Kumon was started 50 years ago in Japan by Toru Kumon, a teacher and parent who wanted to help his son do better in school. The unique instructional method he created was so successful that his son was able to do calculus by the time he was in the sixth grade.
Kumon reading and math programs help children master those fundamental skills so important to their overall academic performance.
Our founder’s belief that every child possesses untapped abilities and the potential to excel remains central to our philosophy. In short, there’s nothing a child can’t do.
The Kumon Method was developed to unlock the potential in every child. That’s our mission, and we’re accomplishing it every day at more than 1,400 Kumon Centers in North America alone.
With centers in 43 countries, Kumon has helped more students succeed worldwide than any other after-school program.
The Kumon Method
The heart of the Kumon learning system is a curriculum of more than twenty clearly defined skill levels and hundreds of short assignments spanning material from preschool all the way up to college. With each assignment, your child advances in small, manageable increments.
Kumon Reading
Parents have grown increasingly aware of the importance of having their children acquire good reading skills at an early age. This can often mean the difference between a child excelling or having difficulty at every phase of learning that follows. Not surprisingly, Kumon Reading is our fastest growing program.
Kumon Math
Kumon’s founder was a math teacher, and the original study plan he developed was in mathematics. While that program has evolved considerably, Kumon Math remains our most widely attended and recognized program.
The Kumon Routine
Learning skills that last a lifetime aren’t developed overnight. Just as a child needs to practice daily over time to become adept at a sport or musical instrument, so too does he or she need daily work in order for academic skills to develop and flourish.
Most Kumon students attend a Kumon Center twice a week. That leaves five days when work must be completed at home. This usually takes about twenty minutes each day.
The Kumon Parent
The goal is for Kumon students to assume most—if not all—of the responsibility for their own study. Some parental involvement, particularly in the beginning, helps to establish the routine and get the whole process off to a good start.
Kumon is most successful when the student, parent and Kumon Instructor work together to ensure that the child advances continually to the best of his or her ability.
The Kumon Instructor
Kumon Instructors regard themselves more as mentors or coaches than teachers in the traditional sense. Their principal role is to provide the direction, support and encouragement that will guide the student towards performing at 100% of his or her potential.