What is Kumon?

As you’re reading this right now, we assume you’ve already heard about Kumon. But what is Kumon exactly? How does the Kumon Program work? Let us explain.

Kumon Basics 

First, the basics. No, Kumon isn’t tutoring. Kumon is the world’s largest after-school math and reading program. Kumon Students progress independently through a carefully crafted, worksheet-based math and reading curriculum. Regardless of their age, students move at their own pace, which means many children end up studying far beyond their school grade level. While Kumon Instructors are there to lesson plan, evaluate, and guide your child, students ultimately develop self-learning skills, learning primarily on their own.

How Does it Work? 

The first step in any child’s Kumon journey is to take a placement test, which determines their starting point in the program. Your child’s starting point might seem a bit easy—don’t worry, it’s supposed to be! Students start at a comfortable level, which helps them learn how Kumon works, while building skills like focus and speed. It also ensures that there are no gaps in your child’s learning, as every skill builds on the one before. In order to master long division, for example, your child first needs to have strong subtraction and multiplication skills. Students then progress step-by-step through the program.

What Does a Typical Week at Kumon Look Like? 

Kumon was designed as a home-based program, and most of your child’s work will be completed at home. That’s because consistent daily study is the key to building skills and habits that stick. Just 15 to 30 minutes of work a day can go a long way! We recommend that students set a “Kumon Time” to do their work every day. After a few weeks, worksheets will just be another normal part of your child’s daily routine.

Students typically visit their center twice a week. Center visits allow the Instructor to observe their students, which helps them lesson plan and determine if the students are ready to move onto new concepts. It also allows the Instructor to provide guidance when necessary. One key to learning in the Kumon Program is making mistakes. Every worksheet is graded, and students must correct their mistakes until they achieve 100%. Evaluating how well a student can correct their mistakes is a major component of an Instructor’s lesson planning. 

What Else? 

That’s pretty much it! Kumon is a simple program that has big results. The worksheets were designed specifically to allow your child to learn on their own, and have been refined constantly over the last 60 years to ensure that students can learn as smoothly as possible. Kumon Students improve not only their math and reading skills, but build confidence, focus, and determination. Perhaps more importantly, they learn how to learn, a skill that will last a lifetime!