Analogies have been a part of Manhattan private school kindergarten admissions testing for years. While the ERB will not be required for entrance into most Manhattan private schools starting in the Fall of 2014, your child may still be required to understand and complete analogies.
Analogies are one of a few critical thinking skills your four or five-year-old should know how to handle. Analogies show us how well a child can make sense of his environment. Sometimes, children have the information required to respond to analogies, but they may be confused by the format of the analogy.
Here is an example of an analogy you can try out with your child:
Lemon is to Sour…As…Candy is to_______.
Practicing analogies with your child is a great way to warm up for the upcoming kindergarten admissions season.
At the Parents League Meeting at Grace Church on April 8, 2014, we learned that Brooklyn and Manhattan private schools that do not require the ERB will assess children in various ways. Some private schools will meet with your child 1:1; others will meet with your child in small groups. Some schools will also visit your child at their current preschool to see them in action in a familiar environment. Regardless of the interview format, it is easy for admissions professionals to ask your child analogy questions.
If analogies are too tricky, it may help teach your child how and why things go together. While your puzzle-savvy pre-schooler may quickly put these pieces together, always ask why the items go together. Initially, there is no need to expect a complete answer, as you may need to help provide the rationale. Whether or not your child solves the analogy listed above, always explain his responses until he can do it himself. For example: “Lemon TASTES sour, Candy TASTES sweet – yum!” Learning about opposites may be a helpful step in learning analogies as well.
If your child has difficulty learning analogies or you have any concerns about Manhattan private kindergarten admission interviews, please contact Stephanie Sigal, M.A., CCC-SLP, at sayandplay@yahoo.com. You can also visit Stephanie’s kindergarten prep program.