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"By
discovering the potential of each individual and developing his or her ability
to the maximum
we aim to foster sound, capable people and thus contribute to the global
community."
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The Kumon Curriculum
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Kumon was not designed to replace school
math, but rather to complement it. Since its inception, millions of
children have had the chance to internalize the math that may have been
skipped over too quickly in school.
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Our curriculum constitutes the core of
school math. It reinforces the most important parts through small steps and
repeated practice. This builds a solid foundation which children then
utilize in school. In Kumon, every worksheet requires that the preceding
one be fully mastered.
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Keeping the end goal of high school math
always in mind, Kumon has been able to streamline the curriculum – choosing
only the necessary concepts. The other aspects of school math are
important, yet not essential for mastery of high school math.
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Example Solution
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Kumon method uses two styles of teaching – direct and indirect. As
students progress through our different levels, we encourage them to learn
by first contemplating the many given examples. Kumon Instructors thus act
as a backup for these examples -–teaching students only when they have
difficulty.
The example
solutions selected bear great significance. They have been conceived in such a
manner so as to make the introduction of concepts, clear and concise. This
promotes self-learning because it allows all students to at least try before
asking for assistance.
Teaching
directly to students is an easy way of making them understand. Helping them
acquire the gift of self-learning is a much harder task. We spend time
developing the latter method of learning because of the realization that the
ability to learn by oneself is a skill that lasts a lifetime.
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Controlling Worksheets
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One of the most effective ways of
motivating students is the careful allocation of Kumon worksheets -–quantity
and content.
Instructors
are trained to provide students with the work they can handle on a daily
basis. This involves both working at the “just right” level of difficulty
and completing the “just right” number of worksheets.
Ideally,
Kumon should be an enjoyable experience.
It is designed to rid students of the anxiety that they often face in doing
school math. Providing them with a large number of Kumon sheets to do each day
will not only burn them out, but, more devastatingly, force them to resent math
as a subject as well.
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Good Study Habits
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students receive in Kumon is designed not only to assist them in mathematics
but in developing better study habits as well. In order to achieve this, a
student must establish a routine and a long-term commitment.
Parents can assist students
by adopting the following policies:
- A Kumon time
– a set time for Kumon work at home
- A Kumon place
– comfortable desk or table at home where few distractions occur
- A Kumon pace
– comfortable amount everyday (not too pushy)
- A Kumon spirit
– a positive attitude
The above four points are
just guidelines to help ensure success. As you can see, a part of the key to
success is parental attitude. Most often children view studying as important
when their parents do.
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Concentration
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Parents often ask how Kumon study helps a
child’s inability to concentrate. The answer is that we begin students with
the “just right: level of difficulty and prescribe the “just right” amount
of daily work. From here, students work at an individual pace –
gradually increasing the amount of time they spend studying during one
sitting.
A good
concentration span rarely just “happens” – it takes time and patience to shape.
Beginning students with materials on which they can easily concentrate now,
will ensure not only that they make good progress in the area of math, but that
they sharpen their skills of concentration as well.
- Confidence
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The first six months of Kumon are considered
crucial. This initial period lays the foundation for success in later
levels.
Initially,
students feel “Kumon is easy.” This easy work enables them to do many math
calculations within a relatively short period of time. This, in turn, increases
their speed and accuracy considerably and allows them to take pride in their
ability to calculate -–even though most are still working below grade level at
this stage.
Taking pride
in one’s calculation skills is only the first of many Kumon benefits. Often,
parents believe this to be Kumon’s sole purpose. In reality, however, Kumon has
many purposes. When students eventually catch up to grade level and then go
beyond, they begin to enjoy a series of other advantages that stretch far beyond
simply succeeding in school mathematics.
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Homework
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Completion of daily homework is crucial for
success in Kumon. Parents must ensure that children finish their work each
day. This, in turn, will create better study habits and ensure steady
progress through the levels. Be sure not to allow children to cram all
the work into one or two sittings. This will only detract from the
effectiveness of the Kumon Method.
Initially, it
may be necessary to monitor your children’s work. Ensure that they:
If a routine
is firmly established, children begin to equate Kumon with regular habits like
brushing their teeth or making their bed. Once this is achieved, parents and
students are on the track to success.
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Mistakes
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Students sometimes say, “If I had had
more time, I would not have made that careless mistake.” Experience, has
shown, however, that given more time, that student would probably have made
the same error again. What they really need is not more time but a chance
to repeat. Making careless errors is a sign that they have not yet
mastered their work and should practice more.
Parents
sometimes feel that Kumon’s SCT (Standard Completion Time) pressures a child
into hurrying and thus errors are made. The truth, however, is that if students
truly master their work, they will not need to worry about time – it will come
naturally.
Parents and
Kumon Instructors must work together to bring students to the point of mastery.
After all, careless mistakes are still mistakes and if we rid students of
them now, it will be they who benefit in the long run.
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Advanced Students
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At Kumon, we suggest that students surpass
their grade
level by at least one or two years. This will enable them to work with
relative ease at school math.
Children who
do this usually acquire.
As a result,
they are more alert and self-confident, and can better apply what they see
around them to what they are currently learning.
Once basic
skills are mastered and a routine established, students can go on to developing
their full potential. The most effective way we have to ensure this is to
encourage them to continue beyond their school grade level.
Kumon Test Times
Test Completion Time is a very
crucial yet often misunderstood feature of Kumon Math.
In Kumon, time is very
important because it determines whether or not students have mastered their
work.
When Kumon Math was first created, there was no completion time. It later
emerged when it became apparent that students with similar perfect scores but
differing times had conflicting degrees of difficulty with advancement. Those
who scored 100% quickly, for example, were able to progress more smoothly than
those who took much longer to achieve perfection.
Kumon allows students who take
too much time to repeat. Repetition is the key to mastery. It is also the key to
making future steps more manageable.
Self-Learning
Kumon places a large emphasis on training
students to work independently. This is because we try to teach students to
learn by themselves – without the constant need of a nearby teacher.
The Kumon worksheets are designed so as to
facilitate the self-learning process. They replace, to a large degree, the
traditional role of the teacher – leaving students to work independently. When
necessary, students refer to the many excellent examples strategically placed
throughout the Kumon levels.
This type of learning is part of Kumon’s
overall motivation process. Students feel best about getting an answer right
when they know that they are responsible for arriving at it by themselves.
Having a teacher spoon-feed answers to students does little to cultivate the
habit of self-reliance.
Repetition
Repetition is the cornerstone of Kumon. It
is vital because it offers students the chance to internalize their work. It
also offers them the chance to achieve a perfect score on their second, third or
more attempts. This, in turn, boosts their confidence and opens the door to
successful learning.
Experience
has shown that advancing students to the next stage prematurely simply serves to
discourage them. It also robs them of the confidence they worked so hard to
develop in the first place.
Ensuring that students master their work and
maintain confidence is a big consideration for Kumon Instructors and parents.
Repetition is the most effective tool we have to ensure that success.
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The Power of 100%
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Scoring a 100% is an integral part of Kumon. It builds
confidence and helps motivate students. This works
with younger and older students alike.
A
sixth grade student, for
example, diagnosed at Level C feels as much success from his/her error-free work
as a pre-school student in 5A does after being awarded a 100% for tracing
correctly. Children of all ages feel proud of their good work!
As
parents you should:
- never tell
children their work is too easy
- never put them
down for making mistakes
- be glad that
they are making progress
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They are just be beginning to make headway towards school grade
level. Long-term study will ensure they not only reach it but surpass it as
well.
Make Kumon a positive
experience for your child
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Praise them when they do well.
Your approval is necessary.
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Reward them for specific goals or
achievements and rejoice with them.
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Provide a peaceful and
studious home environment at “Kumon Time.”
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Experiences and habits are
lasting for children. As parents, make experiences and habits
positive and encouraging, as they become part of shaping their
future.
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What Parents need to know about the new SAT I & KUMON |
