It's All About The JATP Scores? Think Again Atlanta Parents!

I've learned from those who do not learn and always smile when the movie in my mind is played every year from unwilling parents who go through the process of Admissions Preparation here in Atlanta.

Private schools here in Atlanta are what they are: private. The information that they wish to share with you is more of a mystery that can only be solved only by watching all of Alfred Hitchcock's movies and talking to the mother who you think is your BFF at the pre-school that your child is in.

Most parents trust those who are willing to give you the information they believe will "tell them what they want to hear". I've heard, and seen, and observed it all. From the neighborhood pre-school to your son's friend whose mother has a friend who is the friend...The list goes on and on and on.

The problem is - they see a snapshot of what they see for that one year. Unless they come from a troupe of 12 children who have enrolled in each of the 10+ schools on the list and have experienced rejection/acceptance letters for each of their children, the outcome is daunting to say the least.

As much as I love to ramble about this process, the fact of the matter is - you should not judge the past performance of what "others" have done to predict the outcome of your child. Everybody is different and until you have an objective view of the school and what it can offer to your child, it is best to use discretion.

If you would like more information about the Admissions Preparation Program at Learning Ridge, feel free to contact Christine at 404-964-8533.  

After The Psychological Report: What Do I Do Next?

I had to laugh when one of my clients fell for the oldest trick in the book: a list of recommendations found at the end of her child's Psychological Evaluation that read more like a list of Oprah's Favorite Things than evidence based, research backed methodologies that would help move her child from a life of wasted time in the classroom..

One of the most important qualities that I find to be indicative of a person's character is their integrity. Now that I have grown older (and much wiser than I would like to admit), I must say that integrity is compromised all in the name of cronyism when it comes to education. Psychologists recommend someone they play golf with or the neighborhood lady who tutors children on the side. I've seen some go so far as to recommend a teacher without any credentials who works for a school that one parent would pay hand over fist for her child to attend. Or take horseback lessons for an issue that the child doesn't even have.

Are you kidding me? Is it ethical? Not really. Is it what people are doing? Yes - but I do not know why (nor could understand the reasoning behind this behavior).

I come from a place where people do business with people and have learned that competition breeds excellence. Sad to say, this is not the case in some areas of town. I've watched people spend thousands - I mean thousands of dollars to watch their child take 2 years to learn how to read a book that takes only three months for a child to read under my guidance. Rather than taking the time to find out if a child will succeed with the newest supposed "neurological advances", parents have signed children up for the strangest things to make their problems go away.

I don't believe that any problem can go away overnight - but I do believe that sometimes, it takes more than a few hundred dollars worth of franchise fees to help someone help themselves. It takes courage, strength, intellectual fortitude, and lastly - insight to be successful in changing anything.

There are some processes that need to change as far as how people treat those who have children who need our help. We should not admonish them because they do not know what we know - we should be truthful and help them with what we know works best.

If you have questions about your child's most recent psychological report, feel free to contact Christine at Learning Ridge by calling 404-964-8533.

JATP Prep: What It Is... What It Should Not Be

I’ve spent the better part of the last decade answering questions from parents that believe that helping their child with certain skills is important for development and not a criminal act that should be considered wrong. Many times parents will ask me why they should or should not have their child prepare for the JATP. 

Here is what I have to say:

To be completely honest with you, those who tell you that you should not prep for the JATP have more to fear than the imaginary "you will get in trouble" scenario they play in your head. When I worked with my very first client - she went into this "Atlanta process" and was given information by a “Consultant”. This "Consultant" who claimed she was a former Private School Teacher told her, “ you don't need to do anything and of course, your child will get into the XYZ school.” This "Consultant" charged her whatever it was that she did, sat across the client, looked at her child and said, “she’s got a good shot.”. Four months later - the child was rejected from each and every school that she applied to.

Fast forward one year later - the mother calls me to tell me that after one year of my guidance and assistance - the daughter was accepted to all four schools that she applied to. I was in utter shock. After months of planning and due diligence, I  was happy beyond belief that from "nothing" we were able to gain everything. Preparing for the JATP is simply more than a behavior that could be “coached” (something that I do not believe in or support), it’s a way of life that I share with my clients.

Over the years I've watched parents who have “prepped their children” and have seen what type of results it has garnered. There’s "coaching" (ineffective in my opinion), and then, there is good parenting. Sometimes as a parent - you may perceive yourself to be the best mommy in the world, but other times you need to know when to draw the line in the sand and ask  for help to be a great parent. Think of it this way: When you are  bringing your child to the doctor for the first time - are you the type of parent that will withhold the fact that they will be getting a shot that may cause them a tinge of pain, or are you going to tell them what they will need to expect so that they do not have a chip on their shoulder for the rest of their life here on earth? 

I know what type of parenting I was exposed to -  and I’m glad my parents  were educated enough to know when they needed me to understand the world that was beyond my comprehension. That’s all it is - nothing more, nothing less.

This is why I feel so strongly about parents being informed about this unruly and emotional process. It is not a process  that is difficult - or something that you should be scared of; merely one that will prepare you for the life of  good parenting. Something that you should always strive to live.  

If you need assistance getting your child the help that they will need for JATP Admissions Preparation, do not hesitate to call Christine at 404-964-8533 or you can email me at christine@learningridge.com. 

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Those Who Know: Create; Those Who Know Not: Copy!

The very first time I felt innately gullible was when I was a senior in High School. I was enrolled in an AP Language and Composition English class and had a remarkable teacher that everyone in our school adored. Mrs. C. had been diagnosed with lung cancer and we all knew that one day, the cancer would take over and she would no longer be with us. Oddly enough, even during high school - I was an extremely shy student around my peers and the only time that I shined was in the classroom, engaging in rhetoric with my classmates. Occasionally I would study with my more congenial friends and talk about happenings during the week and socializing.

I remember the event like it was yesterday. I brought over my AP US Government Project to work on with my so-called "friend" and we took a brief break from our assignment. As I walked over to grab my bottle of water to take a sip she asked me a question about our AP Lang and Comp teacher. Vulnerable and in a state of heightened lucidity, I gave her the answer that would haunt me forever. "If I, Christine, were  to describe Mrs. C. in one word it would be: free. Mrs. C is free in mind, free in soul, free in spirit." The opportunity for me to voice my opinion and express my ideas did not come as easily as others and I gladly shared my innermost thoughts with my so called, "best-mate".

Four weeks later, I was sitting on a chair in the second row during graduation. I did not graduate at the very top of the class, but I was pretty close in our senior class of 1100. Somewhere between the top 2nd and 3rd percent of students is where I proudly sat and enthusiastically listened to my more socially experienced peers. I remember cheering on my best mate and she proudly took to the dais and was chosen to give a short dedication to Mrs. C, my teacher who had been suffering with cancer. As she started her speech, I was happy to hear what ideas she had compiled about the teacher that we all grew to love so much.

She started her speech with, "If" and then the words that followed were stolen right from my mouth: "I were to describe Mrs. C. in one word, it would be free. Free in mind, free in soul, free in spirit." I felt that even though she was footsteps away, she had punched me in the stomach and committed the very first act of plagiarism that I ever witnessed firsthand. I sat there, motionless and listened to her speech and all the words that were left in her speech was a whisper compared to the roar that resounded my statement of who my teacher was.

Later that evening I shared that peculiar, life changing experience with my mother. She shook her head and told me the only thing that a parent, defunct in any legal background could tell me: "Child, you will never run out of great ideas. Don't ever let all of them out at the same time." Bewildered by her statement, I could never figure out how anyone could steal my ideas, words or even creativity, but it broke my heart and until today, keeps me from trusting people who are not close to me.

To this day, my mother's words could not be so true. As I work on business plans, products, strategies and tactics to help those who need guidance in the field of Educational Consulting, I've found that there is no shortage of thieves. There is a competitor who finds the need to infiltrate my system and has impersonated a parent (multiple times) to gather information on her "kindergartner" who was actually a fifteen year old. Another competitor decided to diversify her product offerings (even though she is clearly an English Teacher) and added math - a subject she told me she has no talent in. I've had people call me and try to gather intelligence on how my modest business has become to what it is today and the only thing I can say is: "If you really love what you want to do, you'll never want anyone else to dictate what you should do for others." I've loved various parts of my life that have shaped who I am and what our business is today and some of that can't be learned from a case study in some textbook or observing a Corporate Ladder Climber scheme their way to the top. It's through those misfirings that give us the opportunity to define who you are and essentially, who you never want to be. In other words, competitors who feel the need to copy clearly have no sense of direction in their business and I truly feel sorry for those whom they serve.

I don't know why I'm sharing this - I guess for me there is nothing that has become more hurtful than stealing someone's ideas. It's creativity and heart that makes ideas valuable in life. I spoke with the checkout lady at the grocery store and shared with her, "I've misplaced purses and wallets filled with my monthly salary and they have always been returned. However, my ideas have been stolen, and will continue to be stolen. I guess they are worth more than the money that I make."

If your child is one that is gifted with a creative mind, teach them the following two words: "Intellectual Property". It will help them to grow up and value their insight more than those who do not.

When You Know That Someone Is a Good Parent: Georgia Milestones Preview

Just recently, we had several hundred parents inquire about a sampling pre-test to see how well their children would adjust to a new assessment in the state of Georgia. Like many parents in this state, they "talk the talk" telling their friends, family and neighbors of how important the test is to them and how they know their child is prepared for this high stakes assessment. Fortunately, I was able to see firsthand what a good parent actually does in order to help their child better prepare for the future.

Several weeks into the registration period and I felt as if I was hired as a Call Center Supervisor for my own company. Many questions were asked as to "how I know" what is on the test and what I provided in order to help these students. Unlike the standard tutoring operation that many people have here in Georgia, I pride myself first and foremost on research (okay, I let it slip - I've taken a few Graduate Statistics and Research classes) and correlation/causation/validity. All the terms that parents could care less about. Needless to say, many people asked about our sample test but a group of a select few took it upon themselves to take the plunge and find out, what this was all about.

Saturday morning and the first of several parent/children pairs come strolling into my office. I operate a modest and humble operation (similar to how I live my life) and was excited to see such a wonderful gathering. The children came in, sat down,  and we had a nice talk about school, birthdays, and the wonderful weather that is an opportunity for mischief in this southern state. After the last individual arrived, we promptly began the test and the rest is expected.

As with many tests, this new test is in a league all of their own. Some of the children sighed as they perused through various sections of the reading passages; one almost looked as if he would faint after reading some of the questions. I was happy (despite the fact that I am no longer in a classroom) to see them work their hardest and overcome the insurmountable task of "finishing what you had started". The best part of the day was not grading the test, but in how the children, despite not knowing who the others were, could come together and behave as well as they do.

The parents that attended this session are the types of parents whose peers look up to. They are trailblazers in their community and are willing to do what needs to be done to help their child. I was excited to grade the work and as I read the responses from the different students in the group, I can hear them talking to me about what they had learned in that short period. It's given me insight not on what the child had scored well or poorly on, but their thought process and the way that they perceive the world.

Kudos to these parents. I know that you are great parents because when you are not there, the whole world can see how great your child is! Keep up the great work because we need more mothers and fathers like you!

The "Mommy Corps" in America (Atlanta)

Yes, I said it, but I am afraid that you might not even know what this is unless I define it for you. I suppose that you can hear the Liberal Arts major in me as my voice resonates with the sound of complete hysteria when I tell you about the "Mommy Corps".

One day, there was a mommy who thought she knew more than anyone in her circle. She knew more than her physician, her pediatrician, her husband, even her own parents that spent the last 26 years putting her through undergrad and grad school. When she stepped into the second phase of her life, she decided that she knew more than everyone because she had..........children. Does this sound familiar? I'm afraid that it has become more common than not.

Enter, the "Mommy Corps". It's a nice battalion of soldiers that come together to discuss the trenches of warfare as they enter the next 18+ years in raising their children, and everyone else's children. Being part of the mommy corps only has one requirement: being a mommy. The sad thing is that the only opinion that matters is yours or that of your friends or the friends of your friends, and who is to say if you are a good mommy or a bad mommy because the only opinion that counts is yours? In this day and age, research, rationalism and experience does not matter. Veterans of the "Mommy Corps" only believe in one thing and one thing only: themselves.

I have a few individuals in my circle who have risen in these ranks. Some have done extremely well preaching their own gospel of motherhood. Others have been able to provide a living for their 5th Avenue lifestyles sharing their inner circle of who they would like for you to do business with. Others hide in fear of public spaces and judge from the inner workings of the internet. They are here to stay and the only person who can manage to live around them are their husbands who live in dire straits when they are under attack.

I'm not one to say that the "Mommy Corps" is, or is not effective. I have one mother who has graduated from the "Mommy Corps", helped her child - and has helped everyone else's child in her community. She was one mother who spent her mornings, afternoons and evenings researching ways to help her child. My staff and I admire her for her hard work and she did it all to help others in need who were not as fortunate as her.

When you are looking at helping your child, sometimes it is best to determine what is best for your child and to seek the guidance and wisdom of a professional who may have the ability to understand how the process works from start to finish. I would not go to a person who has never been a doctor to give me medical advice - why should you consult with someone who is in the same position as you to help with the future success of your child?

Atlanta Orton Gillingham Reading Intervention.... I Did What???

I told this story not too long ago and sometimes I have to remind myself that what I do not have in one area, I might have to make up for in (connections/brains/money from Shark Tank) luck.

Many, many years ago in a village called Sandy Springs lived a nice Atlanta family who had two children. One child was a 3rd grader who needed Foreign Language lessons and the other child, let's just say he didn't have any problems that I knew of back then.

Every week I would visit the 3rd grader and work with her in her Foreign Language class. We worked so unbelievably hard that she started teaching the children around her about what she learned with me. Each time I saw her it led into a routined ferris wheel of Foreign Language, Math, Reading, and writing lessons - and anything else that came along. It was a nice few months until suddenly...

Her younger brother needed to leave his "Special School". His mother and father were in a downward spiral trying to find the proper school placement for him as he had "Special Problems". When I would walk into their home, he would be placed away from me because they feared that I did not have the proper training to talk to him. Every week I would see him and they made me feel as if he needed to be "socially quarantined" because of his "Special Problems". Later I realized what these "Special Problems" were - and that is where the story begins.

Every time I meet a young client who has to work on "transitional learning skills", I am reminded of this memory. I worked with this family for several months and when they had searched through all of Atlanta to find someone to help their child learn the skill of reading, they called me for help.

As an educator, it is our calling to help educate children, but I think that sometimes we forget that it is the parents that need the help the most. When this family called me, they felt that I could not only be trusted to learn what I needed to learn to help their child - but would ensure that I would continue to respond to the ever changing needs of both of their children. I spent the first part of the year preparing for the "Art of Orton Gillingham" and the summer was spent sharing this newly acquired skill set with the "little man". There were weeks where I met them at their house here in Atlanta and weeks where I was with them at their beach vacation home in Florida.  There was not one day that I did not enjoy working with them, or any of my other clients.

I love what I do and I have a tinge of excitement every time I meet anyone who asks me to help their child,  (especially those that give me the privilege of teaching them to read). Maybe parents do not realize this, but when I meet  a child for the first time, I look at them and see their smiling faces in one/two/three months when they start prancing in my office showing off letters, words, or paragraphs that they can read out loud. These children become transformed from a child who looks down or away when they read to one that rips the book from your hand and shows you they can do it (only a little bit more.. aggressively). And magically, the tears that was once found drying on the cheeks of a parent have been replaced with a smile from ear to ear.

Orton-Gillingham is not a curriculum; it's a methodology and way of life in the reading world that some people are unfamiliar with, and others celebrate. I'm proud of the fact that this methodology has been faithful in promising the results that I've always expected but in turn, I'm proud of the fact that it's taught me more than just reading... It's taught me how to problem solve!