The FUNd Stuff! - Pacific Northern Academy

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Vol. 2, Issue 30
The FUNd Stuff!
Stories from the Office of Advancement at Pacific Northern Academy
Vision Courage Integrity
Greetings!
"The more that you read, The more things you will know.
The more that you learn, The more places you'll go."
PNA's 2nd Grade class share the wisdom of Dr. Suess
This week's issue of the FUNd Stuff takes on the ERB. What is
it? Why do our students take it? What does it tell us? We
thought we'd give you skinny on these tests with a funny name.
The Lowdown on the ERB
(Admittedly, while the right sides of our brains have been a little
bit bored with the whole topic, the left sides have been intrigued
How is the ERB organized? The test is broken up
by the science and data of all this testing, and about the bigger
into ten sections - 5 language arts based and 5
picture of how our brains are so incredibly complex.)
math based. The sections and general topics
covered by each are listed below.
What's an ERB, Anyway?
Verbal Reasoning
by Dr. Arnie Cohen, Head of School
Logical conclusions
Analogies
Each year in the spring, students at a myriad
independent schools (and some public schools) across
Listening Comprehension (2nd & 3rd grades
America engage in the ritual of "taking the ERB's." Some
only)
schools begin them as early as Grade 1; others defer
them to Grade 6 or Grade 7. What are the ERB's? What
Vocabulary
do they tell schools and parents? What don't they tell us?
Words in context (sentences and
The Educational Record Bureau (ERB) is a non-profit
paragraphs)
educational organization that supports learning by
Choose the best word
providing research in learning and teaching to schools.
Fill in the blanks
The ERB Conference is an annual conference that
Reading Comprehension
brings together some of the best thinkers and educators
in America to share their research and thoughts with
Fiction and non-fiction selections followed
education practitioners. But what nearly everyone who
by questions
has attended or whose children have attended an
Short and long selections
independent school knows about are the "ERB's," the
standardized test given in most schools in the spring. A
more recent testing program of the Educational Record
Bureau is the Independent School Entrance Examination
(ISEE) that is now used by many American independent
schools for entrance into Grade 5 and above.
Writing Mechanics
Spelling
Punctuation (capitalization, contractions,
punctuation marks)
Word Choice (tense agreement)
Kindergarten students have been learning how to solve problems
Writing Concepts and Skills
by drawing pictures.
Author's purpose
Pacific Northern Academy has been giving the ERB's for
many years. The primary reason for giving this test is
Sequence
Main idea
that it is the only testing program that has norms that
compare our students and programs with students and
programs in other independent schools. The ERB's also
have national norms that look at the achievement of our
students in comparison with a large national sampling.
It is important to understand what the ERB's do not test.
ERB's do not give us any information on a number of
areas that are critically important to academic success.
They do not any of the 21st century skills that are so
important for academic achievement and career
success. The ERB's do not measure creativity,
communication, collaboration or cooperation. They do
not measure perseverance or grit and they do not
measure interest or passion.
Reading Constructed Response
Selection followed by questions
Quantitative Reasoning
Comparison of two solutions
logic
Mathematics I
Computation covering all strands - number
A small, unobtrusive sign reminds parents each time we walk
sense, geometry, probability/statistics,
through the gymnasium that PNA has a very specific mission: to
educate our children to be exceptional learners and independent
measurement, algebra
thinkers of vision, courage and integrity.
Mathematics II
What ERB's do test are verbal skills and quantitative
Computation covering all strands - number
skills. To ascertain these skills, the students are tested
sense, geometry, probability/statistics,
in a variety of different ways that provide a measure of
measurement, algebra
their reasoning and achievement in the areas of reading
and mathematics. Since the information is limited in
scope, you might ask why we spend any time at all on
giving these tests.
Standardized tests are a fact of life in education; they
have taken on even more importance in the wake of No
Child Left Behind legislation, and we know that once our
students graduate from PNA they will be more and more
subject to decisions based on the results of standardized
tests, including the PSAT's, SAT's, and the ACT's. So
we think it is a good idea for our students to start early
Math Constructed Response
Problem Solving
developing the test taking skills that they will need later.
Among other things, taking the ERB's should help lessen
test anxiety and allow students to develop skills such as
time management in taking tests.
Fun Facts
What do you know about your brain, anyway?
Throughout history, the human brain has been
remarkably good at dismissing itself. Everyone
from ancient Egyptians to Aristotle has
downplayed the role of the mysterious stuff
Beginners familiarize themselves the shapes of numbers by
stamping them on paper and exploring their shapes.
So what do these tests tell parents? For one thing they
tell parents how well their children do at taking
standardized tests, and they provide parents a snapshot
of how well their children are doing in verbal and
quantitative areas on a given day in the school year. It is
between our ears. Famed anatomist Galen gave
the brain credit as commander of movement and
speech, but even he brushed aside the white and
gray matter, figuring the fluid-filled ventricles
inside the brain did most of the work. Here are 10
things about the brain that are...well, pretty darn
cool.
important not to put too much emphasis on the results of
the ERB testing because results for individual children
Links We Love
can be influenced on any given day by such simple
We love good food! Check out
matters as not getting enough sleep, not eating a good
The Best Foods To Eat Before An Exam
breakfast, or a hurtful remark by a sibling or classmate.
to see what to munch on while keeping your brain
But over time, the results of several years can begin to
on top of it's game.
show a pattern of achievement for students.
Love What You See?
You Can Support It!
MIddle School students collaborate during a science lesson on
DNA.
What use the school make of the results? Pacific
Northern Academy uses the results to learn how our
curriculum encourages achievement. Since each grade
level's results are compared to the results of other
independent school students, we have an objective and
rigorous comparison with comparable programs around
the US. These results can guide us in looking at and
revising the PNA curriculum as well as determining
where there are professional development needs.
Fuel the Testing Mind
A healthy breakfast and snacks are just as important to
Support educational excellence!
taking a test as a #2 pencil. Your brain needs the energy
Your gift benefits today's students and
from food to work efficiently. So what should your child
everyone's future.
eat for breakfast? Healthy food choices on exam day
include eggs, nuts, yogurt, and cottage cheese. Good
breakfast combinations might be whole-grain cereal with
Spread the word! Don't let PNA be Anchorage's
best kept secret. Let your friends know!
low-fat milk, eggs and toast with jam, oatmeal, or sugarfree muesli. It is also important during long tests for
students to eat snacks during breaks. Again snacks
should be high in protein and low in sugar. (To read
Call (907) 333-1080
to pledge your gift or refer a family.
more:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/316603-the-best-foodsto-eat-before-an-exam/
Sleep is also necessary component to a happy and
productive life. To perform your best on the ERB's, take
a page from this turtle's playbook and make sure to get
lots of rest.
We were thrilled to see EK's Ms. Jill and her
While getting the sleep you need is strictly up to you, we
can help you with the food! The Middle School will be
brand new baby boy at the Cat in the Hat show
hosting a Brain Food Sale to help provide students
appropriate choices. The sale will be open before
this afternoon. Congratulations!
school and during testing breaks, so bring your well
rested brain, and some pocket change!
ARE YOU READY?
Dear Community,
I have always been a fairly good test taker. I get plenty of
rest, eat a good breakfast, and of course come fully
prepared. However, I remember distinctly a test I took
many years ago, not for the test, but for the empathy I
felt for a fellow test taker.
The test lasted 8 hours and covered all topics necessary
to gain teaching certification. There were oral sections,
IT'S COMING!
essays, bubble in, the whole gambit. I knew what to
expect as I had completed the short practice booklet. My
poor testing neighbor apparently had not.
Coming Right Up:
When the teacher/parent conference record began
playing (yes, it was that long ago), my neighbor freaked
out. Her breathing became so labored that I thought she
should pass out but most importantly I knew she was not
Coffee Break
Every Thursday Morning
Come on in for a cuppa joe
listening to the conference so could not coherently
answer the questions. Let's suffice to say that it went
downhill from there. At one point I think she just started
Middle School Outdoor Club - Hike
Saturday, April 12
crying. It was quite disheartening and truly not a
measure of her teaching ability. But I, and hopefully she,
learned a valuable lesson that day - know the structure
ERB Exams (2nd-8th grades)
Monday, April 14-Thursday, April 17
of the test so as a test taker you can focus on the
content not the structure.
Smart Food Sale
Monday, April 14-Thursday, April 17
As your child prepares for the ERB, you may want to
discuss with them each section and what type of
questions may be on that test. Refer to the upper section
Book Fair
Monday, April 14-Friday, April 18
to help out with that conversation. It is not about
cramming, it is about being prepared. Be sure your child
comes to school well rested, well fed, and most
importantly with a 'can do' attitude. As I use to tell my
students, use this test to 'show off' all you have learned.
ArtOUT
Kick-off: Friday, April 18
Work Days: Monday-Wednesday,
April 21-23
"Bad Alice" - Spring Musical
Friday, April 25th, 7:00pm
Laurie
Saturday, April 26th, 2:00pm
at the PNA Gym
Art Show
Wednesday, May 14
Graduation
Wednesday, May 21, 6:30pm
Laurie Hoefer
Director of Development
Field Day/Last Day of School
lhoefer@pacificnorthern.org
Thursday, May 22
One Last One....
For a full calendar, please go to
the PNA website.
Pacific Northern Academy Website
Is that a flock of Sneetches in Flight School? Why yes,
yes it is! First grader Sneetches are very good thinkers;
they are always wondering about something. We are
wondering what Sneetches snack on to keep their brains
in tip top shape? Click here to find out!
We are most grateful to the following for their generous support of Pacific Northern Academy:
Avante Medical Center
B.A.C. Limousine
Dr. Joe and Tyra Chandler
Copper River Seafoods
Ground Breakers LLC
Medical Park Family Care
Mehner Weiser Real Estate
Mirror Studios
The Neeno Family
Orthopedic Physicians Anchorage
The Pattee Family
Rhyneer Clinic
Specialty Truck and Auto
Lindsay and Steven Tucker, MD
We educate students to be exceptional learners and independent thinkers of vision,
courage, and integrity.
Pacific Northern Academy * 9251 Lake Otis Parkway * Anchorage, Alaska 99507
Arnie Cohen, Head of School
Krystal Boyechko, Director of Admissions & Marketing
Laurie Hoefer, Director of Development
TEL: (907) 333-1080 FAX: (907) 333-1652
www.pacificnorthern.org