Dear Friend,
Happy New Year! It is exciting to be in this time of new beginnings. January has always been a time of evaluation for me. Half the school year is behind us (for better or for worse), but there is still the second half in which we can make changes. Thank goodness!
Having finished with the active role of educating my children, I can look back with no regrets because my kids actually had a childhood. Even though I knew what standardized tests were looming on the horizon, they didn’t impact the way we did school. In fact, some experts say that the best preparation during the younger years for college entrance tests is for students to read widely, participate in debate (after the age of 14), and play a musical instrument. How simple is that?
A normal, thoughtful life is actually more enriched than all the special classes, flash cards, and prep books. In fact, all the enrichment activities can actually hinder your child’s development. So, relax. Read great books, engage your children in thoughtful discussion, follow their interests, and watch the magic happen! If your student not yet in high school, don’t worry about the feature article. Skip it and go read a great book to your kids. However, if your students are in 8th grade or early high school, it’s time to start learning about what is waiting ahead of you.
Blessings,
Jeannette
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Feature Article: PSAT-NMSQT
I will not normally focus on the craziness that often accompanies college prep planning, but it is important that you understand the standardized testing and what it can mean for your child. To that end, for a few months I will devote a section of the e-zine to explaining the types of tests that will be meaningful to you once you start high school. Today, we will highlight the PSAT.
The PSAT-NMSQT began as a practice for the SAT test, but has evolved into the screening mechanism for the National Merit awards (as well as other prestigious programs and awards). Your student can take it as a practice test in October of their sophomore year and no one will see the scores. The actual test (with National Merit implications) is taken in October of the junior year in high school. If your students are sophomores and do not have the requisite math skills, don’t worry about it. I wasn’t willing to blow my student’s confidence, so we waited until the actual test in the junior year.
It is very important that your students prepare for any standardized test they take. The summer after the sophomore year, I recommend your student purchase a test prep book and take multiple practice tests at home to prepare. The real secret that most students miss is that just taking practice tests is of limited value. Students only improve scores when they analyze each question they missed and take steps to fill the gaps in their knowledge. Perhaps there are certain math concepts they do not understand. Maybe they are being careless in the reading comprehension section. Whatever it is, students need to be disciplined and fix the problem.
I recommend they primarily study for the SAT, but also take a few PSAT practice tests as the PSAT is shorter and you have less time per question. With the SAT, students can miss a few questions and still get a perfect score. Not so with the PSAT.
Please be advised that, if you are home educated, you need to register for the test using the code for home education, not the code for your umbrella school (if you are enrolled in one).
You will have to make arrangements at your local school to take this test, so start inquiring about that at the end of your freshman year.
For more information about this little test that can yield big dividends can be found on www.collegeboard.com
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Resources
We’ve added some great new books and DVDs to the Resource section of our website. From educating and training younger children to making the best college choices, you’ll find things our family has personally used and highly recommend. Check it out.
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About Jeannette
Jeannette Webb is the founder of Aiming Higher Consultants, a firm dedicated to helping Christian students gain admission to great colleges. She has a heart for assisting parents as they train their children for excellence. Jeannette works to empower families to make thoughtful choices for their younger children, to confidently navigate the difficult high school years, and then ace the college admissions process.
If you liked today’s issue, you’ll love her personalized consulting services that help you map out a holistic plan for your student.
While Jeannette is best known for her clear-sighted counseling, her clients feel that her biggest gift to their family was permission to be themselves.
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