested vs. to the specific question type. While some reviewers have taken issue with teaching preschoolers to a test--and they are right--I think the real complaint should be against the schools which require preschool admissions testing for entrance. As long as kindergartens require tests for entry, parents are going to do whatever is required to help their children get into the best schools. Quinn's book can help families gain some control over the process.