A Primer on the NNAT Test

If your child is taking the NNAT test in the near future, you may be wondering what you can do to help them get ready. While the actual test is not made public, precluding you from reviewing actual questions, there are many places online and elsewhere that you can find practice questions for the NNAT test. You can also use materials your child brings home from school to help ensure that they’re ready for the NNAT test.

 

If your child is taking the NNAT test, there’s a good chance it’s because they’re applying to a Gifted and Talented (G&T) program. Many different schools and school districts use the test for this purpose.
It’s important to use a variety of different materials so that your child doesn’t become bored or burned out while preparing for the NNAT test. Use online games, workbooks, and fun offline activities to teach your child the concepts that they’ll encounter on the NNAT test. Your child may even enjoy the process of studying for the test if you keep things light and be sure to include a variety of materials.

 

Another important thing to ensure when your child prepares for the NNAT test is that they aren’t nervous or apprehensive about the testing process itself. It’s important to tell your child that while the test is important, it’s nothing to stress out over. You may want to drive by the test site before test day and tell your child that they will answer questions from an adult there in a few days.

 

On the same note, make sure that YOU don’t get too nervous when preparing your child for the NNAT! Your anxiety will rub off on them and may adversely affect their score. Be sure to do the right things the night before a test – especially ensuring that your child gets enough sleep and a healthy breakfast!

Back to School for NNAT Parents

For NNAT parents, we’re always thinking about how to best prepare our children for the next challenge. During the summer months, of course, the next real challenge is school starting again!

 

And while it’s never a bad idea to get back into the groove before classes start in the fall, I want to tell you today why the whole concept of “back to school” is a lie. Yes, children get out of classes for a few months when the weather is hottest. And during these summer months, our children have the opportunity to expand their horizons beyond the classroom – exploring everything from summer camp to sports to new hobbies. And, of course, it would be cruel not to allow our children a little time to enjoy pure, unadulterated fun – whether it’s in the form of video games, playdates with friends, or simply laying on the beach watching the clouds roll by. Our kids especially need a break if they’ve spent the previous year preparing for or taking the NNAT test.

 

So why, if our NNAT kids get several months off of classes, is “back to school” one big lie?

 

Simple: Education doesn’t stop just because classes do.

 

The biggest danger your child faces in the summer months is that dreaded condition known as the Summer Slide. That term, of course, describes the phenomenon where students lose up to four months of progress that they made during the school year if they aren’t actively engaged in academic activities over the summer.

 

And the reason that the Summer Slide has such devastating consequences is that the vast majority parents allow their children to completely turn their brains off for close to three months. This is the same thing that happens to NNAT kids who don’t spend any time working with skill building material during the summer months. They spend three months with their heads in the clouds, then they are thrust back into a frantic classroom, expected to not only keep up but excel if they are to have any hope at a productive education and career.

 

That’s why the term “back-to-school” is so misleading. It implies that “school,” or more broadly, education (and NNAT preparation!), stops in June and begins again in September. That is a dangerous notion – and it’s one you should steer clear of.

 

Keep the NNAT Momentum Going

It’s almost August, and you might think it’s time to ease up on the NNAT prep for the coming school year. But, as we’ve mentioned on this blog before, the summer slide (the phenomenon where kids lose up to 3 months of progress that they made during the school year if they aren’t actively engaged in academic activities over the summer) continues until school starts – and you aren’t out of the woods once August rolls around.

 

That’s why it’s super important to continue working with your child through the end of the summer on activities that will help them prepare both for the NNAT test and for school. As we’ve said before, it’s important to keep this work fun and light – don’t bore your kid with rote NNAT question after NNAT question.

 

A fun way to prepare for the NNAT, and for school, is to go for an outdoor hike. Look for patterns that you see in nature and in buildings that you pass. Ask your child to name the shapes and patterns that they see around them. This helps them hone their skills for testing and for the new school year.

 

Of course, when in doubt, it’s never a bad idea to fall back on good old practice questions for the NNAT. There are lots of places online to get practice questions, so don’t limit yourself to one. You can also buy NNAT workbooks or games if you want to switch up the practice materials for your child. It’s never a bad idea to use many different materials when you’re preparing. There are even Pinterest boards devoted to the NNAT test!

So go out there and have fun this summer – but make sure you’re getting your little one ready for the NNAT and for school at the same time!

Studying for the NNAT Test

As you probably know by now, the standardized tests used to assess student progress are known by several different names. The NNAT, or Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test, is just one of many tests used to measure performance for kids applying to Gifted and Talented programs and private schools across the country.

Helping your child prepare for any standardized test can be a challenge. Thankfully, there are many resources available to help you. Here, we’ll talk about the best way to prepare for the NNAT test without stressing your child out or making them anxious about the testing process.

Choosing a Way to Prep

Hard-copy or software-based study guides, online practice tests and sample questions are all potential options when you’re studying for the NNAT test with your little one. Yet another option is to create your own study guide based on the concepts covered on the NNAT test. With all these options, it’s no surprise that the majority of parents choose to incorporate several different elements into their child’s individualized testing preparation plan. However, if you know that your child learns best and most easily using a particular form or type of material, by all means choose that one – there is no wrong way to study, as long as the studying itself is effective.

Helping Your Child Prepare

Younger children, obviously, need supervision and guidance while studying for the NNAT test. In your role as ‘study instructor,’ do all you can to keep things light and fun. Students who feel too much pressure to succeed often develop anxiety regarding testing, which can lead to inaccurately low scores.

Older children typically prefer to study independently, but there are still ways you can help them achieve optimal results. Checking in on them now and then as they study for the NNAT test is a small step with a big impact – students studying for a big test often forget the importance of taking breaks. Studying too hard for too long can easily lead to burnout, which can also create inaccurately low scores due to nervousness or fatigue on testing day. In addition to reminding your older student about breaks, offer to quiz them on the material they’ve just covered. Regardless of age, there’s really no substitute for quizzes; they can help identify strengths and weaknesses much more effectively than a student studying on their own.

Even NNAT Parents Make Mistakes

Even NNAT parents make mistakes. It’s a big part of what makes us human. If we were all perfect life would be a lot more boring (but also a lot easier!).

 

Unfortunately, as parents, the mistakes we make in raising our children can affect our kids’ quality of life for years to come. This is true even if our kids are smart enough to take and pass the NNAT test.

 

Lots of NNAT parents make the mistake of letting the summer slide get a hold of their child. These are typically parents who let their kids fritter away the summer sleeping late, watching TV, and playing video games, without so much as glancing at NNAT or other skill-building materials that help keep them fresh on the subjects they learn in school. Usually, these are the parents whose children suddenly found themselves seriously behind the curve when school started in the fall, and who spent several months playing catch-up.

 

Also, lots of parents fail to adequately prepare their children for the NNAT test or another Gifted & Talented or private school entrance exam. Many parents assume that these tests will be super easy, especially if their children are only 5 or 6 years old. I can’t tell you how many parents I’ve heard say something along the lines of, “I just assumed the NNAT test would cover basic colors and shapes. That’s why it didn’t even occur to me to prepare for the test ahead of time.” Many other parents, knowing that their child is gifted, are confident that they’ll do fine on the NNAT test no matter how hard it is. What these parents don’t realize is that everyone who takes the test is gifted – that’s how they qualify for the exam in the first place! For parents who don’t take NNAT test prep seriously, it can be a devastating blow when they get the test score back and find out that their child scored well below the level they would need to make it into an advanced program.

 

Making mistakes is part of being human. But it’s also important to learn from our mistakes – for our own well-being and that of our NNAT kids.

Cooking With Your NNAT Child This Summer

Have you and your NNAT child tried cooking together this summer? Believe it or not, learning to cook or bake helps your child learn all sorts of skills – while having the added benefit of being lots of fun!

 

Cooking or baking measures all kinds of skills that your child needs for school success, whether or not those exact skills are measured on the NNAT test. If you and your child are preparing for the NNAT, it’s important not to lose sight of keeping their general academics on track, since grades and class placement can have a huge impact when your child is applying to advanced programs – or, later on, colleges.

 

With that in mind, spending time making food with your NNAT child is a great way to teach them math (by measuring and adding up ingredients), creativity, patience, fine motor skills, and so many other important things they need for school!

 

It’s best to have your NNAT child help you every step of the way. Go to the grocery store and have them help you pick out ingredients. If your child is old enough, you can send them to pick up certain ingredients on their own. If your child is too young to be in the store by themselves, have them tell you what you’re getting and why it’s important. You can ask them to name the color, size, and taste of individual ingredients you’re buying.

 

Then, go home and measure out the ingredients. You can have your NNAT child measure the ingredients and quiz them about the amounts. “What if we had 1/3 teaspoon of sugar and another 1/3 teaspoon of sugar? How many teaspoons of sugar would we have?”

 

Having your child mix the ingredients is great for their fine motor skills. And if your dish lends itself to creative flourish, let your NNAT child go wild! For pastries, letting them draw designs or letters with icing is always a hit. And for traditional meals, they can decorate with garnishes or sauces.

 

The best part? It’s fun and gives you plenty of time with your little one this summer!

 

Time is Running Out to Prepare Your NNAT Child

As we’ve been talking about on this NNAT blog, the Summer Slide is a real threat to NNAT children who spend the whole summer away from the concepts that they learn in school. Even the smartest, hardest-working kids can lose up to 4 months of progress that they made during the school year if they aren’t engaged in academic activities over the summer. (This is even true for those smart kids who already passed the NNAT test!)
As we’ve been saying since before Memorial Day, the Summer Slide is easily preventable. All it takes is you spending 10-15 minutes per day working with your child on the subjects that they’re faced with in school – math, reading, writing, science, social studies, and the like. And if your child will be taking the NNAT in the fall, make sure to mix in some of the concepts that they’ll encounter on that test in your summertime activities.
Not to be dramatic, but the truth is that if you haven’t put together a summer program for your little one, you’re running out of time. There’s not much time left to act before it’s too late and the effects of the summer slide become irreversible. This is especially dire if your little one is taking the NNAT in the fall – that’s because you’ll need to devote significant time during the school to preparing for the NNAT test. If your child is busy playing catch-up on homework and school subjects, their chances of doing well on the NNAT will decrease dramatically.
The good news is: it’s not too late just yet. Take your child’s future into your own hands today and make sure that have everything they need to not only succeed, but thrive when school starts again in just a few weeks.
There are so many resources available to you as a parent, from practice tests to fun educational activities to foods you can make with your child! So get started today – and make sure your NNAT child doesn’t fall behind next year.

Keep Your NNAT Kids On Their Toes This Summer

Like any kids, NNAT kids tend to get bored over the summer. After all, these are smart kids – many of whom will be taking the NNAT in the fall or may have even passed it last year – and they tend to get restless if they’re forced to sit still for too long.

That’s why it’s important to keep your NNAT kid active over the summer. Do a variety of activities, all of them fun and engaging, but make sure to incorporate educational activities that will help your child on the NNAT and in school when the fall rolls back around.

Here are just a few ideas for activities over the summer for your NNAT child:

Have a campout: Pitch a tent – either in your backyard or on a bona fide campground – and show your child the wonders of nature. You can take a nature hike and look at the many animals, plants, and insects that you find in the wilderness (or in your own backyard!). Have your child describe as many things as they can in vivid detail.

Visit a farmer’s market: You probably take your NNAT child to the grocery store all the time, but the summer and early fall are great times to visit outdoor farmers’ markets. Here you can have your child name all the different fruits and vegetables they see, and group them according to category, color – or any other category! You can also have your child take a shot at challenging food-related questions – like, is a tomato a fruit or a vegetable?

Play chess: Chess is a GREAT way to build kids’ academic muscles – muscles that will come in handy on the NNAT and in school. Chess teaches kids strategy, patience, and how to think ahead. Many schools across the country have begun using chess as a supplemental activity to make sure their students are on top of their game.

So have fun this summer – but also make sure your NNAT child is ready when the fall rolls back around!

When Do NNAT Children Stop Lying?

We’ve spoken on this NNAT blog before about what to do if your child lies. As we’ve seen, lying can be a sign of other problems, and can lead to anxiety that can actually hurt your NNAT child’s academic performance.
In young kids, lying is related to cognitive development. In fact, many children who lie are also developing early, cognitively speaking. There is also a connection in adults between high IQs and the ability to lie well. This is related to pathology as well as the spectrum of lying. So, if your little one does super well on the NNAT, it doesn’t means she won’t lie to you about who broke your favorite vase! In fact, she might be more likely to tell a white lie than kids who aren’t as advanced.
The good news is that lying drops off as your NNAT child gets older. While it decreases, it doesn’t go away completely. If you think about it, most adults tell the occasional lie, years after they finish the NNAT test! This is what happens to children. Eventually it drops off as they get into the older elementary school years. They tell the occasional lie. Certainly the teenager tells the occasional lie. What they’re lying about may change a little bit but again, most people tell the occasional lies.
Research with adults has shown that most adults tell one or two lies a day. Often they’re very innocuous lies like telling somebody that yes, a new haircut does look good or no, that outfit doesn’t make you look fat. But most of us do tell occasional lies. This is what happens. But how children learn about this is through socialization processes, through us explaining that honesty is important, but also through modeling behavior that they see in adults, where adults model honesty to them.
There are so many important things to keep track of for NNAT children – including making sure they stay honest!

Prepping for the NNAT Over the Summer

This blog focuses on the NNAT test, but we all know that school performance plays a big part in a child’s fate on the NNAT. After all, if your child isn’t doing well in school, they may not even qualify to take the NNAT test. And if they don’t have adequate study skills, their chances of getting a good score are slim to none.

That’s why we’ve talked so much about the summer slide on this blog. This term, of course, describes the well-documented fact that even super-bright students (including those who can pass the NNAT!) lose up to 4 months of progress that they made during the school year if they aren’t actively engaged in academic activities over the summer. This can be devastating when these kids head back to school, since it can put them far behind their classmates and even endanger their chances of making it into a gifted or advanced program.

The summer slide is easily preventable. All parents have to do is commit to work with their child for just 10 to 20 minutes every day on the core subjects that they learn in school – reading, writing, math, science, and social studies. Just a few minutes a day can make the difference between a child who starts the year in trouble versus one who starts well ahead of the pack.

You may be wondering if it’s too late if you haven’t started working on skill building activities  with your child. Many parents fear that all is lost if they don’t start right when the last school bell lets out.

Well, don’t worry. It’s not too late to prevent the summer slide – but you have to start now. If your child is going to have a fighting chance at passing the NNAT in the fall, she’ll first have to get good enough grades to qualify to take the test.

That’s why it’s important to work with skill building materials that build the same skills that your NNAT child learns in school – math, reading, writing, science, social studies, and the like. Get started today – before it’s too late!