We have Sylvan Learning Centers, too.

Also Huntington (sp?)

-- CatherineJohnson - 19 Oct 2005

Here's a thread on Sylvan

all pretty negative

I think a mom I know put her son in Sylvan this summer and is liking it quite a lot.... (I'm forgetting whether it was Sylvan or Huntington)

-- CatherineJohnson - 19 Oct 2005

comparing Sylvan & Huntington & Kumon

(has Kumon prices, too)

-- CatherineJohnson - 19 Oct 2005

oh this is a nightmare:

My daughter (age 6) was lagging behind her classmates (she is at an International Baccalaureate school using Everyday Math) in first grade.

An IB school using EVERYDAY MATH.

IB is supposed to be the best curriculum in the world.

-- CatherineJohnson - 19 Oct 2005

Here's the whole post:

My daughter (age 6) was lagging behind her classmates (she is at an International Baccalaureate school using Everyday Math) in first grade. We started Kumon in November and she is now able to do the required work and beyond. I believe there are many benefits to Everyday Math, but the "math as games" approach was not concrete enough for her - once she figured out that she could get the "right answer" her confidence soared. She really is an entirely different kid when it comes to her love of math. I don't believe Kumon alone would be ideal for any child but it really helped my daughter and is a great complement to Everyday Math. I don't forsee discontinuing her Kumon studies anytime soon!

My daughter's teacher has been so impressed with the improvement that she asked what our secret is -- she is now recommending the program to other parents whose kids are either lagging behind or not being challenged enough.

Check out kumon.com for more information.

-- CatherineJohnson - 19 Oct 2005

I love this one:

From: G. Woodford
To: Teacher2Teacher Public Discussion
Date: 2000040209:53:44
Subject: Kumon Math

I am an educator living in Hong Kong. Kumon is a method of learning math by repetition of very carefully sequenced computational practice. The emphasis of the program is on accuracy and speed. As someone who believes in a constructivist approach to learning math, I see a very significant conflict between Kumon and the development of mathematical concepts. There is no doubt that Kumon can produce students who perform standard algorithms with great accuracy and speed, but my experience has been that this comes at the cost of concept development. The method of learning does not seem to produce students who are flexible in mathematical thinking. Students who have been schooled in Kumon resist attempts to explore alternate ways of solving problems. A third grader in our school who is going to Kumon outside of school is 'learning' multiplication and division of fractions with literally no idea of what the computational processes mean. I question the methodology of Kumon...but know it is popular with parents and with those who hold a traditional view of mathematics as being primarily arithmetic.

What do you think??

Gary

-- CatherineJohnson - 19 Oct 2005

Students who have been schooled in Kumon resist attempts to explore alternate ways of solving problems.

That's a feature, not a bug.

-- KDeRosa - 19 Oct 2005

but my experience has been that this comes at the cost of concept development. The method of learning does not seem to produce students who are flexible in mathematical thinking.

But it does produce students who are able to solve more mathproblems correctly, lessening the need for "flexibility." Flexibility is overrated if the student isn't solving problems correctly.

Students who have been schooled in Kumon resist attempts to explore alternate ways of solving problems.

Because they have mastered the best way.

A third grader in our school who is going to Kumon outside of school is 'learning' multiplication and division of fractions with literally no idea of what the computational processes mean.

Highly unlikely, but even so at least she is capable of manipulating fractions unlike most constructivist taught kids.

-- KDeRosa - 19 Oct 2005

Students who have been schooled in Kumon resist attempts to explore alternate ways of solving problems.

That's a feature, not a bug.


LOL

Exactly what I thought.

-- CatherineJohnson - 19 Oct 2005

I have 9? Wow. I guess we're king of the fuzzies around here. I was thinking of 2 in my suburb, then a couple in the neighboring one. Those are the ones I think are within 10 miles, but it sounds like I might have more. We also have a Huntingdon in town.

Where do they find all these franchisees that can teach math? I wonder what the training is? I know, Catherine can take Kumon and report back, but maybe Carolyn can buy a franchise and tell us about it.

-- SusanS - 19 Oct 2005

I looked at the link for the different tutoring services, but it wasn't clear how long each session was (half-hour, one hour, etc.), whether it was one-on-one or class-based, and what the cost per hour was. Does anyone know?

-- SteveH - 19 Oct 2005

"An IB school using EVERYDAY MATH."

I thought that IB was just a high school thing.

-- SteveH - 19 Oct 2005

I was surprised to find that there was only one Kumon center 15 miles away, with big populations unsupported. However, I have seen a big increase in the other learning centers.

-- SteveH - 19 Oct 2005

"As someone who believes in a constructivist approach to learning math, I see a very significant conflict between Kumon and the development of mathematical concepts."

He "believes" in constructivism, so the other approach HAS TO be bad, ... by definition. Otherwise, he wouldn't "believe" in constructivism.

"Students who have been schooled in Kumon resist attempts to explore alternate ways of solving problems."

Like no knowledge/no skill guess and check.

-- SteveH - 19 Oct 2005

I am totally unsurprised that there is only 1 Kumon Center in my area. This is Boulder, land of child-led learning, hailed variously as "100 square miles surrounded by reality" and "Hale-Bopp by the Flatirons".

I guess we get the math curricula we deserve.

Oddly -- there are also several government labs around town, and a few Nobelists in physics.

-- CarolynJohnston - 19 Oct 2005

boy

I obviously didn't have any concept of Boulder at all

-- CatherineJohnson - 19 Oct 2005

I wonder if we have a higher percentage of Asian parents here?

We do have quite a few, many of whom are actually from Asia (i.e. they are either foreign nationals or first-generation immigrants).

-- CatherineJohnson - 19 Oct 2005

I can't believe Steve's situation.

-- CatherineJohnson - 19 Oct 2005

I've got a bunch of Kumon articles I'll get posted, with links.

I'm definitely signing Christopher up.

I'll almost certainly sign myself up, too.

oh--Steve:

Off the top of my head, Kumon gives children worksheets that take up 20 minutes a day, 5 to 6 days a week.

I believe that you also go to the center once or, at most, twice a week.

Those sessions are either 30 minutes or 1 hour; I don't remember.

A couple of other factoids: Kumon does not charge for the initial placement testing (Sylvan & Huntington do). Also, you aren't required to make a large financial commitment to Kumon going in. I think they ask for around $500 (according to one web site I think I linked to above.)

I think someone told me Kumon runs around $1000 a year, though that seems incredibly low.

-- CatherineJohnson - 19 Oct 2005

oops

I see one in Rockland County, too

-- CatherineJohnson - 19 Oct 2005

wow

it's a 7-day a week program

Most students attend Kumon twice a week year-round and do brief daily assignments the other five days. Kumon sessions and assignments can usually be completed in less than twenty minutes, for math or reading. Parental involvement is strongly encouraged and recommended for optimal results.

Suits me.

-- CatherineJohnson - 19 Oct 2005

I did a 50 mile radius search around philadelphia and there are 27 Kumon centers. That includes the philly suburbs and south jersey up to about the princeton area. I'd estimate that includes 3-4 million people.

-- KDeRosa - 19 Oct 2005

I am tremendously curious about the event yesterday that precipated your thoughts about calling an end to the afterschooling.

Ben also had a watershed event yesterday; he attended the mountain biking club, which he's been very excited about, but apparently he didn't pay as close attention to directions as they wanted him to, so now I have to Talk To Him, if you know what I mean.

-- CarolynJohnston - 19 Oct 2005

oh, yeah

Talk To Him

-- CatherineJohnson - 20 Oct 2005

I am now officially Talked, Screamed, Shouted, and DOOR-SLAMMED out.

-- CatherineJohnson - 20 Oct 2005

I'm gonna go do a 50 mile radius search.

This will include Manhattan.

-- CatherineJohnson - 20 Oct 2005

50 Kumon centers within a 50 mile radius of my house

-- CatherineJohnson - 20 Oct 2005