At the Ohrenberger, Prepared Students Do Well on Exams

This article was written by Daniela Eduardo, a current Suffolk University student and Boston Public Schools alum.  

Last year, the entire advanced sixth-grade class passed the ISEE exam and moved on to exam schools such as Boston Latin School and Latin Academy. This year, thanks to afterschool tutoring and fun vocabulary competitions more students have passed the ISEE exam, as well.

Isabel Gomez, an eighth-grader, made it into the O’Byrant School for Math and Science. Gomez attributed her succees to her lunchtime activities and tutoring practice she received, and thanked her teachers for all the support. “Teachers really believe in you here, and push you to bump up your grades.”

The most important practice, she recalled, was how to actually study for the exam. She learned “how to study words, making index cards, and fun competitions teachers did” to better her vocabulary – a major part of the ISEE. Teachers also focused on math, explaining problems and pushing students with harder questions. In her math class, Gomez sid she’s learning ninth-grade level math, and this, she believes, really prepared her.

Alyce Weller-Brady, a sixth-grader, is confident when it comes to the MCAS, as well. “I love the teachers here. They push us to do our best.” She says her teacher, Jackie Sedgwick, teaches MCAS and ISEE specific subjects so students feel more comfortable when facing these exams.

Danny Sebo, a sixth-grader, is in the advanced work class of Sedgwick's, and was first turned off by the work load. “Mrs. Sedgwick gives us a lot of work, but by January and February, we start getting used to it.”  Sebo knows how his workload was essential in preparing him for both the MCAS and the ISEE, and he felt confident when taking the ISEE.

Sebo is waiting for the ISEE results, but he’s confident on his performance. Sedgwick’s motto, Sebo says, is. “'You can cry now or you can cry later.'” Danny says he get’s it – “sooner or later you’re going to get this work” and getting used to it now only helps you later on.