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Testing for Kindergarten: Simple Strategies to Help Your Child Ace the Tests for: Public School Placement, Private School Admissions, Gifted Program Qualification
Karen Quinn has successfully taught hundreds of parents how to prepare their children for testing, and Testing For Kindergarten is her ultimate, comprehensive guide to having fun while teaching to the underlying abilities every test assesses.
Whether your child is going to a private kindergarten or a public school, he or she will most likely be tested—and placed in classrooms according to those results. But information about intelligence tests is closely guarded, and it can be difficult to understand what your kids need to know.
As an expert who has successfully taught hundreds of parents how to work with their own children, Karen Quinn has written the ultimate guide to preparing your child for kindergarten testing. The activities she suggests are not about “teaching to the test.” They are about having fun while teaching to the underlying abilities every test assesses.
From the “right” way to have a conversation to natural ways to bring out your child’s inner math geek, Quinn shares the techniques that every parent can do with their kids to give them the best chance to succeed in school and beyond. It’s just good parenting—and better test scores are icing on the cake.
Whether your child is going to a private kindergarten or a public school, he or she will most likely be tested—and placed in classrooms according to those results. But information about intelligence tests is closely guarded, and it can be difficult to understand what your kids need to know.
As an expert who has successfully taught hundreds of parents how to work with their own children, Karen Quinn has written the ultimate guide to preparing your child for kindergarten testing. The activities she suggests are not about “teaching to the test.” They are about having fun while teaching to the underlying abilities every test assesses.
From the “right” way to have a conversation to natural ways to bring out your child’s inner math geek, Quinn shares the techniques that every parent can do with their kids to give them the best chance to succeed in school and beyond. It’s just good parenting—and better test scores are icing on the cake.
272 pages, Paperback
First published June 18, 2010
41 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 23, 2020
I am not interested in getting my children into competitive kindergartens. I AM interested in seeing what said kindergartens are looking for, why, and how my own children would perform in that environment. As a means of satisfying my curiosity, this book was helpful. As a philosophical guide for life choices and education, it was self-absorbed at best, and harmful at its worst.
July 26, 2010
When asked to read this book I decided to read the synopsis and bio of the author. After doing my little investigation I was eager to get this book in my hands. In Testing for Kindergarten, Quinn goes the extra mile to help parents understand the testing that all children will face before they reach the age of five. She took on the role of concerned parent to compile the strategies that every parent should know when it comes to their children taking and acing tests. As parents we tend to think our children are the smartest children around. Don't get me wrong every child is smart but are we really trained to access and nurture their needs to make sure they excel in all areas, especially academically. Quinn takes parents on a road to discovering the 7 abilities all children need to succeed in school. According to Quinn, "These are the same 7 abilities that every common intelligence test is designed to access."
In addition, to giving parents the inside scoop about testing that teachers and educators know but fail to tell parents, Quinn provides the reader with many actives you can do with your kid to enhance their learning momentum. Some of these activities can also be found at her website(http://testingforkindergarten.com).
The part of this book that really stood out to me was, "You are your child's most important teacher." As parents, aunts, uncles, and friends we know that children tend to mimic everything they see and hear from us. I know I just love when my great-niece takes her book from me and starts to read it to me. She even changes the pitch of her voice to dramatize what I do. Oh and she is only 1-year-old. But she learned this from us reading to her and now she mimics us. Cute.
I say all that to reiterate, parents we are our children's first teachers. As a certified parent educator with Parents As Teacher, I love going into homes to assist families in making sure their children are on the right path. I recommend this book to any and all parents. It teaches you invaluable information that you can use and pass along. I know I will be buying a copy for each of my nieces to make sure they understand these concepts while teaching my great-nieces.
Note- When speaking of parents I often refer to "our" children or "our" roles as parents. I am not a mommy yet, but I feel an obligation to do my part to help educate all children. I feel that as humans we are in this together and it is "our" role to educate. It really does take a village to raise a child.
In addition, to giving parents the inside scoop about testing that teachers and educators know but fail to tell parents, Quinn provides the reader with many actives you can do with your kid to enhance their learning momentum. Some of these activities can also be found at her website(http://testingforkindergarten.com).
The part of this book that really stood out to me was, "You are your child's most important teacher." As parents, aunts, uncles, and friends we know that children tend to mimic everything they see and hear from us. I know I just love when my great-niece takes her book from me and starts to read it to me. She even changes the pitch of her voice to dramatize what I do. Oh and she is only 1-year-old. But she learned this from us reading to her and now she mimics us. Cute.
I say all that to reiterate, parents we are our children's first teachers. As a certified parent educator with Parents As Teacher, I love going into homes to assist families in making sure their children are on the right path. I recommend this book to any and all parents. It teaches you invaluable information that you can use and pass along. I know I will be buying a copy for each of my nieces to make sure they understand these concepts while teaching my great-nieces.
Note- When speaking of parents I often refer to "our" children or "our" roles as parents. I am not a mommy yet, but I feel an obligation to do my part to help educate all children. I feel that as humans we are in this together and it is "our" role to educate. It really does take a village to raise a child.
July 11, 2010
It's interesting because here in Columbia, SC, in the city public school system, my 5-year old was not tested prior to entering kindergarten. However, there is a K4 program for which children must be tested in order to enter it, and from what I've been told from other parents, you must “fail” the test in order to get in. I guess this prepares children who are behind in specif areas for kindergarten. But since testing for Coco won't be until August sometime, I don't have any first-hand experience to impart.
I like the fact that the book is NOT geared toward “teaching to the test”. That is one of my pet peeves. It was when I was in school, and it is now that I'm in the working world and have trained other people, have been trained by others, etc, I believe it serves no purpose to teach people only enough to pass a test. We need to teach concepts as well, so that people can get an understanding of what they're learning, instead of simply teaching them how to memorize a specific thing that ends up never translating to the job well.
This is a parent-friendly book. Karen Quinn describes the different types of IQ tests, what they test for, and how they test. She explains the types of test questions. If you sign up on her website, she will also email you sample test questions for you to review with your child. My 4-year old was excited to review the “puzzle” questions I had for her. They take hardly any time. And I could hear her talking to her big sister (age 6) and big cousin (age 10) in the other room and explaining what she knew. It was cute.
She describes other ways to incorporate the skills a kindergartner should have before kindergarten. It makes it really easy to learn. Obviously, this isn't a book to read in one setting, and then put it back on the shelf. This is the type of book you'll skim the first few times, then sit down and read word-for-word, over the course of several months, as you help to prepare your little one for school. This is definitely a keeper.
I like the fact that the book is NOT geared toward “teaching to the test”. That is one of my pet peeves. It was when I was in school, and it is now that I'm in the working world and have trained other people, have been trained by others, etc, I believe it serves no purpose to teach people only enough to pass a test. We need to teach concepts as well, so that people can get an understanding of what they're learning, instead of simply teaching them how to memorize a specific thing that ends up never translating to the job well.
This is a parent-friendly book. Karen Quinn describes the different types of IQ tests, what they test for, and how they test. She explains the types of test questions. If you sign up on her website, she will also email you sample test questions for you to review with your child. My 4-year old was excited to review the “puzzle” questions I had for her. They take hardly any time. And I could hear her talking to her big sister (age 6) and big cousin (age 10) in the other room and explaining what she knew. It was cute.
She describes other ways to incorporate the skills a kindergartner should have before kindergarten. It makes it really easy to learn. Obviously, this isn't a book to read in one setting, and then put it back on the shelf. This is the type of book you'll skim the first few times, then sit down and read word-for-word, over the course of several months, as you help to prepare your little one for school. This is definitely a keeper.
November 23, 2023
It’s kind of ridiculous that this book even exists. I read it as I was intrigued about childhood assessment as my son’s Montessori school is assessing the pre-K kids from a formative perspective rather than a summative one. Reading this book reminded me why we chose to live in Brooklyn rather than Manhattan and why we chose a Montessori school rather than the insane alternative options in NYC. There is some really interesting content in here but I think the author is confusing the ends for the means. My son loves brain teasers and puzzles, for their own sake rather than for testing his intelligence or to get into some special school. The book also contains a lot of material that has been debunked or is at least based on no science or weak science (Multiple Intelligences, Learning Styles, Growth Mindset etc). So why four stars? Because it is incredibly comprehensive and many of the suggestions are actually good parenting tips if done in a subtle, natural way.
June 14, 2022
Living in NYC I doubt we would be able to place our daughter in any G&T programs or schools even if we followed every recommendation in this book from Day 1. Its just too competitive and bonkers of a system. I loved, however, the innumerable practical activities, books, and workbooks that Quinn recommended for kids. While we found and did some of the suggestions one our own we appreciated the new suggestions. Regardless of outcome, our daughter loves these suggestions and that's really the most important part of learning!
May 4, 2019
Good tips, easy read. I totally did some puzzle work with my son after reading this!
Read
March 24, 2020Interesting as a look into SES-related differences in school readiness.
September 24, 2012
"Testing for Kindergarten" presented well-researched, play-based enrichment activities that the author herself used with her own children, alongside practical tips for success in education in the current environment (of uber-competitive schooling).
I'll admit--I was skeptical that a book with this title might be a manual for psycho-parenting. All parents want their children to do well, but we've all known a few who are too competitive, too intense, and who take preparing their children for school too far. Quinn balanced a sense of realism about when and how it made sense to help your child improve her chances with a sense of perspective on why such activities were recommended in the first place.
Quinn's suggestions are play-based (in other words, no intense drilling or quizzing of toddlers appears in her advice). This would have been a solid book even with drier, more formal, tone--yet, Quinn's wit led to laugh-out-loud moments that made "Testing for Kindergarten" a true pleasure to read.
I'll admit--I was skeptical that a book with this title might be a manual for psycho-parenting. All parents want their children to do well, but we've all known a few who are too competitive, too intense, and who take preparing their children for school too far. Quinn balanced a sense of realism about when and how it made sense to help your child improve her chances with a sense of perspective on why such activities were recommended in the first place.
Quinn's suggestions are play-based (in other words, no intense drilling or quizzing of toddlers appears in her advice). This would have been a solid book even with drier, more formal, tone--yet, Quinn's wit led to laugh-out-loud moments that made "Testing for Kindergarten" a true pleasure to read.
Read
March 20, 2013I was skeptical about the title of this book. My daughter is about to embark on testing for kindergarten so I wanted to be informed, but there is heavy warning about trying to prep your child for intelligence tests so I was scared that even looking at such a title would hurt the process. I am glad that I decided to take a look! This book isn't about how to cheat on an IQ test, it is about raising your child with a clue. Since I have read many parenting books and publications, attend parenting classes and was a daycare provider for 10 years, I already had a clue. What I have now, is confidence in knowing I did many things right in how I interact with my children and I am fairly certain my daughter will love taking the test, whether or not she scores well.
Update: my daughter scored in the 98th percentile, and yes, LOVED taking the test!
I left off on page 153. I hope to get back to finish this one.
Update: my daughter scored in the 98th percentile, and yes, LOVED taking the test!
I left off on page 153. I hope to get back to finish this one.
January 5, 2016
A very straightforward and clear book about how intelligence tests are administered to children, and (even better) how to enhance the ways you normally interact with your children to help their development, both for their education and for non-academic life skills. Although the writing can get a bit dry with a lot of lists, it's not too long and I appreciate that the book doesn't spend extra effort repeating itself. The best parts are when the author is relating the information to her own story of raising her two children as best she could.
August 19, 2016
Excellent for its intended audience, or really for any parent of a young child. Most of the book is expert advice about how to help 1-6 year old children acquire the skills needed for school and success. I otherwise never would have appreciated the significant educational benefits of games like Simon Says, I Spy, Red Light/Green Light, Marco Polo, Connect 4, Candy Land, and $20,000 Pyramid -- to name just a few of the fun games and activities described in the book.
Not to mention it's well written and fun to read.
Not to mention it's well written and fun to read.
January 9, 2011
Great for getting an understanding of how your child may be tested and what it means for their school experience. Especially applicable for those in NYC. If you school district offers some of the other tests listed in the book than it should be helpful. It also has fun ideas of games and activities you could do with your preschooler (3 to 5) that can help prepare them for testing and develop their thinking in several areas.
August 5, 2013
Good book with great tips to prepare your child for school.
September 18, 2013
I really enjoyed the games/activities lists. Many of them you can do in the car.
July 15, 2015
I recommend this book to all parents/
February 17, 2017
Don't agree with every viewpoint but some interesting information.
August 16, 2011
The only useful book I read on IQ testing for kids
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews