Lessons Learned #7

Being a good athlete is not a guaranteed ticket to college scholarships.

I have said it before, and I will say it again – the chances of a student receiving a college scholarship for athletics are very low. When parents push students to excel at a sport to the point that it takes time away from the student’s academic career, they are only doing their child a disservice. Parents cannot tell their children that academics are important, and then schedule them for three teams a season, so that the student has little to no time to do homework, and then expect that the student is going to excel in school. Something has to give, and usually it is a student’s grades.

Lessons Learned #6

We all learn differently, and at a different pace.

Sometimes a student is perfectly capable of grasping a concept, but they are in a class that is too big, and they can’t get the attention they need from a teacher. Students may learn better visually, but the teacher uses an auditory teaching style. The student may learn best by doing, but the structure of the class demands that they sit in a seat for 30 or 45 minutes at a time, with no opportunity for experiential learning. Sometimes the pace of the class is too fast, and leaves the student behind. Other times the pace of the class is too slow, and the student tunes out. Despite a teacher’s best efforts to give each of his or her students what they need, it is virtually impossible to do so in a class of 25-30 students. Many teachers are forced to “teach to the middle”, and hope for the best.

Lessons Learned #5

Negative thoughts can become self-fulfilling prophecies.

When a student struggles with subjects like math, languages or science (especially when these subjects may have come easily to them before now) they can often descend into a spiral of poor performance that becomes somewhat self-perpetuating. Often what is needed to break this cycle is some “wins”. Having someone show them how to master a previously difficult concept instills confidence, and allows the student to feel that they can solve that difficult equation, learn those tricky tenses, or understand that complicated concept.

Lessons Learned #4

Effort goes a long way.

Many students, particularly those at key transition points in their educational careers are stymied when they are required to expend more effort for things that used to take them a lot less time to accomplish in another grade, or another school. Complaints of: “I always spend about 20 minutes on math homework.” are common, and reflect not only a student’s frustration, but also a lack of understanding about what is required for success. Developing new habits is key to success when expectations are changing.

Summer Brain Drain

Now that school is (almost) out for everyone, it does not mean that learning has to end. I recently received a newsletter from BPS that contained a very interesting statistic - the average child loses about a month of academic progress made during the school year. The school year in America is on average 180 days long. In South Korea the school year is 220 days long, in Japan the school year is 243 days long. On a recent test to measure math ability in students in industrialized nations, students were asked how many of the algebra, calculus and geometry questions on the test had the students learned in school. Japanese 12th graders had learned 92% of the material in school, American 12th graders had only learned 52% of the material in school. No wonder America is falling behind other industrialized countries in math and science. Summer does not have to be a time of brain drain. Keep your child engaged in reading and math over the summer so they have a competitive advantage once school starts in the fall. Some of the highest paid careers (medicine, law, finance, engineering, etc.) require excellent math and verbal skills.

Lesson Learned - #3

A lack of good study skills is the downfall of many a bright student.

No matter how bright the student, if they do not have solid study skills, they are bound to run into trouble as elementary school leads into middle school, middle school leads into high school, and high school leads into college. Students at these key transition points in their education are often expected to “step it up”. Without the proper tools: organizational skills, time management, project management, etc., they are often at a loss as to how to meet these increased expectations. We work with students to teach a very comprehensive study skills curriculum that works on organization, time management, project management, and a number of other very important study skills that will enable them to succeed.

Lessons Learned - #2

This is the second in a series of lessons learned as we review the past school year.


The problem is usually not going to go away, or solve itself.

Most times if students are struggling with a subject (especially cumulative subjects like math and languages) if they fall behind at the beginning of the school year, it is only going to get worse. Waiting for the 2nd and 3rd report card to see if there is improvement is often a recipe for failure. Address problems early on, and you can expect better results. It is almost impossible to try to teach a student a whole year of math or language in an hour a week, during the last two months of the school year. Seek help for your child as soon as the problem becomes apparent. Again, use the summer to get caught up on subjects where students are behind, so that they start the school year off on solid footing.

BLS Class of 2009 College Matriculation

Below is a list of the colleges and universities BLS students will attend in the fall. A lot of local favorites! It is interesting to note that almost 25% of the graduates are going to a state school. This may be because 97% of the class are Adams Scholars, and are eligible for free tuition at in-state schools.

Boston University 50 13.74%
U Mass Amherst 44 12.09%
Harvard 17 4.67%
Boston College 16 4.40%
Northeastern 12 3.30%
Bridgewater State 9 2.47%
MCPHS 8 2.20%
Tufts 8 2.20%
McGill 6 1.65%
MIT 6 1.65%
U Mass Boston 6 1.65%
U Mass Lowell 6 1.65%
UNH 6 1.65%
Bentley 5 1.37%
Suffolk 5 1.37%
Curry College 4 1.10%
Drexel 4 1.10%
Fitchburg State 4 1.10%
Providence College 4 1.10%
Simmons College 4 1.10%
St. John's University 4 1.10%
Stonehill 4 1.10%
University of Vermont 4 1.10%
Wentworth 4 1.10%
Brandeis 3 0.82%
Bucknell 3 0.82%
George Washington 3 0.82%
U Mass Dartmouth 3 0.82%
Westfield State 3 0.82%
American International 2 0.55%
Amherst College 2 0.55%
Arizona State 2 0.55%
Brigham Young 2 0.55%
Centre College 2 0.55%
Clark University 2 0.55%
Fairfield University 2 0.55%
Framingham State 2 0.55%
Goucher 2 0.55%
Lasell College 2 0.55%
Mass Maritime Academy 2 0.55%
MCLA 2 0.55%
Salem State 2 0.55%
St. Michael's College 2 0.55%
University of Hartford 2 0.55%
University of Maine 2 0.55%
Ursinus College 2 0.55%
Warren Wilson 2 0.55%
American University 1 0.27%
American U of Beirut 1 0.27%
Anna Maria 1 0.27%
Babson 1 0.27%
Bard College 1 0.27%
Barnard 1 0.27%
Bates 1 0.27%
Bryn Mawr 1 0.27%
Carnegie Mellon 1 0.27%
Catholic University 1 0.27%
Chapman 1 0.27%
Coastal Carolina 1 0.27%
Colgate University 1 0.27%
Columbia University 1 0.27%
Concordia 1 0.27%
Cornell 1 0.27%
Denison University 1 0.27%
Emerson 1 0.27%
Georgetown 1 0.27%
Hampshire College 1 0.27%
Hampton University 1 0.27%
Hartwick College 1 0.27%
Hawaii Pacific U 1 0.27%
Hofstra 1 0.27%
Holy Cross 1 0.27%
Iona College 1 0.27%
Johnson & Wales 1 0.27%
Kalamazoo College 1 0.27%
Macalester 1 0.27%
Manhattanville College 1 0.27%
Marines 1 0.27%
Middlebury 1 0.27%
Montserrat 1 0.27%
Nazareth College 1 0.27%
Norwich 1 0.27%
NYU 1 0.27%
Pace University 1 0.27%
Pratt Institute 1 0.27%
Princeton 1 0.27%
Reed College 1 0.27%
Rensselaer Polytechnic 1 0.27%
RISD 1 0.27%
Rochester Institute 1 0.27%
Roger Williams 1 0.27%
Santa Clara University 1 0.27%
School of Art Inst. 1 0.27%
Siena College 1 0.27%
Skidmore College 1 0.27%
Spelman 1 0.27%
St. Anselm College 1 0.27%
St. Olaf College 1 0.27%
St. Xavier University 1 0.27%
Stanford University 1 0.27%
Syracuse 1 0.27%
Trinity College 1 0.27%
Trinity University 1 0.27%
Tulane 1 0.27%
U San Diego 1 0.27%
Union College 1 0.27%
U Conn 1 0.27%
University of Edinburgh 1 0.27%
University of Hawaii 1 0.27%
University of Maryland 1 0.27%
U of Southern Cal 1 0.27%
U of St. Andrews 1 0.27%
University of Tampa 1 0.27%
University of Toronto 1 0.27%
Vassar 1 0.27%
Washington College 1 0.27%
Wellesley 1 0.27%
Wheaton 1 0.27%
Wheelock College 1 0.27%
Yale 1 0.27%

Total 364 100.00%

BPS Students Offered 70 hours of free ISEE Prep

The Boston Latin School Alumni Association has long funded a program called the Exam Schools Initiative. The program is by invitation only to 1,000 Boston Public School 5th graders only, based on scores on the MCAS and Advanced Work tests.

This year they will be offering 70 hours of free ISEE test prep at Boston Latin School starting in July and ending just before the test in November.

Of the 1,000 students invited, they will have seats for approximately 350 students. These are some of Boston Public Schools best and brightest students, many from the highly regarded Advanced Work Program.

These 350 students will have a huge advantage over other ISEE test takers this year.

If Latin School feels that the best and brightest students from BPS need almost 70 hours of ISEE prep in order to get into the exam schools, then clearly we have been onto something for a while!

We have found that hands down the BPS Advanced Work students are the best prepared students we see coming for ISEE prep. The curriculum these students are taught is more advanced than any other program we have seen in the area (public, private or parochial).

Boston Latin School invited 463 students in 2009.

We expect that next spring there will be a big change in the composition of who is admitted to the exam schools.

Lessons Learned - #1

As the school year draws to a close, I have been reflecting on some lessons that ring true time and time again in our work with parents and students. This is the first in a series of observations on lessons learned.

Lesson #1

Time is on your side, but only up to a certain point. When students are preparing for a high stakes test such as SATs or the ISEE, the more preparation they have in advance the better. Waiting until a few weeks before the test is nothing more than cramming, and usually does not produce good results. Waiting until the last minute only leads to stress and anxiety, and it does not have to be this way. Summer is a great time to prepare for tests given in the fall and early winter.

ISEE vs. SSAT

Some students will be taking the SSAT this weekend as practice for the ISEE. We do not recommend students go through this exercise. We have seen instances where students were so shell shocked by how difficult the SSAT was that they were completely discouraged and afraid of the ISEE. Below is an excerpt from an article I wrote a few years ago comparing the two tests. This should give you the facts you need to decide if it makes sense for your child to take the SSAT as practice for the ISEE.

There is a school of thought that suggests that students preparing for the ISEE (Independent Schools Entrance Exam) or the Latin School test take the SSAT in the spring, prior to taking the ISEE in the fall. It is helpful to understand some basic information about the two tests before you compare the differences in the tests, and determine whether or not it makes sense to take the SSAT as practice for the ISEE.

Students are only allowed to take the ISEE once every six months. The ISEE is typically administered in the fall. The ISEE also has three different levels: Lower, Middle and Upper. Lower Level test takers are in grades 4 and 5 at the time they take the test, and are applying for admission to grades 5 and 6. Middle Level test takers are in grades 6 and 7 at the time they take the test, and are applying for admission to grades 7 and 8. Upper Level test takers are in grades 8 and above at the time they take the test, and are applying for admission to grades 9 and above.

If a student takes the ISEE in the fall or spring of 5^th grade, they are taking the Lower Level test. If that same student takes the test in the fall of 6^th grade, they are taking the Middle level test. The Middle level test is more challenging than the Lower Level test. Test takers taking the Middle Level test can expect less time per section, more challenging questions, and a math section that contains much more Algebra and Geometry, as well as a Quantitative Comparison section (an analytical and reasoning section of math that is very different than they type of math most students have encountered in school). Many students struggle with Quantitative Comparisons in particular, because they are not used to solving math problems in this way. The Upper Level ISEE has a more challenging reading comprehension section, more advanced vocabulary than the Middle Level test, and more advanced math problems (particularly in Algebra).

Given the way the ISEE is structured, with Lower, Middle and Upper Level editions, and the six month testing restriction, there really is no way to take the test for practice. The Educational Records Bureau (ERB), the company that administers the ISEE, does not allow students to take the test for practice, and states in their registration material that students must be taking the test in concert with applying to a member school (a private school or an exam school). In fact, the ERB strongly recommends against “cramming” for the test – preparing for the test a few weeks before it is administered. For most students this type of last minute preparation does not work, and it is a waste of time. All that is accomplished is that the student is now very stressed about taking the test.

The ISEE is primarily used by private schools admitting students in grades 5-8. The ISEE is also used by the Boston Exam schools for admission to grades 7, 9 and 10 (O’Bryant School in the only exam school that admits students for grade 10). Most private schools require a different test for admission to the 9^th grade and above. Catholic schools generally require the Catholic Schools Entrance Exam for admission to 9^th grade and above. Private schools typically require the SSAT for high school admission (even if they require the ISEE for middle school admission). Some schools have their own test that they administer. It is wise to check with the school(s) to which you are planning to apply, to see what their specific requirements are for the grade level you will be applying for admission.

Now that we have learned a bit about the ISEE, let’s look at the SSAT. The SSAT is the Secondary School Admission Test. The SSAT has an Upper Level and a Lower Level section, no Middle Level. The Lower Level test is taken by students in the 5^th, 6^th and 7^th grade at the time they take the test. The Upper Level test is taken by students in grades 8 and above. The SSAT is considered a harder test than the ISEE in many ways. Let’s look at some of the key differences.

• The SSAT has a writing section that is timed for 25 minutes. The ISEE has a writing section that is timed for 30 minutes. There is no writing section on the Latin School Exam.

• The SSAT has 5 multiple-choice answers for each questions, the ISEE has only 4 answers. So it is easier to guess on the ISEE.

• The SSAT has a guessing penalty. For every wrong answer on the SSAT students lose one quarter of a point. There is no guessing penalty on the ISEE.

• The SSAT has a section of Analogies. The ISEE has no Analogies.

• The ISEE has a large Sentence Completion section; the SSAT has no Sentence Completions.

• There are no Quantitative Comparison questions in the math section of the SSAT. The ISEE has a large Quantitative Comparison section, and it is very challenging for the majority of students (even for those who are normally strong in math). Quantitative comparisons are not math concepts that are generally taught in school.

• The ISEE is also a longer test than the SSAT. The ISEE typically takes about 3 hours to complete. The SSAT is administered in about 2.5 hours. Many students suffer from “test fatigue” during longer tests.

There is no real value for students in taking the SSAT in the spring of the year they are going to take the ISEE, or the Latin School Test.

The two tests are vastly different: they test different material, the timing and the pace of the tests is different, the SSAT is harder than the ISEE in many ways, grading is different for the two test (guessing penalty vs. no guessing penalty) and the length of the tests is different (the ISEE is about 15% longer than the SSAT).

You are not comparing apples to apples when you use the SSAT as a proxy for how students might do on the ISEE. It is more like you are comparing apples to kumquats! Why test a student on analogies when they are not going to be on the ISEE? Why test on an essay that is not on the Exam School version of the ISEE? Why test on math that excludes one of the hardest sections of the ISEE (Quantitative Comparisons)? Why test on a verbal section on the SSAT that omits Sentence Completions (a key part of the ISEE verbal section)?

Most importantly, why put a student through the stress of taking a test that has no real value in determining how they will do on another test (the ISEE or Exam Schools test) that will be administered almost 6 months later?

Inspiring Stories

The Boston Sunday Globe on 6/6/09 had an article about class Valedictorians in Boston. One kid who really left an impression on me was Edner Paul. Edner came to the US from Haiti at age 12 not speaking any English. Within a few months he was proficient in English. He took the ISEE (Latin School Test) to gain admission to the John D. O'Bryant School of Mathematics and Science, and he will be graduating on Friday with a full scholarship to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This young man has achieved quite a bit in a very short period of time. His dedication and perseverance has paid off. It just goes to show you what effort and attitude can accomplish! Congratulations to Edner and all the graduates of the class of 2009 (including my son Justin - Boston Latin School class of 2009)!

Adding a 6th grade to the Boston Exam Schools?

After a very nice night at BLS graduation last night I wake up this morning to this article in the Globe:

http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2009/06/09/bostons_elite_exam_schools_explore_admitting_sixth_graders/

This has to be one of the worst ideas I have heard in a long time. Where is the space at BLS for this? Budgets are being cut and teachers laid off. Where is the faculty going to come from? The 7th graders have a hard enough time transitioning to BLS, never mind asking a 6th grader to do it. Many kids at this age are just not developmentally ready for a place like BLS.

This plan also suggests that in order to accommodate the addition of a 6th grade the number of incoming students be reduced. That will not help with space issues for the 5 years it will take to transition the existing larger classes out of the building.

Also, the ISEE is a hard enough test for a 6th grader to take to get into 7th grade with Algebra and vocabulary words like recalcitrant. Now they want a 5th grader to take the test for 6th grade?

I am hoping BPS is really not serious about this. The focus should be on creating more K-6 schools with Advanced Work for grades 4-6 in one school. If you want to send your child to Advanced Work and then an exam school, they may have to attend up to 4 schools in 8 years (K-3) for elementary, 4th and 5th grade for Advanced Work in an elementary school, 6th grade for Advanced Work in a middle school and then finally 7th grade at an exam school. This is just nuts!

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