kiddybites: ERB seminar follow-up
Posted on November 17, 2009 under Dads, Moms, Preschool
Photo credit: Andrea McTamaney
What an exciting week for our newly launched kiddybites! Our demystifying the ERB’s seminar last Tuesday night was a huge success. Dr. Schwartz truly helped all of us learn just what the heck the “ERB” is all about and how to interpret the often daunting results and scores. In addition to learning a ton about intelligence testing for children, I learned a little something about myself too (and those of you who attended can attest to this). I really like holding a microphone. So comfortable in fact, when I was “up on stage” introducing Dr. Schwartz, I had Laura (the founder of babybites) begging me in my ear, not to break into a spontaneous rendition of Journey’s Don’t Stop Believing (to all my friends who have heard me sing this – stop cringing).
Photo credit: Andrea McTamaney
As promised, Dr. Schwartz is available to comment on this blog all week so feel free comment below with any questions on the ERB or intelligence testing in general. If people don’t mind, I would like to kick things off with a question. Dr. Schwarz, you mentioned that the “ERBs” do not predict future school success so I am wondering what (if any) is the main personality trait and/or skill that does predict future school success? I had heard during my teaching days that it was adaptability?
Before, closing I would like to make two quick announcements. The first is that if you were unable to attend the November 10th seminar but would like a copy Dr. Schwartz’s extremely detailed and useful handout please email me at heather@kiddybites.com.
I had such a great time presenting last week and hope that I was able to assuage some anxieties about the “ERB”. To answer your question, unfortunately there is not one trait that predicts future academic success. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could all encapsulate our lives and our future successes to one thing?! The literature at this time, however, really documents that academic readiness skills (such as very early learning of colors, shapes, etc.) do have predictive validity with regard to predicting future academic achievement. That being said, I also strongly believe that emotional intelligence plays a huge role, which is what you are describing when you bring up the ability to adapt to new situations. Definitions vary depending upon where or whom you consult with, but, in short, emotional intelligence is being able to monitor one’s own and other’s feelings and emotions, to discriminate among them, and to use this to guide one’s thinking and actions. I really believe that all of these skills are so important in life and for success in school as well as in managing one’s day-to-day frustrations. At the end of the day, as much as we would like to boil down success in school (or in life) to one set of skills or abilities, that will never be the case….so, I am not sure I have any hard and fast answers as to what is the most “predictive” of academic success. The best advice I can give parents is to nurture their children in all the ways they know how and to encourage them to be “who they are.” Feeling good about oneself is greatly driven by experiencing a variety of “success” at the end of a day, which is all any of us want as parents.