Why Preparing for the NNAT is so Important

It’s no secret that the NNAT test is hard – and getting harder every year. As more and more parents decide that they want their child to receive the best education possible, more are applying their children to these advanced programs – and so the tests are getting increasingly difficult and competitive.

As a result, it’s no longer enough just to throw your child into the NNAT testing room and hope that they pass. Even the smartest kids – if they don’t prepare – are now being outgunned by kids who might not be as inherently bright, but whose parents spend months or even years planning, meticulously, for the testing and admissions process.

A friend of mine sent her son into the NNAT test unprepared, convinced that the fact that he’s “smart” would give him more than enough of an edge over even kids who prepared.

Sure enough, she sent him in unprepared – and the results were disastrous. He scored in the 95th percentile, very impressive for a child who hadn’t done any kind of preparatory work. But it wasn’t quite good enough to get Jordan into the program his mother was sure he was destined for: just to be considered for a seat, Jordan needed to score in the 99th percentile.

The moral of the story isn’t just that the NNAT test is hard: it’s that preparation is crucial if you want your child to have a chance of making it into the program of your choice. Fortunately, there are lots of good workbooks and online prep materials to help your child get ready for the test. And there’s no need to use only stuffy, traditional workbooks – using interactive materials will help your child keep it light and fun. The test is stressful enough – don’t overburden your child with the thought of even more boring work ahead of the exam itself.

What to Do When the NNAT is Over: Part 2

In our last blog post, we discussed what to do when the NNAT test is over. As important as the NNAT test is, it’s also important to have a plan for when your child finishes the test and still has to do well in school. Here are some other ideas that we didn’t cover last time:

Explore the world – on a molecular and historical level: Take your child outside and look at plant and animal life – or visit a museum closeby. No matter how you do it, make sure that your child gets real-world exposure to science and social studies so that they’ll understand the importance of what they learn in the classroom.

Take a field trip: Take your child to a historical site or other noteworthy landmark nearby. No matter where you live, there are places with historical significance nearby – and one that will bring your child’s social studies lesson to life.

Play a board game: There are any number of great board games that will build the skills your child needs to do well on the NNAT test and in school. From Qwirkle to Cootie to Scrabble to good old chess, different games build different skills that your child can use to advance in the classroom. This blog post gives a great list of board games for your child broken up by subject.

Watch a documentary: It’s no secret that kids love to watch TV. Whether your kid is in the midst of studying for the NNAT or has already finished the test, it’s always a great time to watch an educational documentary that will further your child’s educational studies. Watch a movie about World War II, or the age of the dinosaurs, or the rise of Mayan civilization. It’s not only educational; it will give you and your child some much-needed quality time together!

Remember, your child is only young once – don’t let the NNAT be their only memory of childhood! 🙂

What to Do When the NNAT is Over

I don’t have to tell you how important it is that your child do well on the NNAT test. At this very moment, parents around the country are frantically preparing their child for this test, since many school districts give it toward the beginning of the year. The process of researching, registering for, preparing for, and then finally taking the NNAT test is one of the most stressful experiences a parent will ever have. But, of course, the opportunities that come along with admission into a highly-competitive Gifted program make all the sleepless nights and gnashing of teeth well worth it.

For many parents, the process of preparing for the test is so intense, and so all-consuming, that when the exam is finally over, they’re left with a strange sense of emptiness. I’ve had more than one parent ask me, half-joking but still sounding concerned,

“How will I spend all my time now?” Mind you, these were parents of young children, many of whom had full-time jobs or other commitments outside of their home.

Well, I know firsthand that as unpleasant as the process of preparing for the test can seem, it’s a bit of a letdown once the process is finally over. This is especially true given that you have to wait weeks or even months for the result – time during which you have plenty of nervous energy and not enough places to unleash it.

That’s why I want to give you some suggestions for what to do after the test is over. If you’re in the thick of preparing for the exam now, it’s important to maintain your focus and put all your energy into ensuring that your child receives a top score. But rest assured that, once the test is over, plenty of work remains to be done. Here are just a few things you’d be wise to focus on when your child walks out of the testing room:

Work on your child’s math skills. No matter how your child does on the NNAT, they’re going to need to be up to speed in math to keep up in school. Think of some fun things you can do in your everyday life to help your child hone their arithmetic skills.

Encourage your child to read more: What parent doesn’t melt at the sight of their son or daughter sitting quietly with a book (or, these days, a Kindle)? But many kids don’t like to read – or have learning delays that make the process frustrating and demoralizing. Read a book with your child – or, if they’re old enough, surprise them with a book of their own that they can read on the school bus or before bed. Showing your child that you support their fledgling reading habit will encourage them to keep it up in the future!

Stay tuned for more suggestions on what to do after the NNAT test is over. Even though the testing process probably feels like it will never end, it will – and you need to have a plan for what’s next!

An NNAT Mother’s Intuition: Part 2

Greetings, NNAT parents! In my last post, I talked about a mother in Utah whose maternal instinct – for lack of any other explanation – roused her out of bed as her daughter was being kidnapped in the middle of the night.

This story was remarkable because it seemingly reaffirms the existence of the “guardian angel” that always seems to be whispering in parents’ ears at every moment.

So, if you’ve ever experienced a “light bulb moment” like this with your child, you’re not alone!  And indeed, we often get this intuition when our child is getting ready for a big academic moment … like, taking the NNAT test, perhaps?

I hear this from so many parents, that they “feel” their child is smart, is talented, is gifted, but they still aren’t sure that they’re doing everything they can to prepare their child for their next big moment. For that reason, your intuition shouldn’t be denied.

That’s why it’s important to heed the anxiety and nagging doubt that lives in your head as a parent, especially when you’re preparing your little one for a test as big as the NNAT.

Just as important, put your intuition to good use, by getting your child as prepared as you can for test day. Not only does this increase their chances of getting a top score on the test and getting into the program that you want them to be in; it also gives you the peace of mind that you did everything within your power to ensure their success.

Here are just a few ways to get your child ready for the NNAT test:

• Buy an NNAT practice book: Amazon.com has tons of these, as do other educational sites featuring NNAT content.
• Take an online NNAT practice test: Lots of sites have tests like these available, so take advantage of all the internet has to offer!

An NNAT Mother’s Intuition: Part 1

I heard a story the other day that, while not directly related to the NNAT test, I felt the need to share with you.

Recently, a young Utah mom named Stephanie was sound asleep, along with her husband, when she awoke suddenly for no reason.  She soon discovered it was around 4 a.m. She stared at the ceiling in silence, only to hear her daughter’s voice and footsteps that she knew didn’t belong to her daughter.  She immediately jumped out of bed and ran to her daughter’s room, only to find she wasn’t there.  Stephanie called for her husband, and they made a mad dash outside and found their daughter cradled in the arms of a complete stranger who was putting her in his car. Calmly, Stephanie and her husband explained to the man that their daughter couldn’t leave with him, and, amazingly, he handed her back to them.  This story is rare in that it ends happily, with the child safe at home.

But what made the difference in this particular situation?  Why did the mother suddenly wake up at 4 a.m., at the exact moment her daughter was being taken out of her home?  Was it a gut feeling?  A higher power?  Or simply coincidence?  In this instance, the mother referred to it as a “mother’s intuition.”

Granted, all of us, NNAT parents and otherwise, have experienced sudden sensations of “knowingness,” for lack of a better word, especially when it comes to our children.  The father in this story experienced a form of this himself, in that he “knew” to react “calmly” with the kidnapper. Who would act calmly in that kind of situation?  I know I wouldn’t, but Stephanie and her husband said that acting in such a way was essentially second nature to them given the situation they were in.

In my next post, I’ll share with you ways to take this material instinct and put it to good use to help your NNAT child achieve the things you know they’re capable of. Stay tuned …

An NNAT New Year

Happy New Year, NNAT fellow travelers! If you’re like the vast majority of Americans, you’ll make a few fresh New Year’s Resolutions today, then vow to follow through with them. Unfortunately, you know as well as I do that many people don’t follow through with their resolutions after the first few weeks of the year roll by.

But as parents, we don’t have the luxury of blowing off the resolutions that we make for our children’s success. If we don’t stay true to our word, we risk forgoing opportunities for our NNAT children – or worse, actually putting them in a worse position.

That’s why, with resolutions for your children more than anything else, it’s crucial to put together a plan for success and follow through with it. First off, set the goal or expectation that you want your child to meet. It might be passing the NNAT test, making it into a gifted program, or rising to the top of their class.

Once you’ve set the goal, set up measurable benchmarks that you need to hit to reach the goal. For example, if you’re set on your child scoring in the 99th percentile on the NNAT test, set dates for when you will have all your practice material together, when your child will take their first practice test, and when they will be 100% ready to go into the testing room. Don’t set unrealistic expectations: it’s important that your goals are realistic and reachable.  Put these benchmarks onto your calendar so that you’re accountable for reaching them – and so that you’ll know if you don’t.

Your child can make an electrifying new start this year, but only if you, as the parent, start the change and help them with it. With your support and proper planning, there’s nothing your NNAT child can’t do in the new year!