Kumon features
N O I T I T REPE it necessary — Is
The Kumon Method of learning is founded on a belief that young children by nature enjoy learning if given sufficient practice of material that is matched to their current ability. But, what do we mean by ‘sufficient practice’ and how do Instructors determine what level will best develop each child? Furthermore, why do some students progress, while other students are given the same worksheets to complete again? We explore the case for repetition and the criteria an Instructor uses in order to determine whether a student is able to progress.
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increase their workload and develop their ability to complete things. When asked by Instructors, back in the 1980s, if repetition was necessary, Mr. Kumon said that concentration and work skills lead to the desired outcome of better comprehension and the ability to think. While not the main objective of the Kumon Method, repetition will inadvertently improve the memory as a by-product of repetition, as illustrated by the diagram on the right.
THE CRITERIA TO ADVANCE In general, an Instructor will have a student repeat a worksheet because they feel the student has not consolidated their learning sufficiently in order to move on. This is often because they have not met Kumon’s criteria to advance. The criteria for a student to progress are being able to correct any errors, and completing the sheet within the prescribed Standard Completion Time (SCT). In some circumstances, a student can advance to the next worksheet without meeting both criteria, based on the Instructor’s evaluation. This approach ensures that students are proficient and confident in each concept before they move on. For example, when building a house, the foundation is important to ensure the stability of the building. Similarly, Kumon seeks to build a strong foundation in students before moving them on to more complicated topics.
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ABILITY TO THINK
COMPREHENSION
CONCENTRATION AND STRONG WORK SKILLS ARE THE FOUNDATIONS OF LEARNING Strong work skills, and the ability to concentrate, go hand-in-hand. If a student possesses both, they possess a lot of power on which they can rely to reach their potential. Toru Kumon, founder of the Kumon Method, described concentration skill as ‘the skill to be able to concentrate for a set period of time in order to finish one specific piece of study (be it worksheets or supplementary learning materials)’. This suggests that students will do well if we 6
THE ABILITY TO CONCENTRATE AND STRONG WORK SKILLS ARE THE FOUNDATIONS OF LEARNING