Audrey Bair2 months agoFrom
Based solely on our orientation, one billion stars!! They are so great there. Welcoming. Comforting. This is my 10yr olds (going into 6th this fall) first time doing a secondary education/tutoring/mentoring outside of his own school. I have been searching and searching for something supplemental since I've noticed him quickly falling behind with the current structure of how math is taught in school. He has pushed back a little bit thinking it's too hard, or doesn't want to be in a summer school 5 days a week. Kumon is the complete opposite of what people (my son) may assume it is. It's a learning program or model, that is created to enable children to gain confidence and know-how with doing math skills. I KNOW he has it in him, but the system at our public school is leaving him in the dust, and it moves SO QUICKLY, before they've even grasped what the JUST taught in 2 days, they move on to the next. They don't wait for anyone. Tai thinks he's not as smart as the other kids, never wants to speak up or answer questions. Second guesses himself constantly.. Every child learns differently, education isn't and should never be black and white. In our case, he seems to adapt quicker and understand better in a way the school sector does not teach. Kumon's method dates back to when my mother was growing up in Japan. This was the way she learned math, reading/writing when she was in her grade school yrs. She still, to this day, attributes the way she can do math, how she can do it all in her head, and the simplicity it embodies, that got her through grueling high school placement tests in Japan, and eventually to the US for college. Although it's created in Japan, it's all the same math, numbers, functions. Kumon builds upon a sturdy foundation, then branches all the different levels of math from that same foundation. That lacks in our schools here. To make a very, very long story short(er), my son left smiling ear to ear after our orientation. He took the assessment while I spoke with the instructor/owner Jeanie (an absolute genuine, passionate human), and we were able to know where we'd be starting from before we left. I have NEVER seen Tai so excited about anything having to do with "school" or math. He says he can't wait to come back, actually bummed we were waiting till the next week for his first day. Then, to my surprise, asked where his homework was, BECAUSE HE WANTED TO DO IT 🤯. In one day, his excitement to be there doing Kumon's pathway for math/writing was ignited. It's something you have to see for yourselves, but its real. I feel wholeheartedly this will build a confidence in his abilities to be successful in learning (especially math), which I have not seen since 1st grade. We can't wait to see the growth, and so happy we finally decided to do this to catch him up, and then beyond. I think every child would gain from Kumon, more so than any after school enrichment program or tutoring thats using the same format as the public schools. If you're unsure, on the fence, know that-your-kid-needs-more-but-not-sure-what, do an orientation and itll all make sense. Could be the best thing you do to support their learning. PS Kumon doesn't pile on more work, or hours of extra homework. 10-15 mins a day is all it takes. You will see 😉
