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The Bright Kids app was a huge help!

@Mrs. Jacks: Charlie took the gifted and talented test in the spring! The prep work we did helped a lot, but it ended up not mattering since he got into a local school doesn't have a program (this was our backup plan).

The test is delivered orally here, so we learned through hindsight that we probably should've had somebody else (besides us) test him! But it worked out, the iPad app from Bright Kids was really helpful!

We haven't looked into any of this but I was tested as a kid. I didn't have any prep. The counselor at school just took me in one day and that was it. We did some puzzles, logic things, reading and writing. It really didn't seem like a big deal (from my perspective)

We'll be doing it at age 4 to get C into the magnet school we want her to go to. The entire school is g&t but it feeds into one of the best high schools in the Midwest! So following this thread!

@Mrs. Jacks: I totally understand. Sorry I just meant to be encouraging and tell you the test wasn't that bad from a kids prospective. It didn't stress me out to be tested. I'm sure my mom was just as concerned as you, because that's what us moms do.

Funny story, my nephew was tested when he was fairly young and one of the tests was a group of several pictures. There was like a cup, a pencil, a water pitcher and a few other household items. The test admin asked for him to point to the pitcher. He said "there's no pitcher there." The admin told him there was he just had to piling to it. He stood up and said " no... A pitcher does this (gave a perfect pitchers wind up even with his leg up and everything and pretended to throw a baseball at the test admin) and I don't see any baseball players there." She pointed to the water pitcher and said "what is that." She said " I think it's a water jug." Even with that little blip he still did great.

Good luck!!!

I'm following. While this is years away, we are hoping to get into our zoned school's G & T. Mrs. Jacks, I hear you about having to subject someone so young to testing.

Are all G&T programs going the testing route now?

We won't prep. At the school we love, which alas is not free, they do a teacher eval, cognitive assessment by a psychologist on their list (I think they use the Wechsler), and then pure observation. They understand gifted mind doesn't necessarily mean "tests well," but they actually have brains that work differently and are often asynchronous in development. Again, LOVE this school. I hope your LO gets in- it's so important to educate kids in a way they personally thrive!

I am following this too because I am hope for the holy grail - a city-wide G&T spot.

I think your kid is either G&T or they're not. There may be some prep you can do, but you can't really fake it. If they're borderline, the extra apps and stuff could help. If they're gifted (or not), they don't need it. It's more than what facts they know.

I have no advice, but does anyone remember "a baloo is a bear"?!

I remember most of the testing I went through in school, I was much, much older (or at least old enough to remember it), and it was based on comprehending nonsense things (as above) and showing a modicum of imagination. I remember at least one with just a blank page with a couple of lines, and I had to draw a picture incorporating the lines and make up a short story.

@Mrs. Jacks: I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing. I just have an issue with the push for G&T and parents seemingly pushing their kids towards it because it means a better education--that's not what it should be. Like I said, not every child is "gifted and talented" and those children in the other classes should receive a great education, too. I could go off on a longer tangent about education, especially in NYC, but that's for another discussion!

I can give you a ton of info. Ill wall you. @mrsjacks

@Mrs. Jacks: How is the rich kid situation in NYC that different than trying to manipulate the test results? You sound like a well-educated woman blessed with good financial resources, who is probably giving your children a good home environment.

It seems like the testing might be causing your daughter some anxiety, and you haven't seemed that happy with the school. Why not either let the chips fall where they may on the testing, or if that is unacceptable, then cut some expenses to send her to a better school? I love saving money, but there are few things worth splurging on, and a child's education seems like something worth splurging on.

Good luck figuring out the best plan for your daughter!

@Mrs. Jacks: I have to agree with @AmeliaBedilia: here, especially if your daughter is already showing anxiety over these tests.

I don't think the sports analogy is commensurate to test prep, unless you were hiring a private coach prior to tryouts...

I also think letting the chips fall where they may is the better approach. We are in your shoes in terms of education (subpar public school option, G&T, or private, which is $$$) so I understand the allure of test prep but for the concerns you've voiced here, it sounds like you could just talk to her about the test and ease her concerns.

Our biggest reason for not pursuing test prep for our LO is because we want him in the right environment for his needs and teaching him how to pass the test to get into a G&T school if he's not gifted is doing him zero favors.

@Snowdrop: It's crazy but here in NYC, the test proctors aren't allowed to give any extra instructions - even if it's a basic misunderstanding! A few friends of ours had their kids fail the G&T test completely because the kids didn't have any idea what the examiner was asking...

I think that testing four year olds for being gifted is totally insane! It's a crazy system but in certain neighborhoods, it's the only way to get a good education in the public schools. We ended up having to move last year, to get access to a better school district that doesn't offer G&T (so that everyone gets the same education). I vastly prefer this system - but we definitely have to pay for it in the form of higher rents and property taxes!

@Mrs. Train: I was tested into a full time elementary GT class with no prep, like you. Seems like a very different world today with all of the test prep option$. But I remember I didn't know what a water pitcher was either. Only a baseball pitcher. We were on the low middle class side and always filled our water from a sink.
ETA:
Fit Brains for Kids: Sparky is a great educational app. I don't think it is specific to GT but as far as challenging brain exercises--it's engaging. It's a free app BUT $9.99 for an annual membership to unlock all levels. LO can get through it much quicker and doesn't need a year. But I like that the app breaks it into categories- speed, memory, problem solving and concentration. I take the 'age' labels with a grain of salt but it is fun to see LO's progress.