Kumon

Kumon Institute Education Co. Ltd. is an educational network based in Japan and created by Toru Kumon. It uses his Kumon Method to teach mathematics and reading primarily for young students.[1]

For other uses, see Kumon (disambiguation).
Kumon Institute Education Co.,Ltd.
TypePrivate
IndustryEducation
Founded11 July 1958
FounderToru Kumon
Key people
Hidenori Ikegami, President
ProductsKumon Math and Kumon Native Language (varies by country)
SubsidiariesKumon América do Sul Instituto de Educação Ltda. Kumon Asia & Oceania Pte. Ltd.
Websitewww.kumon.org
Inside a Kumon Center with students studying

History

Kumon was founded by Toru Kumon, a Japanese educator, in July 1958, when he opened the first Kumon Maths Centre in Moriguchi, Osaka. Prior to creating the Kumon franchise, Kumon taught at Kochi Municipal High School and Tosa Junior/Senior High School. Inspired by teaching his own son, Takeshi, Kumon developed a curriculum focused on rote memorization.[2]

Kumon initially grew slowly, only gaining 63,000 students over its first 16 years. However, in 1974, Kumon published a book titled The Secret of Kumon Math, leading to a doubling of its size in the next two years.[2] Kumon opened their first United States locations in 1983,[3] and by 1985, Kumon reached 1.4 million students.[2]

Kumon soon added more educational subjects, leading them to change their name from Kumon Institute of Mathematics to Kumon Institute of Education. At this point, the first Kumon Logo was created. In 1985, Kumon's success lead to an increase in enrollments.

Kumon attracted national attention in the United States after it was implemented at Sumiton Elementary School, in Sumiton, Alabama. This was the first instance in which an American school integrated the Kumon Math Method into the regular K–4 mathematics curriculum.[3] Sumiton continued to use the Kumon program through 2001, and influenced other schools to also adopt the Kumon method in their curriculum.[4]

As of 2008, Kumon had over 26,000 centers around the globe with over 4 million registered students.[5] As of 2018, there were 410,000 students enrolled in 2,200 centers across the United States.[6]

Kumon introduced "Baby Kumon" in Japan in 2012, a tutoring program targeted for children between 1 and 2 years old. Baby Kumon hasn't been utilized in most Kumon Centres in other countries outside Japan.[7] In North America, Kumon began a "Junior Kumon" program in 2001, targeted at children aged 2–5 years old.[8]

Kumon method of learning
Pencils and an eraser with the Kumon logo

Kumon is an enrichment or remedial program,[9] where instructors and assistants tailor instruction for individual students.

All Kumon programs are pencil-and-worksheet-based, with a digital program starting in 2023. The worksheets increase in difficulty in small increments. The program recommends that students study 30 minutes per subject on their own for five days of the week, and visit their local Kumon Center or attend a virtual class the other two days.[10][11]

Psychologist Kathy Hirsh-Pasek claims that using such techniques, when used in 2, 3, and 4-year-olds, "does not give your child a leg up on anything".[12] However, studies have shown a high percentage of efficacy.[13]

Programs

Mathematics program

As a high school mathematics teacher, Mr. Kumon understood that an understanding of calculus was essential for Japanese university entrance exams so in writing worksheets for his son, Mr. Kumon focused on all the topics needed for a strong understanding of calculus starting from the basics of counting. Kumon students do not use calculators and solve all problems using mental calculation. Kumon tutoring is in a group of 6 students to one tutor. A student is known as a Kumon Completer once they reach the final level of the Kumon Math or Kumon Native Language program.[14]

Reading program

The Kumon Native Language Programs are designed to expose students to a broad range of texts and develop the skill of reading comprehension. A number of Kumon Centres also use audio CDs to help students with pronunciation. (Note: Levels vary slightly by country)[15] Kumon is also beginning to develop non-Native language programs more extensively. For example, in Spain, Mexico, and the South American countries that have Kumon Math programs, English has been added as a second language.[16]

See also

References
  1. "Around the World in 80 Ideas". adamsmith.org. Adam Smith Institute. 2002. Archived from the original on 27 November 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2009.
  2. Davidson, Alex (31 October 2008). "Sticking to Basics". Forbes. Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S. Archived from the original on 27 August 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  3. Rothman, Robert (17 May 1989). "Japanese Drills, Not U.S. Reforms, Make Math a Hit at Alabama School". Education Week. Bethesda, Maryland, U.S. Archived from the original on 19 September 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  4. Oakley, Barbara A.; Lawrence, Doreen; Burt, Walter L.; Boxley, Broderick; Kobus, Christopher J. (22 June 2003). "Using the Kumon Method to Revitalize Mathematics in an Inter-Urban School District" (PDF). Developing Young MINDs. American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition. Nashville, Tennessee: American Society for Engineering Education. pp. 8.1262.1–8.1262.13. doi:10.18260/1-2--12407. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  5. Written at Teaneck, New Jersey, U.S. "Kumon Celebrates 50th Anniversary". Business Wire. San Francisco, California, U.S.: Berkshire Hathaway. 25 February 2008. Archived from the original on 27 August 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  6. Written at Teaneck, New Jersey, U.S. "Kumon Franchise Receives "Best of the Best" Recognition from Entrepreneur Magazine for the 20th Time". New York City, New York, U.S: PR Newswire. 10 May 2018. Archived from the original on 27 August 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  7. "Spreading Globally". Kumon. Kumon Institute of Education Co., Ltd.
  8. Zernike, Kate (13 May 2011). "Fast-Tracking to Kindergarten?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  9. Singer, Penny (14 March 1999). "Franchise Learning Centers Offer Mastery". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 11 September 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  10. Ltd, P. J. W. S. (n.d.). The kumon method. Kumon. Retrieved February 15, 2022, from https://www.kumon.org/our-method/
  11. "How do Kumon's Virtual and In-Person Classes Work?". Kumon. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  12. Zernike, Kate (2011-05-13). "Fast-Tracking to Kindergarten?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-09-29.
  13. Ukai, Nancy (1994). "The Kumon Approach to Teaching and Learning". Journal of Japanese Studies. 20 (1): 87–113. doi:10.2307/132785. ISSN 0095-6848. JSTOR 132785.
  14. "The Maths Program". Kumon. Kumon Europe & Africa Limited. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
  15. "Improve Reading Skills & Comprehension | Reading Program for Kids". Kumon. Kumon North America, Inc. Retrieved 2015-05-31.
  16. "Inglés para niños: Kumon English para niños de cualquier edad". Kumon España (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2023-08-24.
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