What is Kumon and what does it do?

Kumon is a different kind of after school learning program.  The Kumon program is well established with a worldwide enrollment of over 4 million students.  Kumon offers two subjects, Math and Reading, where we concentrate on helping students to master their “core” knowledge through working on well-designed work sheets so that their core skills can become second nature to them.  Students will also strive to develop a good study habit through self learning, which in turn will help their advance studies during high schools and colleges.

When does the center opens?

The Center opens on Monday and Thursday each week from 3:30pm to 6:30pm.

Is Kumon suited for my child who is at 8th or 9th grade?

Although Kumon is not set up as a short term remedial program, however, we do customize the individual study plan for each student, this program will help middle school and higher grade students to re-build their foundations and help them catch up to school level in a much shorter period of time.  We will start the students in a lower comfortable level, help students to master those levels faster.  Normally within a period of 6-9 month, a student currently studying in a higher grade can catch up to his/her grade level and progress to study beyond the grade level.

Why isn’t my child progressing faster with Kumon?

Kumon students who hit their stride with the program may advance above their grade level with time.  To ensure success, parents must provide encouragement to the children to finish their Kumon homework daily.  If the student is challenged with difficulties, he/she needs to address the problem with the instructor immediately.  Communications between the student, the parents and the instructor is essential to promote success and help the student to progress in the program.

Why are some school topics not covered in Kumon?

Kumon is not meant to replicate topic-by-topic your child’s school curriculum.  It’s designed to develop a strong command of core skills that can be applied in subject after subject, from the most basic material through higher level study.  Kumon’s approach is to help students become better learners and ultimately succeed with challenging material at the high school level.

How long will it take my child to catch up to grade level?

Kumon’s aims are different from tutoring programs that may provide a short-term boost in your child’s performance.  Kumon is a program that requires longer commitment.  In addition to helping students to master their core skills, Kumon aims to nurture students to develop a better study skill.  A student will not move up in their level unless they have demonstrated that the skills of that level has been mastered.   A student will catch up to grade level in a steady pace and surpass it soon enough if the student sticks to the customized study plan.

My Child is caught up at school.  Why stay with Kumon?

Kumon provides a complete curriculum, covering material from preschool all the way up to college level.  Some parents are surprised to learn how many students pursue advanced study with us or just continue to supplement their schoolwork long after catching up to grade level.  Indeed, Kumon is a truly progressive program intended to benefit children through high school and help them excel in their academic careers.

Why is my child starting at such a low level?

A solid starting point enables children to succeed from the start. They can build a solid foundation with confidence and ease.  The students can also find doing Kumon homework is not as difficult and challenging as they thought.  With confidence the students can ease into the increasingly more challenging levels with less difficulties.

Why must my child do so much repetition?

Repetition helps students to lock in the information so that a particular skill or concept become second nature to them.  Repetition is a well recognized method to help students in knowledge retention.  You practice numerous times when learning how to play piano.  In sports like basketball, players often practice hundreds or even thousands of times with free throwing skills to make perfect shots.  Remember, practice makes perfect, this will help the students to retain their knowledge.

What if my child is not motivated to do Kumon?

Most children respond favorably to initial exposure to Kumon, and few have problems once they are completely accustomed to the routine.  However, it is not uncommon for a child to become frustrated with the work.  Many times, the student can become frustrated with the work because it becomes too challenging to do.  This is when the parents and the students need to communicate with the instructor to evaluate their study plans.  In addition, students should receive encouragement to promote better interest and dedication to the program.

Why can’t Kumon be more flexible with the order of material covered?

Kumon curriculum is well designed to progress in a steady pace.  Mastery of one level or section is essential before the student moves on to the next level.  For example, in math, a student needs to master multiplication by 2 before moving to multiplication by 3, and in reading a student will learn sentencing building skill before moving to paragraph building.

Why must my child be timed and complete assignments so quickly?

Speed is just as important a gauge as accuracy of how well a child has grasped a concept.  In math, we want the student to develop mental math skills, or in reading, we like the student be able to read a passage fluently without stumbling on individual words or sentences.

Why is it important for my child to learn independently?

Children can only go so far with someone constantly looking over their shoulder.  Kumon’s systematic approach allows children to work through material themselves and continually strengthen skills needed throughout school.  The difference between tutoring programs and Kumon can be thought of as the difference between towing a car and turbo-powering its engine.  Kumon gives children what it takes to succeed on their own.

Why is home grading necessary?

Home grading will help the student realize their mistakes while still fresh in their minds.  They will correct their mistake immediately, and this will help to re-enforce the information.  Statistics have shown that if a student can learn from their mistakes sooner, it can help them become a better learner.

How can I sign up my child?

Private orientation session and free placement testing can be set up by appointment only.  Please call the center phone at 925-284-9038 or send your inquiries via e-mail at wilsontang@ikumon.com.

Do you take credit cards?

We accepts Visa and Master Card; tuition can also be paid by personal checks as well.