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The Kumon materials cover pre-school work through high school. Students of all ages attend the Kumon Center for about a half-hour, twice a week. All students also complete worksheets assigned for homework (10-20 minutes) on all other days. This consistent and incremental learning process is meant to complement and reinforce the school curriculum.
Comfortable Starting Point
All Kumon students begin by taking a Diagnostic Test to determine a comfortable starting point - a point where each student can achieve immediate success. This helps build the skills necessary for higher level math and reading and instills confidence and the motivation to advance.
Individualized Pace
All students time their work daily. The instructor uses time and accuracy to measure the progress of each student. Kumon recognizes that each student is unique and must work at his or her own pace. With the Kumon Method, instructors set individual goals for students and then guide them to meet those goals. The Kumon method encourages students to work independently, which instills self-reliance and a sense of true achievement.
Center Work
The setting at the Kumon Center is that of a study hall rather than a lecture. Students work independently and when they hit a trouble spot, the instructor is there to help. When new material is introduced, the instructor sits with the student to guide him or her through the initial exercises to assure that he or she understands the new concepts. In addition, students do a Magnetic Number Board (math) and read aloud from worksheets (reading).
Repetitions
In Kumon, children learn one thing repetitively until they completely master it. Children like repetitions. Doing comfortable work or playing with the number board seems simple to adults but children take renewed interest in these activities no matter how many times they do them.
Mastery Learning
Mastery Learning is the idea that each student masters each level before moving onto the next level. We assess mastery by measuring a student's speed and accuracy. When students fully master a specific study concept, they have no problem working in the next level. The opposite holds true: when a student is advanced to the next level too early, he or she does not enjoy the Kumon work because it becomes too difficult.
Parental Involvement
Kumon parents are partners in their child's studies. They know their child's progress daily by being involved in the grading process at home. In addition, they are able to praise their child's work and celebrate successes jointly. Frequent communications with the Kumon instructor are always welcome.
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