Thursday, April 24, 2014

Make the best of KUMON repetition!

By Sudha Chopra



We all know that repetition to achieve mastery is an integral part of KUMON. But how does an instructor know what needs to be repeated? Does everyone get the same repetition and is there a set recipe? Or is it random!!!

You may have had these questions as a part of your KUMON experience. Here is the scoop on how repetition is planned. Firstly let’s get some things out… The repetition is individualized to every student and is definitely is not a set recipe or random! The instructor assigns work based on the student’s performance on the past homework and classwork. If the accuracy and speed does not meet the KUMON standard, a repetition is assigned for those set of worksheets.
The entire goal of the exercise is to internalize the topic for the student. The student should know the topic so well, that it becomes second nature. To do this, KUMON establishes thresholds for accuracy and speed for each worksheet, and a student will meet those thresholds only if the topic has been assimilated.

But an instructor will not be able to do justice to repetition on their own even by following the above process and needs the help of the parent and student to make it work i.e., maximize progress with each repetition. The goal of each repetition is to improve upon the earlier performance and ultimately reach the Kumon thresholds or target accuracy/speed.

As a general rule of thumb, the target accuracy could be defined as “at least 2 worksheets with 100% score and no more than 2 sheets with a 70 or 69% score in a 10 page set”. The speed requirements, called standard completion time (SCT) are listed on the first page of every answer book

What a student can do:
Students most often look at repeat work as being boring, not motivating and therefore don’t put out their best performance which results in a score, that may not be better or even worse than the earlier attempt. The student who holds this paradigm will go through many repetitions without success and feel like they are spinning their wheels.

Understandably, this leads to negative emotions about repetition! To reverse the direction of this negative spiral, a student should remember that the goal of each repetition is to improve upon the earlier performance.

Some tricks of the trade which could help:
1) Previewing the work before getting started might help the student prepare themselves mentally and plan a strategy to make improvements on the accuracy or speed.

2) Reviewing examples and reading questions and passages more closely. Speed can be improved by assessing the amount of work/page and knowing how much time is allotted per page and pacing your work accordingly. 
However, a student should not despair if the attempt did not immediately result in achieving the target, especially if you are working above grade level. The important thing is that each attempt should be an improvement over the last one.

Make every repetition work for you and not become a wasted effort!

How Parents can help:
Its most natural for parents to worry that repetition might delay their child progress. On the contrary, moving a student forward when they are not ready is far more detrimental. You may save a few cycles now, but if the topic is not mastered, it will add many more cycles to the next level, in addition to leaving the student feeling unprepared in the higher levels.

Parents can make a huge difference in how students view repetition. Parents should look for the same incremental progress with each attempt and guide the student to set incremental goals. Parents that are in close contact with the instructor can help the instructor maximize progress for the student.

As parents, we tend to focus on the results, more so than the students! Remember that we are looking for incremental improvements (especially when the student is working above grade level).


Saturday, April 5, 2014

Why is My Child Repeating KUMON Worksheets?

By Sudha Chopra

The most common question I receive from KUMON parents in Lexington, KY is why their children are repeating KUMON worksheets.  Parents of KUMON students are sometimes concerned that their children are not progressing quickly through KUMON levels. They tend to identify repeated KUMON worksheets as unnecessary “filler.”  This article will explain why there are times when a KUMON student will need to repeat a worksheet that they have already completed.

KUMON students in Lexington, KY
A KUMON student’s work is assessed after every class.  Based on the feedback from the class and the KUMON homework, it is determined if the current concept needs to be reviewed or not.  This feedback will help the KUMON instructor ensure that the student is well prepared to tackle the next concept. 

One of our objectives is to ensure that we are not over repeating or moving on without reviewing. If a student over-repeats exercises, we are not maximizing the progress that a student can make.  On the other hand, if we move a student on when they are not ready, the student will not feel confident with the next concept.

To use an analogy, the KUMON program is like building a home.  A strong foundation is essential to lay before building the structure.  Now the question is, “How do we gauge if the foundation is strong?”  In KUMON, we gauge whether or not your child’s foundational skills in each level are strong enough to move on by assessing their speed and accuracy.  Consequently, if the speed and accuracy is not where it needs to be, as they are approaching the next concept, previous worksheets are repeated to strengthen the foundation. 

Please be assured that your child’s KUMON instructor is focused on maximizing how much a student can do without compromising their confidence. This balance is the determining factor for whether or not a student needs to repeat a KUMON worksheet. 


We love to answer KUMON questions.  If you are a KUMON parent and have a question, please fill out our contact form above. 






Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Does KUMON Help Students Grow Their Creative Side?

By Anna Seacat

Because I have often been asked whether KUMON's formal learning process can somehow curb a child's creative tendencies, I felt compelled to share this amazing KUMON success story with you.  As shown in the video below, a successful game developer discussed how he applies the math and reading skills he mastered as a KUMON student to his creative-driven career.

This video is a must-see for administrators, teachers, parents, and students in Lexington, KY, who have questions about the benefits of the KUMON methodology.  The story effectively communicated that the KUMON program produces confident students, who are eager to apply mastered skills in reading and math to creative endeavors.  Additionally, the student in this video mentioned that KUMON helped him learn to face and overcome life's daily challenges, rather than fear and back down from "difficult" work.

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Thursday, February 27, 2014

Five Ways To Help Students Who Want to Quit KUMON

By Anna Seacat

KUMON | Lexington, KY | (859) 970-0004
Parents who have committed their families to the KUMON journey have made the tactical decision to make academic excellence a priority in their lives.  They understand that their unwavering commitment to the KUMON program means that their children will excel in classrooms, earn high test scores, and be able to apply mastered skills in math and reading to complex problems.  In short, these parents know that KUMON’s unique methodology will maximize their child’s academic potential.

So, what should parents, who believe in the KUMON methodology, do when their child doesn’t want to do their KUMON homework, wants to stop KUMON all together, or states, “I hate Kumon!”  Not to worry.  To answer this question, I interviewed Sudha Chopra, an expert in the KUMON program, who is also a KUMON mom and owner of a KUMON center in Lexington, KY.  Below are a few of Chopra’s recommendations for parents, who may have children struggling with their commitment to KUMON.



Friday, February 21, 2014

How do I Enroll My Child in KUMON in Lexington, KY?

By Anna Seacat

If you've ever wondered how to enroll your child in KUMON, you've come to the right place.  In the article below, I've provided the detailed and step-by-step process of enrolling at KUMON in Lexington, KY.

“Give Us a Shout”

Step 1: 


Our friendly team at KUMON in Lexington is waiting for your call.
Email or Call KUMON of Lexington.  
sudhachopra@ikumon.com  | 
859-970-0004

Welcome to a great group of parents in Lexington, KY, who, like you, have taken the first step towards ensuring that their children will be independent learners and confident masters of math and reading fundamentals.  Your child is fortunate to have someone in her life, who understands that mastering basic skills in math and reading will help them excel in classrooms in Fayette County and achieve the highest test scores in Kentucky.  However, the single greatest reason to contact us today is because KUMON students in Lexington have confidence in their abilities in math and reading.  Did you know the confidence and lack of anxiety among students is a key factor in achieving high test scores?  To read more about that, please visit the the OECD's chapter in "Mathematics Self-Beliefs."


Thursday, February 13, 2014

Kindergarten Registration at Fayette County Schools in Lexington, Kentucky

By Anna Seacat

Getting Ready for Kindergarten in the Bluegrass
Spring time is right around the corner in Fayette County in Lexington, KY, which means Kindergarten registration is upon us.  So, if you have a little one in your home, you will most likely spend the next couple of weeks sifting through your files to find your child’s birth certificate and running around Lexington to acquire proof of her getting preventative health, eye, and dental exams.  Oh yeah, and don’t forget about calling the Pediatrician’s office for that immunization certificate.  After jumping through all these hoops, there might be a few lingering questions in your head.

Does my child know everything he needs to know to start school? What skills should preschoolers in Lexington, KY know before starting school in August?  How can I prepare my child for the first day of Kindergarten?

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Why do Asian American Children Earn the Highest Test Scores in Lexington, KY ?

By Anna Seacat

KUMON students in Lexington, KY
This article will provide possible reasons why Asian American students tend to earn the highest test scores among all racially defined groups in Lexington, KY.  First, however, I will provide evidence that this scoring scenario exists.  

According to NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress), which is a “federally mandated assessment and the largest continuing and nationally representative assessment of what our nation’s students know and can do in subjects such as mathematics and reading," Asian Americans in Lexington, KY are not only more proficient in math and reading than their peers, but they are more advanced as well.  The report specifically stated, “In 2013, White students in Kentucky had an average score that was higher than the average score of Black students, but lower than the average score of Asian/Pacific Islander students, and not significantly different from the average score of Hispanic students.” (pg. 25).