In 1998 the governor of Georgia, convinced it would boost the academic achievement of children in his state, attempted to fund a program giving every child in the state a Mozart tape, in order to take advantage of the so-called “Mozart effect” where listening to Mozart increases intelligence. Unfortunately, this effect has been fairly thoroughly…
As we reflect on the last few years since COVID started, it becomes abundantly clear that the landscape for standardized testing and private school admissions has changed drastically. As always, the admissions process remains secretive and individualized, with a significant number of schools choosing to go test optional, meaning the ISEE or SSAT tests are…
With spring break around the corner, many students may be wondering how best to use their time most productively. While students will of course want to relax and enjoy their well-earned rest, but spring break also provides ample time for students to catch up on missing work, prepare for tests or college admissions, or just…
Now that most of us are back to in-person school and events, I often hear parents say, “I’d like to have in-person tutoring sessions because online school didn’t work for my child.” Having experienced the challenges of Zoom kindergarten for my own daughter, I can relate. But having tutored multiple students online, I can also…
If you attend primary or middle school in California, you will likely take a standardized test at least once per year. Public school students take the CAASPP, which stands for the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress. The most common form of this test is the “Smarter Balanced Assessments for English Language Arts/Literacy and…