In the Kumon Program, students learn through daily practice of about 30 minutes per subject per day. Two days a week they complete assignments at their Kumon Centre, and the other days they do them at home, or wherever life takes them.

When you first enroll your child, we’ll have them complete a Placement Test that identifies the most appropriate starting level for them. This has nothing to do with their age or grade in school; it’s about the skills they’ve mastered to date. Based on their starting level, they’ll work on daily assignments through what we call a self-learning approach. As they’re working on their assignments, we’re also assessing whether they’ve mastered each concept by looking at their speed and accuracy. If they’ve mastered it, great! They advance to the next level. If they haven’t, we have them go back to relearn those concepts.

Children can be enrolled in Kumon from as young as age 3, all the way through high school.

A wonderful difference between the Kumon curriculum and the school curriculum is that your child advances based on their abilities alone. In school, your child is limited—regardless of their knowledge level, if they’re in third grade, they’ll be limited to studying third-grade material. In Kumon, however, children have the freedom to move ahead when they’re ready for each incremental lesson. That’s why so many Kumon students are studying material one, two, three or more years ahead of their grade level.

If you are concerned that your child will be bored in school after advancing with Kumon, our parents and students report the opposite. Students with a firm grasp of the fundamentals in math and reading become much more engaged and self-confident in school. Doing homework each night also becomes less daunting and time consuming — a plus for both students and parents. And with Kumon, you have more information on how their learning is advancing, so you can make sure any curriculum includes classes that are appropriately challenging.

1. Tutoring may not get to the root of the problem.

   When a child needs help with math or reading, tutoring often focuses on addressing an immediate need. The Kumon Method recognizes that a child’s struggle likely stems from having missed earlier, fundamental learning.

2. Kumon identifies where your child’s learning started to fall behind, while a tutor may not.

   To fix the root of your child’s struggles, the starting point needs to be correct. While a tutor may begin tutoring a fifth grader on fifth-grade material, Kumon may start them at a different level.

3. Tutoring is passive learning. Kumon teaches self-learning.

   A tutor often sits with a child and explains how to solve a problem. This makes the child a passive learner, listening to an explanation with no guarantee the concept has been fully grasped. Conversely, self-learning in Kumon keeps your child actively engaged. They learn by studying examples that equip them to do the work on their own.

If your child is a bit behind in school, struggling with homework or having some difficulties with math or reading, Kumon is an excellent choice. Children often struggle in school because the teacher moves on without knowing if every student fully understands the lesson. Our method uses carefully designed worksheets. Each teaches a lesson that’s one small step more advanced than the previous one. As children complete each worksheet, our method ensures they have fully absorbed that concept before moving on. If your child is like many who come to us a little behind, they will likely be ahead of their peers after spending some time with us.

Kumon is based on the concept of self-learning. To understand self-learning, it’s important to first understand what we’re all familiar with, which is traditional learning. In the classroom environment, children are often passive learners. They may be sitting in class, but are they always paying attention? Are they fully engaged or daydreaming in space? There’s no guarantee they’re fully grasping every lesson the teacher is teaching.

Conversely, self-learning in Kumon ensures your child is always actively engaged. They learn by studying examples, which empower them to do the work on their own. This differs from sitting in front of a teacher—or a tutor—listening to them explain how to solve the problem. Your child learns by doing, not watching, and builds the confidence to rely on themselves instead of what the teacher knows.

Every child is different. Children advance at their own pace through their program of worksheets. Since each worksheet teaches a lesson that’s one step more advanced than the previous one, children fully absorb each concept before moving on. That’s a big part of why Kumon works for children of all abilities. And why so many of our students end up studying above grade level.

All of our Instructors are required to have a four-year degree, and all have completed extensive Kumon curriculum training.

While we don’t specifically do test preparation for standardized testing or university prep work, we help our students develop the work skills they need to feel better prepared for major standardized exams. Our timed assignments also help children become comfortable working in those high-pressure test-taking conditions. Our program also helps strengthen time-management and problem-solving skills.

The most important step you can take is to help your child establish a routine by scheduling daily “Kumon time.” To encourage your child, you’ll want to celebrate and praise victories and progress, large or small. Younger children may need some extra guidance from you in completing worksheets. It’s also very important to maintain regular communication with your Instructor about homework, motivation, curriculum or any other major activity in your child’s life. The Instructor is there for you as well as your child, and wants what you want: to help your child succeed.

Kumon’s monthly tuition ranges from $120 to $180 per subject. Kumon Centres are individually owned and operated therefore costs may vary. Rate policies may differ in Quebec. Please contact your local Kumon Centre to confirm tuition rates.

Your first step is to schedule a free Parent Orientation. Click here to find a Centre near you. At that session your Kumon Instructor will provide further information on how the Kumon Program works and answer your questions. Your child will also complete our free Placement Test, which helps your Kumon Instructor determine the perfect starting point for your child’s lessons. You should plan on spending between 45 and 60 minutes at the Parent Orientation.