Kumon/Beestar/Gideon/Aloha etc...... Classes for kids

Dear Indus Ladies,

I'm a new member to this Group, To introduce briefly about myself, I'm born & brought up in Chennai, living in S'pore for 8yrs... have two young children.

Well, I just want ask u all bout Kumon class. Kumon (Japanese method of learning math) is quite popular over here( S'pore), can any one tell in detail about it.
some advice me..it's a waste of money, time & energy. It induce pressure to the child. etc.
On the other hand, some say it's a good method of learning, that make the child independent, focused & inculcate (every day) studying habit

can u all share ur views on this issue.

cheers
Anu Shiv

As far I know Kumon class are very good. My SIL sends her kid to kumon classes and she swears by it. She says it improved his math, reading. They give lot of stuff to work on.They have a different way of teaching. You may feel too much work at first but once you see the difference in your kids you will know.

Hope this was helpful.

Thanks shwetha,

My son has just joined the ( math) class, let me see.... how it goes!

cheers!
Anushiv

Hi All,
I know many of us send our kids to KUMON.
Wanted to know
1. Is KUMON good for kids.
2. Is it too much for kids.
3. Is it waste of money
4. If it is good, what is the change you are seeing in kids.

As far with my son, he is doing good in math and reading after I put him in kumon, but he feels it is too much for him and loosing interest. I need to put pressure on him to finish his home work.


~Punitha

Hi,

Initially I had my son enrolled for Kumon for reading when he was just starting, it was very useful.He went for 1 yr continously and then started to loose interest.Then I found the site edHelper.com - Math, Reading Comprehension, Themes, Lesson Plans, and Worksheets, in which we get to pay just $20 for a yr and you need to take print out's,which I found was easy and my son still work's on these work sheets.There is variety in it and I found it much more useful.

Hey

I just saw your message here about Kumon andI am also in the same state of mind as you were. Since you started now, how do you like it? Please share your openion. You can send mail at pwundavalli at gmail dot com.
Thanks
Padma

Hi Punitha,
My kid is 4..Can i send him to kumon classes?Which is the right age to put him in kumon?
TIA
Ramya

Hi Punitha & Ramya,
Personally I didn't feel to push the kids so much beyond what they can handle. If you read them books everyday spend time with them learing..thats good enough I think..That’s what I do with my kids. my first kid will be in first grade this year and he knows beyond what he needs to know and more..this is just my opinion..

Tulasi

Punitha,

We put both our kids in kumon at one point (not at the same time)

My kids have different personalities/learning styles. One can handle stress very easily and can grasp very fast and is disorganised just because can handle any situation easily and the other cannot handle stress but is a hard worker and overcomes the stress factor by being very organized.

Both of them hated Kumon after a year. The basic principle of 1.repetition and 2.Speed that Kumon follows just kills the love for the subject in some kids (mine for example).

My older one just couldn't stand the repeating sheets and my younger one couldn't deal with the speed that is required before going to the next level. We quit when our kids asked us why we were bent on wasting our money .

I don't know what grade your kid is in but in the early elemantary grades we do have to keep reminding them about school work / home work until they get into a routine every day. When very young they do have to be reminded that school work comes first before play.

Thanx tulasi and blondie for u'r inputs..
Blondie--My kid will be goin to KG next year..I came to know abt kumon form one of my friends and her 4/2 yr old attends the classes..But i feel my kid is too young for kumon.So I teach him to read and write at home..

Cheers
Ramya