Summer Activities for Kids

Summer is every child's favorite time! They finally have time to spend with their parents, playing with friends, and doing new activities. However, it can be stressful for parents. Figuring out just how to spend all that time for your children is tough! There are a million activities for them to do. Here are some ideas on what you can do:

- Summer Education Programs
Many places in NYC are offering a summer education program and they are increasing in popularity. During the summer, most children do not learn at all, and even forget the material they covered in the last year. This makes going back to school difficult. However, if you do not want your child to go to school all day, find a half-day program or a program that includes classes. Most of these summer classes for kids are fun and include art, crafts, and do allow the children to play. Check out your local listing for a program near you!

- Summer Day Camp
Summer day camp is another popular activity for kids to do during the summer. There are many different camps for kids. You can go to a sports camp, which will take the kids outside and play games during the day. Other camps mix sports and learning. Kids will also go on field trips, get the opportunity to play and socialize, and make new friends. Most camps are all day, from morning until evening, so most of the child's day is accounted for.

- Sleepaway Camp
If your child is old enough, you can send them to a sleep away camp. Most sleepaway camps are great experiences for kids. They spend time outdoors, in nature, and form close friendships. They get to do many activities that they would normally not get to do, like sit in front of a bonfire or hike. They can learn about nature and plants up close.

If you are staying at home.....

All hope is not lost! You can keep busy, and here are some tips:

- Plan ahead. Make sure you have art supplies for projects, workbooks for learning, or materials for other projects.
- You can do lessons with your child, or, take them to a summer half-day program that has classes. This is usually cheaper, and still gives you most of the day with your kid! You can find lesson plans through Google, many teachers have blogs, and do them with your child. Keep up their reading and math skills during the summer and they will do well come fall!
- Take up a new hobby with your child. You can do Mommy and Me (Or Daddy and Me!), get your child to cook with you, build something in the yard, get in shape by going swimming or taking long walks in the park. Find an activity both of you like and do it! Make it a routine.

Whatever you do, know you have options! Good luck, and have fun!

Teaching Mathematics Using the Singapore Math Method

The Singapore Math Method is regarded as one of the best for teaching mathematics. Singapore students consistently scored the highest on international math exams out of at least 50 countries, including the United States, due to their system of teaching to solve math problems logically, rather than memorizing them.

Children do not learn through memorization. They need to be able to think about problems and solve them in order to improve their test grades, and help them succeed in life.

This system was created in Singapore in 1981, when their Ministry of Education called together a team of math teachers, professors, specialists, and researchers in order to create the most optimal method of teaching math to children.

The point of the Singapore Math Method is conceptual comprehension. The curriculum is based on model building and drawing in order to solve problems. The Singapore Math Method seeks to mathematical concepts step by step, so that they could be understood. This is better for comprehension, instead of memorizing formulas and numbers, which do not develop cognitive and reasoning skills.

According to SingaporeMath.com, "The students are provided with the necessary learning experiences beginning with the concrete and pictorial stages, followed by the abstract stage to enable them to learn mathematics meaningfully."



Singapore Math uses engaging pictures to draw the child in and explain the concepts and reasons behind math theories. Being able to understand the whole theory, and why a problem is solved a certain way, gives children better math skills than the standard, United States memorization method. 


For more information about Singapore Math, check out:
http://www.brainyacademyny.com/brainy-tutoring/
http://www.ehow.com/about_5031909_singapore-math.html
http://www.singaporemath.com/The_Singapore_Model_Method_for_Learning_Mathematic_p/smmlm.htm

Montessori Class at Brainy Academy

Check out some of our pictures from our classes!

Brainy Academy offers classes in Montessori, Science, Math, English, and Russian.

Check us out at http://www.brainyacademyny.com.

Making Math Fun

On April 11, The Huffington Post released an article regarding the struggle to make math into a "fun" subject that children would want to study. The United States falls behind many other countries when it comes to math. 


When standardized tests were last given around the world (60 countries participated), the United States showed improvement in science and even reading, however, "Mathematics was the category where the U.S. lagged most, performing below average compared with students in other nations. U.S. students had an average score of 487, while the OECD average score was 496. The U.S. math score in 2006 was 474 compared with an average that year of 498. Seventeen other industrialized countries performed better on average. About 23% of U.S. students scored below the "level 2" benchmark." (WSJ)


So the United States has finally decided to branch out and figure out alternative ways to teach math. Everything from robots to television shows have been created for the purpose of teaching math. "America has a cultural problem with math. It's the subject, more than any other, that we as a country love to hate," said Glen Whitney, a passionate mathematician who worked for years developing algorithms for hedge funds. "We don't see it as dynamic. It's rote and boring and done by dead Greek guys a thousand years ago."


Brainy Academy has opened up for just that reason. We use the Singapore Math Method, which is a teaching method from Singapore that promotes logic and problem solving skills. "These textbooks have a consistent and strong emphasis on problem solving and model drawing, with a focus on in-depth understanding of the essential math skills recommended in the NCTM Curriculum Focal Points (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics), the National Mathematics Advisory Panel, and the proposed Common Core State Standards" (National Council of Mathematics). 


Our Summer Education will utilizes the Singapore math system. This system is excellent for children because it teaches them to solve problems on their own, and rather than memorizing numbers, they will be able to actually think through and complete tasks, which is a skill that helps children for life. 


Check out Brainy Academy's summer program and math tutoring by visiting our website: www.brainyacademyny.com

NYC Gifted and Talented: District Programs

All children in New York City are qualified to take the gifted and talented test in pre-kindergarden. If the child scores 97 or above he or she may apply to the citywide gifted and talented schools as well as multiple district programs.  If your pre-kindergarten child has scored 90 or above on the city G&T (gifted and talented) test he or she is guaranteed a spot in a district gifted and talented program for kindergarten.  In order to receive a guaranteed spot the parent must rank all of his or her options on the application, including citywide programs (if the child qualifies) as well as all the district programs.  Parents who do not rank all the available options are not guaranteed a seat for their child in a kindergarten G&T program.

A child may also take the gifted and talented test while enrolled in kindergarten (to qualify for first grade admission) and in higher grades. However, the child has a lower chance of being admitted into a district program (due to limited number of spots opened after kindergarten) and almost no chance of being admitted into a citywide program.  The city does not guarantee placement if the test is taken at the kindergarten or above levels.

Programs vary widely by district with some districts offering as few as 3 district wide programs, and some offering as many as 12.  If you reside in Sheepshead Bay (district 21) depending on your actual address you may have as many as 12 programs to choose from. These include popular programs such as Manahttan Beach Gifted and Talented (PS 195) and Mill Basin Gifted and Talented (PS 236).

In Bensonhurst (district 20) at least 8 programs are available (maybe more depending on your address). A popular district program in district 20 is  (at ps 200) is a bilingual english russian program called “GLOBE.”

In order to qualify for admission into a district Gifted and Talented program the child must score at least 90 on the G&T test and reside in the correct district.  As with citywide schools children with the highest scores are given first priority on a lottery basis.  For instance, lets say 4 year old Alfred scored a 94 and his friend John scored a 96.  Because John has scored 2 points higher than Alfred he will be placed much faster (even if he pulls an unlucky number in the lottery) and therefore has a better chance of getting picked for his first or second choice program.  Alfred, no matter how lucky he might get in the lottery is still going to be placed after John. The best he can hope for is to be the first of the 94s picked. When it comes to district program placement, every point counts.

This article is part 3 of a 3 part series.  Part 1 is available here.

NYC Gifted and Talented Citywide Schools

New York City’s 5 citywide gifted and talented schools (see this post for list) are thought by many to be the pinnacle of New York City’s Board of Education system.  Admission into these schools is fiercely competitive, it requires both skill and luck.   According to the Board of Ed a child can be admitted into one of these schools by receiving a grade of 97 or above on the gifted and talented test which can be taken at pre-kindergarten or higher level.  In reality, the process is somewhat more complicated.  It is crucial that parents understand how to navigate the New York City’s citywide system if they are to maximize their child’s chances of being admitted into one of these schools.

In 2011 around 1,000 students qualified for the admission into the five schools.  Only about 250 spots were available.  Any child scoring 97 or above from anywhere in New York City can apply into one of these “citywides” as they are commonly called by the parents.  However, most people who apply to a particular school do so only if they can provide a reasonable commute to and from the school for their children.  Rather than apply to all 5 schools simply because their child has qualified to, majority of people will choose 1 or 2 schools within commutable distance as their top choices and district options as choices 3 through 7.  The city guarantees admission for any child who scored 90 or above into one of district options IF their parents rank all the possible options on their application.

The first priority for admission goes to siblings of children currently enrolled in one of these schools. Based on this “sibling priority” a sibling of any child currently enrolled in a citywide who has scored 97 or above will receive any available seats in this school. This is true for all grade levels, kindergarden and up.  On occasion spots do open up in grades above kindergarten.  However, those spots will almost always go to siblings.  So the only realistic way to be admitted into a citywide is to apply for kindergarten admission, which means testing in pre-kindergarten.

After the siblings are placed in the schools, the second priority goes to children who scored 99.   All children with that score are assigned a unique number based on the results of a closed lottery conducted by Board of Education.  A child with a lucky (low) number will  often receive placement in their first choice program.  If the first choice program for this child is not available they will then receive a placement in the second choice program or in the third.  This child will be placed into a program before the next child is placed.

For instance lets say a little girl named Afina scored a 99 on her test.  So did a little boy named Bob. Afina got lucky in the lottery and pulled a number of 5.  Bob was not so lucky and pulled a number of 149.  Afina was the fifth child (after siblings) to receive a placement in the citywide gifted system.  Her mom selected Anderson as #1 choice, Nest as #2 and a district gifted option as #3.  Because Afina was lucky she received her first choice.  

Bob’s parents selected the same schools but due to the fact that he pulled a high lottery number Bob got locked out of Anderson and Nest and instead was accepted in the district program.  Same score, different results.

After all the 99s are placed the system works down to 98s and 97s.  As mentioned before with the possible exception of PS 85 (STEM) all the other citywides are filled up long before all the 99s are placed. Thankfully however, even if your child doesn’t get that magic 99 or doesn’t receive a low lottery number there are many excellent district gifted options available.  After the testing results come out and before program choices are due parents are encouraged to attend open houses at both the citywides and district schools in order to learn more about their options.

This article is part 2 of a 3 part series.  Part 3 is available here.

NYC Gifted and Talented: Testing

New York City department of education announced that Gifted and Talented testing will take place between January 3rd and February 10, 2012.  As in previous years private school and pre-kindergarden students were send letters home indicating date, time and location of the test.   Public school students received a confirmation letter from their school.

When applying for Gifted and Talented testing parents had the option of filling out a paper application or doing so online.  It is generally thought preferable to apply online as this ensures parent will receive proof of application immediately after filing.  The parents who apply online will receive all communications in both email and written form.  In the years past the parents who applied for Gifted and Talented testing online received results of their child’s testing faster than those who filled out paper applications.

In the years past there has sometimes been only 2 weeks between receiving results of the gifted and talented test and deadline to apply for programs.

In order to qualify for admission into one of the city’s prestigious citywide gifted and talented schools a child must receive a score of 97 or above on the test.  However due to a very limited number of open spots only those who have received 99 or above will have a realistic chance of being admitted into 4 of the programs (the exception being the queens based program).  In reality few if any children are admitted into these schools after kindergarten.   New York City’s citywide gifted and talented programs include:

Anderson School (Manhattan)

Nest (Manhattan)

TAG (Manhttan)

BSI (Brooklyn)

Stem (Queens)

Multiple district programs are also available.

This post is part 1 of a 3 part series.  Part 2 is available here.