Kumon Explained

Kumon Institute Education Co., Ltd.
Type:Private
Foundation:11 July 1958
Founder:Toru Kumon
Industry:Education
Key People:Hidenori Ikegami, President
Products:Kumon Math, and Kumon Languages (varies by country)

Kumon Institute of Education Co. Ltd. (公文教育研究会, Kumon Kyōiku Kenkyūkai) is an educational network based in Japan and created by Toru Kumon. It uses his "Kumon Method" to teach mathematics and reading, primarily to young students.[1]

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 (the company) gained 63,000 students over its first 16 years. In 1974, Kumon published a book titled The Secret of Kumon Math, leading to a doubling of its size in the next two years. Kumon opened its first United States locations in 1983,[3] and by 1985, Kumon reached 1.4 million students.

Kumon attracted national attention in the United States after it was implemented at Sumiton Elementary School, in Sumiton, Alabama. Sumiton continued to use the Kumon program through 2001.[4]

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

In North America, Kumon began a "Junior Kumon" program in 2001, targeted at children aged 2–5 years old.[7]

Kumon method

Kumon is an enrichment or remedial program, where instructors and assistants tailor instruction for individual students.[8]

All Kumon programs are pencil-and-worksheet-based, with a digital program starting in 2023. The worksheets increase in difficulty in small increments.[9] [10]

Psychologist Kathy Hirsh-Pasek says that using such techniques for 2 to 4-year-olds "does not give your child a leg up on anything". One study has observed a high percentage of efficacy.[11]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Around the World in 80 Ideas. adamsmith.org. 2002. Adam Smith Institute. 7 July 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20131127010612/http://www.adamsmith.org/80ideas/idea/56.htm. 27 November 2013. dead.
  2. News: Davidson. Alex. 31 October 2008. Sticking to Basics. live. Forbes. Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S. https://web.archive.org/web/20180827174855/https://www.forbes.com/global/2008/1110/076.html. 27 August 2018. 27 August 2018.
  3. News: Rothman. Robert. 17 May 1989. Japanese Drills, Not U.S. Reforms, Make Math a Hit at Alabama School. live. limited. Education Week. Bethesda, Maryland, U.S. https://web.archive.org/web/20210919212820/https://www.edweek.org/education/japanese-drills-not-u-s-reforms-make-math-a-hit-at-alabama-school/1989/05. 19 September 2021. 27 August 2018.
  4. Using the Kumon Method to Revitalize Mathematics in an Inter-Urban School District. live. Oakley. Barbara A.. Barbara Oakley . Lawrence. Doreen. Burt. Walter L.. Boxley. Broderick. Kobus. Christopher J.. 22 June 2003. American Society for Engineering Education. https://web.archive.org/web/20200611164858/https://peer.asee.org/using-the-kumon-method-to-revitalize-mathematics-in-an-inner-urban-school-district.pdf. 11 June 2020. Developing Young MINDs. 8.1262.18.1262.13. Nashville, Tennessee. American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition. https://strategy.asee.org/collections/8. 10.18260/1-2--12407. 19 September 2021. free.
  5. News: Kumon Celebrates 50th Anniversary. 25 February 2008. Teaneck, New Jersey, U.S. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20180827210035/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20080225005372/en/Kumon-Celebrates-50th-Anniversary. 27 August 2018. Business Wire. Berkshire Hathaway. San Francisco, California, U.S.. 27 August 2018.
  6. News: Kumon Franchise Receives "Best of the Best" Recognition from Entrepreneur Magazine for the 20th Time. 10 May 2018. Teaneck, New Jersey, U.S. . live. PR Newswire. New York City, New York, U.S. https://web.archive.org/web/20180827174001/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kumon-franchise-receives-best-of-the-best-recognition-from-entrepreneur-magazine-for-the-20th-time-300644872.html. 27 August 2018. 27 August 2018.
  7. News: Zernike. Kate. 13 May 2011. Fast-Tracking to Kindergarten?. live. limited. The New York Times. 0362-4331. https://web.archive.org/web/20181121165851/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/15/fashion/with-kumon-fast-tracking-to-kindergarten.html. 21 November 2018. 27 August 2018.
  8. News: Singer. Penny. 14 March 1999. Franchise Learning Centers Offer Mastery. live. limited. The New York Times. https://web.archive.org/web/20170911072727/https://www.nytimes.com/1999/03/14/nyregion/franchise-learning-centers-offer-mastery.html. 11 September 2017. 22 September 2020.
  9. Web site: The Kumon Method . 2023-11-03 . Kumon . en-GB.
  10. Web site: How do Kumon's Virtual and In-Person Classes Work? . January 25, 2023 . Kumon.
  11. Ukai . Nancy . 1994 . The Kumon Approach to Teaching and Learning . Journal of Japanese Studies . 20 . 1 . 87–113 . 10.2307/132785 . 132785 . 0095-6848.

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