As with all things in life, motivation is key when a student is preparing for the private school admission test. I have seen far too many students who were just not into it; it was all their parent(s) idea.
You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make them drink. A good ISEE, SSAT or HSPT prep program will be rigorous, and will include, at a minimum, 2 hours a week of one-on-one test prep, and at least another 2 hours a week of homework between the sessions.
Test prep homework should include skill building, as well as teaching the techniques for approaching each question, and the tricks to look out for on each question. There should be regular math lessons and vocabulary lessons, as well as work on the essay (if applicable), and timed practice drills to simulate test taking conditions.
A student who is not committed to this type of a program is generally not a good candidate for an elite private school. Be honest with yourself about who your child is and what their skill level is, and even more importantly what their work ethic is.
Anne Yount Boston ISEE Prep 617-553-8083 www.bostoniseeprep.com - Test Prep for the ISEE & Latin School Exam Boston Tutoring Center 617-553-8083 www.bostontutoringcenter.com - Tutoring Grades K-12 Boston Private School Search 617-553-0540 www.bostonprivateschoolsearch.com - Your Resource for Private School Admissions Follow my Blog - http://privateschoolguru.com/blog/
Great article! But how can one best motivate a lazy student?
Thanks Bob, I am glad you liked the article!
That is a tough question, and one I have personally had to deal with myself.
You have to keep plugging away and explaining why education is important, and hopefully it will sink in.
The key is to start fostering a love of learning in them when they are young, and keep at it on a regular basis as they grow up, and they will internalize what you have taught them.
Good luck!
Anne