To equip students to self-study senior high school mathematics with ease.

This is the goal of the Kumon Math Program that Mr. Toru Kumon initially developed for his son, Takeshi. He wanted Takeshi to develop strong calculation and life skills. Thus, he only included topics that were essential to achieve the needed skills, abilities, and attitudes in students.

From this, you must be wondering, how then does Kumon achieve this goal? Here are the features of the Kumon Method of Learning that contribute to the development of students and aid in the pursuit of their potential:

1. Easy Starting Point. Students start at the most comfortable starting point, which is suggested by the Diagnostic Test that they take before enrollment. Usually, this starting point is a level lower than students’ current school grade level. This does not imply that students cannot do it. Rather, this is to make sure that they can do it. When students start at a level where they can attain a perfect score by studying independently, they develop confidence and concentration since they are working on familiar topics.

   

2. Individualized Program. In Kumon, it is acknowledged that students have individual needs and abilities and they do not work at the same pace. Each student’s daily workload is tailored to his ability and he works at his own pace. Through this, students sustain their motivation toward their Kumon study since they are not rushed to learn one topic.

   

3. Self-learning. The design of the Kumon materials allows students to self-learn. Each topic is presented in minute steps, which allows students to master one topic before moving on to the next topic. Also, new topics are introduced through the use of examples, which allow students to figure out how to solve problems on their own. Through self-learning, students develop perseverance, confidence, and independence.

   

4. Daily Study. Kumon worksheets are done every day for 10-30 minutes. There are no holidays. Studying every day, specifically for short periods of time, allows students to retain knowledge for a longer period of time. With this, students develop good study habits and time management skills since they know when study time and when break time is.

   

5. Advancement. This is when students are studying topics that are beyond their current school grade level (e.g. a grade one student studying fractions, a grade five student studying algebra). The easy starting point allows students to study advanced materials since they have already developed the needed abilities and character. Students will be able to focus on other subjects since they have already mastered the math topics discussed in school.