Kumon and Aloha [Merged]

[minnow]

I would like to get some feedback regarding your experience with two different programs: the Kumon System of Learning (Math and Reading), and Aloha Mental Arithmetic. If you have kids enrolled in either, or if you know of the experiences of others-please post your thoughts here. Thanks! :)

[joben]

My eldest son is enrolled in Kumon. We skipped nursery and kindergarten alltogether and just opted on sending him to Kumon classes.

Personnally, I'm really convinced of the Kumon *method* of learning. So if this comes out like a marketing write-up, :-) , it is not my intention. (In fact I was wondering if I can charge them for all the referrals I have made over the past 3 years...hmmmm)

The Kumon method was developed by a Japanese school teacher, Toru Kumon. He wanted to help his kid who was flunking Math. The wife was said to have nagged Mr. Kumon (hehehe) Nakakahiya daw na ang anak ng teacher ay bumabagsak sa Math. He then developed a series of worksheets to help his kid with his Math studies. I believe he also applied this method to other kids under his class.

Let me start off by stating that this is not a quick-fix or magical method. So if parents are thinking of sending their kids for a month or two, its not really going to work. That aside, what I like about it is that you can *see* that there is a method to it, that it is not just conceived in the mind of some *montessori* style (no offense to the real deals) educator. When the brochure said it builds on strong foundations, they DO build foundations. It is methodical. It makes sure the basics are learned before building on top of the basics to extend it.

The usually spend some 30 minutes to 1 hour in the center depending on the kids age and level. My kid started at the very beginning (counting dots.) Then they have some activities like number boards, flash cards. Then this is re-inforced by accomplishing the Kumon worksheets at home. All in all, my kid spends on the average 1 hour a day for Kumon.

As I mentioned, my kid skipped nursery and kindergarten so he learned his ABC's and math only at Kumon. Right now he is entering Prep School knowing Grade 2 math and can read, as in really read :-) (I dont know how else to put it :-D )

He can add two digit numbers and doesn't even scribble the 'carry' digits.

All that said, it wasn't automatic. The worksheets were there to help but it was also time spent with him. My wife and I take turns watching over him as he works on his 'homework'. Without the parent factor, I don't think any method will work at all. There were times he just didn't feel like doing his homework, but we just had to encourage him (with the occasional bribery or intimidation tricks hehehe)

If you want to try it out, I know some centers offer a two-week trial. Im not sure if their site is updated but you can check out http://www.kumon.com.ph

[minnow]

hello joben!

thank you for your very enlightening response. i am sure many others (like me) will benefit from your insights.

like you i am a kumon parent too, and i am likewise very satisfied with it. two of my kids (ages 5 going on 6, and 3 going on 4) are currently enrolled in both the math and reading programs. the eldest started last year, while the younger started last summer.

both my kids are also enrolled in a montessori school which is faithful to maria montessori method. i have to qualify because i can understand the apprehension re: montessori schools-one has to discern which is the real thing. many claim to be montessori schools but they are merely riding the bandwagon and appending "montessori" to their name. a real montessori school is also a methodical and systematic approach which teaches each child according to his own developmental stage. the reason why i felt comfortable with a montessori school is precisely because i more or less knew the curriculum's direction and the specific exercises/approach. many websites discuss the standard montessori curriculum in detail, down to the standard materials. this is the reason my children go to a montessori school 20 km from where we live, despite the fact that there are over a dozen montessori kuno schools nearby. the directress of their school trained under the grandchild of the real dr. maria montessori so they are strictly faithful to the pedagogy. my kids enjoy going to school naman for the interaction with other kids.

in my case, i believe kumon and the montessori school complement each other. my primary reason for enroling my eldest in kumon was that he started reading at a very early age (3). he actually taught himself to read-there never was a conscious effort to teach him. although there are several areas where giftedness can manifest (like music, art, math, language, sports etc), giftedness in reading and language is the best over-all predictor of overall intelligence. so i felt that i had to nurture this talent. by age 4 i had him evaluated professionally and his reading and comprehension level were equivalent to middle grade 1! eh nursery pa lang siya. kumon nourished his reading skills, so i enrolled him in math as well. my second son naman did so well in math in school, so he enrolled in kumon math and reading too. after 2 months, he knows how to read na rin! ang bilis talaga ng results.

one more thing i like about it is its effect on the development of good study habits. like your son, after the honeymoon stage, may times na medyo tinatamad yung eldest ko to do his worksheets. talagang consistency and persistence (and patience) lang ang kailangan. but now that his younger brother is also in kumon, ang laki ng improvement. they reinforce each other kasi, so hindi ako nahihirapan na to ask them to do their worksheets. it's already factored in into their daily schedule-kahit pa sunday, holiday etc.

one important thing is that i also check with them from time to time if they're still enjoying it. the last thing i'd want to do is push them or force them into doing something kung talagang ayaw na nila. baka din naman ma-burn out. but so far. they actually *love* it! depende din talaga sa bata at sa magulang-kumon may work for some but not for others.

i am so glad to hear your feedback talaga.

one of the reasons i started this thread is because i've been curious about aloha. i have no intentions naman to try it, kasi parang i have mixed feeling about that hand method. eh sa kumon nga they do not encourage writing the "carry" numbers, or counting with fingers. kaya lang siyempre i cannot evaluate it kasi i have no idea about the details of the aloha system.

but this is just to satisfy my curiosity. as for us, we are very happy with kumon... :)

[joben]

Originally posted by minnow
complement each other. my primary reason for enroling my eldest in kumon was that he started reading at a very early age (3). he actually taught himself to read-there never was a conscious effort to teach him.

Wow, that's some kid you got there. I guess Kumon was a good way to harness the in-born talent. In our case, my wife was the one who suggested to have our son evaluated for giftedness. He has a facility for language and was speaking fluently by age 1. By this I mean that he was never 'bulol' but was already 'matatas' even by that age. Of course his vocabulary had to grow. He was not a self-taught reader though. He got that from Kumon.

one important thing is that i also check with them from time to time if they're still enjoying it. the last thing i'd want to do is push them or force them into doing something kung talagang ayaw na nila. baka din naman ma-burn out. but so far. they actually *love* it! depende din talaga sa bata at sa magulang-kumon may work for some but not for others.


:*) We actually asked his Kumon teachers to slow down kasi we felt he might be going to fast and baka ma overwhelm sayang dahil he seems to be enjoying it. Sabi nila kaya naman daw so alalay lang.

[minnow]

Originally posted by joben
Wow, that's some kid you got there. I guess Kumon was a good way to harness the in-born talent. In our case, my wife was the one who suggested to have our son evaluated for giftedness. He has a facility for language and was speaking fluently by age 1. By this I mean that he was never 'bulol' but was already 'matatas' even by that age. Of course his vocabulary had to grow. He was not a self-taught reader though. He got that from Kumon.
:*) We actually asked his Kumon teachers to slow down kasi we felt he might be going to fast and baka ma overwhelm sayang dahil he seems to be enjoying it. Sabi nila kaya naman daw so alalay lang.

joben, your child is also showing signs of giftedness in language. male children usually lag behind their female counterparts in both motor and language development, so the fact na matatas siya at age 1 is something! naku, tutukan ninyo yan kasi he shows much promise. okay lang kung parang ang bilis, basta nag-eenjoy siya. mahirap i-hold back at this point - research shows that 50% of a person's intellectual capacity is achieved by age 4. baka makita ko anak mo sa progress ads!

[yung eldest ko naman, baliktad, nasa school na noon medyo bulol pa :*) ]

[XetraDAX]

hi, i wish to help


First, I would just like to clarify that i am not yet a parent. I just happen to expereince both Kumon and Aloha.

Personally, I like Aloha better than Kumon. Kumon has the Japanese approach, while Aloha uses the chinese approach.

Kasi in Kumon, they make you memorize all these arithmetical problems plus their answers na once you are familiarized with that, you know the answer in an instant. For example, when you see the addition problem "23+43", automatic alam mo na ang sagot ay 66. So familiarization yan. And, they have homeworks, wala lang..hassle kasi eh,, hehehehe :D I didnt last long sa Kumon. Probably, mga 2 months lang ako.

In ALOHA, which stands for Adavanced Learning on Higher Arithmetic, makes your mind faster. They are going to teach you to compute arithmetical problems using your both hands. Diba ang daliri natin kayang mabilang ay 10 lang. But they will teach you in how to make it over a hundred. How? Enroll na lang kayo! Anyway, they are going to teach you how to use both sides of your brain. As in ang bilis!! You will compute faster than the calculator (no kidding, i can attest to this). Of course, arithmetic lang yun. To be honest, i became very good at this, though i lost practice. Technically, since na chinese ang approach dito, they will teach you to visualize the ABACUS, using your hands. At the same time, tuturuan din kayo kung paano gamitin ang Abacus. O diba?


good luck. :D

[sodemntough]

thanks for that info.. ako din nalilito at least ang advantage nyan ay may technique na ginagamit para di na masyadong maging hirap yung Math.

[XetraDAX]

basta, in my opinion, better ang Aloha. :D

[Gabriela]

My daughter will be 3 1/2 yrs old next school yr so ngayon palang i'm scouting for a preschool already. after reading ur posts, i'm becoming so much interested to put her in either kumon or aloha. how much do they charge btw? and how long does the whole program take? gusto ko kasi sana by age 6, she's in grade 1 already.

[XetraDAX]

I'm not sure what's the current tuition fee for Aloha. But during my time, which was like 2-3 years ago, mga 2,500 yata. Again, I said "yata" which menas i'm not sure. Basta mga ganon. I dont recall kung how much yung sa Kumon because I was like grade 5 back then.

In Aloha kasi, there are 4 levels. You have to take the examination before you proceed to the next level. Each level has its own concentration, for example in Level 1, they will teach you the basics of Aloha. In level 2, they will teach you the abacus and so on.

I really dont remember the how long to take the whole program. But see this, I finished two levels in a whole summer vacation. So, with that premise, I can say that 1 level is to 1 month. But it depends on the child really. If the child is a slow-learner type, he or she may take up a little more time to finish the course.

In Kumon, there are a lot of levels you have to take. Up to level Q yata yun. Basta, just like in Aloha, each level has its concentration. I remmebr Level A being addition. Again, it will depend on your child wehter he'll stay on one level or not. If he/she can finish an exam within the prescribed number of minutes, then he/she will move on.

[Gabriela]

Ah mabilis pala. Granting that my child is a slow to average learner, she can finish a level in a couple of months which is not really bad.
Another question, do they actually just teach math & reading? wala bang group dynamics or nursery rhymes? di kasi nya yun matutunan sa bahay kasi walang nagtuturo.
And it was posted here that a kumon session lasts up to an hour. is it the same with aloha?

[XetraDAX]

In Kumon, I beleive they already offer English/reading classes, but hindi ko na naabutan yun. I'm not sure if Aloha offers reading classes. If my memory serves me right, hindi talaga.

Aloha lasts for 2 hours. They also have a break time.

There are group dynamics in Aloha. Every session ends in a game wherein you will apply what you've learned during the day. Beleive me, its so fun. For sure your child will enjoy it. :)

I've never experienced games in Kumon. Ang mahirap sa Kumon is timed pressured ka (which i think is good.....). Just what I've posted before, Kumon has assignements, Aloha doesn't.

Just visit na lang po any Kumon or Aloha branches for more information (parang nag-aadvertise ako ah!)

good luck!

[Gabriela]

Thanks! :)

[minnow]

Originally posted by Gabriela
Ah mabilis pala. Granting that my child is a slow to average learner, she can finish a level in a couple of months which is not really bad.
Another question, do they actually just teach math & reading? wala bang group dynamics or nursery rhymes? di kasi nya yun matutunan sa bahay kasi walang nagtuturo.
And it was posted here that a kumon session lasts up to an hour. is it the same with aloha?

hi gabriela!

before anything else, i strongly suggest you visit the kumon website so that you'll get a clearer picture of what kumon really is: http://www.kumon.com. if you click on "kumon method", you can even check out the sample worksheets, just so you'll have an idea.

maraming misconceptions about kumon that i have to correct:

1. kumon is ideally a long-term program, very much unlike summer courses or short term ones. sabi nga ni joben, this is no quick-fix.

as the site says, it has a linear approach to learning. so parang steps yan: you start with simple concepts, then move on to the next harder concept, then the next etc etc. the concept gradually increases in difficulty in very small, incremental steps kaya hindi nakakabigla. tapos you move on only when the concept is thoroughly mastered. the next concept is introduced, building on the foundation established by the first.

needless to say malaki ang range ng lessons. there are around 24 levels in math, starting from level 7 A which is connecting the dots so that you'll learn to count (pre-school), to level Q where you learn probability and statistics, permutations, trials, the binomial theorem, and distributions. students study matrices, mappings and transformations (college and beyond).

the child proceeds at his OWN pace, so hindi mo masasabi kung gaano niya kabilis matatapos ang isang level. mastery ang kailangan. so in kumon, you are NOT under time pressure. you are actually not under ANY pressure. unlike school, hindi mo kailangan makipagsabayan sa classmates mo, na kahit hindi mo pa kabisado, kailangan na to move on kasi the whole class is moving on to a new lesson. on the contrary, wala kang kakompetensiya kung hindi sarili mo. own pace nga eh... kung kaya mong tapusin ang isang worksheet ng 3 minutes or 30 minutes, at isang level ng isang linggo o isang buwan, nasasaiyo yon.

2. kumon does not make you memorize the answers. the answers merely come second nature to you because of the familiarization resulting from the constant practice you get. just think, if sa worksheets mo, paulit ulitmong nakikita ang 5 +24 = 29, siguro naman, maaalala mo yon eventually. that's not memorizing.

3. the "homework" part is something you can't escape, but this is not as hard as it seems. the worksheets are simple and not too long. my sons can finish one in 5 minutes once familiar na. pag bago, puwedeng mga 30 minutes or longer. since hindi de kahon, the instructor will adjust according to the child's needs. kung sobrang nahihirapan, ibig sabihin, di pa niya master yung previous concept so ibabalik siya. or baka napadami yung concepts so babawasan.

the daily worksheets help establish good study habits. there are 24 hours in a day-ano ba naman yung 5-20 minutes of study time? kahit may inital resistance nasasanay din yung bata. my two children are 4 and 6, and i don't even have to tell them to do their worksheets-naingrain na yung study habits sa kanila. ang maganda dito, damay na ang real schoolwork nila. pag may worksheet sa class, sanay na sila. they've also learned how to become independent. hindi yung tanong ng tanong sa yo.

pero kung ayaw ng student mag-devote ng kahit 20 minutes every day to study, hindi siya tatagal. but then just think how much time a child spends playing or watching tv every day .... what's a few minutes?

4. i prefer kumon is because not only is it a systematic thing na alam mo kung saan ka patungo-i like it because it's no quick fix and it builds on foundations. mas gusto ko yung slowly but surely rather than short cuts.

5. needless to say, talagang walang group dynamics sa kumon. hindi yan ang goal nila. individualized learning nga eh. kumon is not a pre-school or a play school. you don't send your child there for interaction-if you want that, send him to a regular school. kaya nga kumon is an "after-school" program-it is not meant to replace a real school. that is why parents like joben (see the first posts in this thread) and i still opt to send our kids to regular school. pero sa pre-school, maganda siyang foundation because at that age very receptive ang bata, and maganda yung doon sila nagumpisa-no bad habits to undo. yun na ang kinagisnan nila.
6. i have nothing against aloha, but i prefer that my child know the basics. pag magaling na siya sa basics, then he could probably learn techniques para bumilis siya magcompute.

7. the fee is monthly - around 1430 per subject. if your child is also enrolled in reading, another 1430 yon so it's 2860 a month.

you can also read joben's posts so you'll get feedback from another kumon parent. we have no business interests in kumon-we just believe in the method because we've seen the results, not only in our children, but in other children as well.

the important thing is: there has to be a certain level of committment, both from the parents and the children. if either can't give that, it won't work as well. pero personally, depende din yan sa bata-kung talagang di niya type, huwag niyong pilitin. baka maging counter-productive.

hope this helps. good luck! :)

[XetraDAX]

In Aloha, they do teach you the basics.

You said it yourself, they use familiarization (and not memorization, sorry po) in answering, how will they ever know the basics?

peace.

;)

[Gabriela]

Thanks for the add'l info. I'm both excited and nervous with the idea of my kid going to school next year. This is really a big help. :)

[lonely_heart]

my cousin who is currently in 4th grade was enrolled in Kumon and since then he was performing well in math, my aunt told us that he was "accelerated" a level ahead because of his performance i think he's into solving complicated fractions (studied in 5th grade) when supposedly he should be learning about the introductory of fractions

hope this helped good luck :)

[minnow]

Originally posted by XetraDAX
In Aloha, they do teach you the basics.

You said it yourself, they use familiarization (and not memorization, sorry po) in answering, how will they ever know the basics?

peace.

;)

1. XetraDAX, i think you are confused as to the definition of "basics", so let me qualify lest the others get confused too.

"basics" as used here means more of "basics of traditional education". meaning the method usually used in traditional schools. you know: pen and paper. i am chinoy- i know the abacus and i know it's faster, but that's not the way math is taught in traditional schools.

ALOHA is a non-traditional method. it stands for "ALTERNATIVE Learning On Higher Arithmetic". in its website it claims to "...complement and supplement the arithmetic approaches adopted in schools". so dapat may firm grasp ka muna of the "basic" school approach.

when i said: "i have nothing against aloha, but i prefer that my child know the basics. pag magaling na siya sa basics, then he could probably learn techniques para bumilis siya magcompute.", i meant that mas gusto kong alam ng anak ko at this pre-school level yung traditional method, bago siya matuto ng alternative mental method.

that is my personal opinion.

2. if you are an educator, you would know that learning by familiarization and learning the basics are not mutually exclusive.

being familiar with the basics is actually the foundation of education.

kung hindi ka familiar you will forget.

if you forget, what's the point? how can you use it?

you said it yourself: "(In Aloha)...they are going to teach you how to use both sides of your brain. As in ang bilis!! You will compute faster than the calculator (no kidding, i can attest to this). Of course, arithmetic lang yun. To be honest, i became very good at this, though i lost practice..." ... so may familiarization din ang Aloha... kasi kailangan mo i-practise.

but familiarization vs. "basics" is NOT the point. the whole point is that Kumon and Aloha have different approaches . to each his own-some like kumon, some like aloha. like ikaw, sabi mo you tried both but you like ALOHA. good for you. but that doesn't mean it's better, or that since I like Kumon, Kumon is better. what's more important is what suits you best.

to the others, since the purpose of this thread is to present both sides to readers and let them formulate intelligent conclusions for themselves, here is what aloha says in its website. this is not complete. meron na rin silang parang reading program you can read more about it in this link:
http://www.aloha.com.ph/new_howdoes.html

i mentioned the link to kumon in another post. both have sample worksheets/exercises so you will have an idea and you can compare to a certain extent. of course, the best would be to experience both and find out which is right for you. :)
-----------------
http://www.aloha.com.ph/index.html

What is A.L.O.H.A. Mental Arithmetic?

A.L.O.H.A. Mental Arithmetic is a method that enhances a user's mental capability to do calculations without the use of calculators, pen or paper. It develops the skill of an individual to solve problems mentally. The user is trained to work on arithmetical problems with great speed and accuracy. A.L.O.H.A. is an acronym that stands for Alternative Learning On Higher Arithmetic.

The direct result that can be readily observed in an A.L.O.H.A. student is a marked improvement in doing calculations mentally. However, A.L.O.H.A. is not simply relevant to arithmetic. The method actually enhances the logical and creative potentials, the scientific and imaginative qualities of kids who are made to complete the entire program. The improvement in an A.L.O.H.A. student's capability to compute is simply a bonus. The method also enhances a kid's attention span, memory, analytic power and reflexes. It also brings about a marked improvement in the kid's ability to: observe, listen, imitate, reason logically and read with comprehension.

Moreover, the method is taught in a manner that makes it easy and fun to do. It removes the stress that is normally associated with the teaching of Arithmetic or Mathematics in the traditional way. This does not mean, however, that A.L.O.H.A. competes with the traditional methods. As a matter of fact, it uses the same principles employed in the traditional schools. A.L.O.H.A. simply introduces an alternative way of responding to arithmetic problems in a manner that the users will enjoy doing. Also, confidence in one's self is developed and improved. All of these, combine together to make A.L.O.H.A. students become PROBLEM SOLVERS instead of problem makers.

What's ALOHA MENTAL ARITHMETIC ?
Mental arithmetic is a technical skill in mathematics acquired intensively through finely structured syllabus prepared by ALOHA curriculum Development Department. The technical skill help children to strengthens and improve their mathematical competence in calculating with speed, and of course accuracy.
At the beginning, the children will be trained to do calculation 1 to 99 + and - operation using their ten fingers, and then with abacus for bigger number. Later, they will be trained to do complicated calculations without using fingers or abacus where they start to fully utilize their mental power to do calculation. This will need a solid concentration with high imagination.

This special ability relies entirely on one's mental processing skills. During the exercises, both portions of brain are stimulated, making the whole thinking process mode efficient and effective.

Does ALOHA MENTAL ARITHMETIC help our children ?
Yes, it enables a child to grasp and master the basic arithmetic operations faster and better. Is also stimulates the learning process of arithmetic and other related subjects.

What is the syllabus of ALOHA MENTAL ARITHMETIC ?
Training is conducted in eight stages:

The fingering method of addition and subtraction
The abacus method of addition and subtraction
The mental arithmetic of addition, subtraction and multiplication
The division method of calculation
The visualisation of the four basic function of arithmetic (the last contain four levels)
The duration of each stage is three months. Classes are held once a week for two hours. At the end of each stage, an examination will be conducted. Our teaching methodology is proactive and the learning environment is created in a fun and enjoyable way, whereby the interest if the learner is 'tapped'

Why is it worth to learn ALOHA MENTAL ARITHMETIC ?
Besides improving a child's calculating ability and his understanding of arithmetic, ALOHA MENTAL ARITHMETIC will increase the memory power and the concentration of the child. In addition, it encourages the child to give full attention to study, trains him/her listen more attentively and effectively. Ultimately, ALOHA MENTAL ARITHMETIC will make the learner more confident and interested is his/her school work, both curricular and extra-curricular. His/Her ability to analyze problem and creativity will also improve considerably.

Is ALOHA MENTAL ARITHMETIC different from the normal school arithmetic concepts ?
Arithmetic can be approached in many different ways. The main aim of arithmetic is accuracy and fast calculation. ALOHA MENTAL ARITHMETIC is the most efficient approach to effective calculation. Thus it complements and supplements the arithmetic approaches adopted in schools.

How does ALOHA MENTAL ARITHMETIC help our learners ?
Evidence has shown that those who have undergone ALOHA MENTAL ARITHMETIC training would have:

Greater concentration
Keener listening skill
Better Reflexes
Better application skills
Improved analytical skills
Better creative and imaginative skills
Improved reading, writing and learning skills
Better memory
Sharper observation
More self-confidence
Improved endurance
Better ways of expression
Better comprehension and calculation skills
The effectiveness of ALOHA Mental Arithmetic, produces a child who is efficient in calculation and these advantages will also be influenced and transferred to the other subjects. The child will also learn to endure and be able to face pressure in his studies with ease.
------------------

[XetraDAX]

thanks for clarifying. :)

[your_angel]

kumon and aloha... in other words they are like tutors or tutorial classes ganun???

[richyuppie]

To be honest with you peeps, I used to be an Aloha Mental Arithmetic instructor. But in my opinion, Kumon is better.

Indeed!

[jisc]

Anong minimum age requirements sa kumon? my daughter is only 3 1/2, nag try kaming i enrol last may, eh april ang b-day nya so mag ti-3 pa lang sya non, kaya tinanggihan, so we decided to start her schooling next year, pero mukhang masyadong late na yun kasi marami akong nakikitang potential sa kanya, sa paglalaro nya ng jumstart, at sa interest nyang mag aral,

so is it advisable to enrol her now sa kumon? like for example this coming november, then i'll enroll her sa kinder or preschool sa next schoolyear (2004). saka pwede bang sabay yung regurlar school at kumon? or she can skip kinder and nursery at start na ng preschool? tatanggapin kaya sya non?

another question eh tungkol sa montessori, pano ko malalaman na totoong montessori yung school?

[joben]

Jisc,

My son Jone started his Kumon when he was around 3 1/2. The Kumon center assessed him first kung ok na. So I guess its really a base-to-base casis :D In the center where my son is, they had instructors who were quite adept with handling the little ones so I guess it worked out.


or she can skip kinder and nursery at start na ng preschool? tatanggapin kaya sya non?

You will have to check with the school where you intend to enroll her in Prep School. In my case, they did not have any requirements that my son attend nursery or kindergarten. He studied in Kumon for 1 1/2 years and he passed his entrance exams without any problems.

saka pwede bang sabay yung regurlar school at kumon?

Puede yun nga lang doble gastos talaga at dagdag sa efforts natin as parents. In my case, I find it worthwhile dahil he does not have any difficulties with math and english at school, we have more time to drill him in Filipino, Aralin, at other school subjects. It really helps boost his self-confidence esp. when he reports how he was the only one who could answer the teacher's questions in class. :D

another question eh tungkol sa montessori, pano ko malalaman na totoong montessori yung school?

You are right to ask this question. I am a 'montessori-averse' parent simply because they sprout like mushrooms after a rain pours that you tend to suspect if their methods are really 'montessori' or its just a case of 'me too'

Maybe someone else can shed light on this.

[richyuppie]

Originally posted by jisc
another question eh tungkol sa montessori, pano ko malalaman na totoong montessori yung school?
I used to be a pre-school teacher, and according to our directress before, there are only two legitimate Montessori schools here. O.B. Montessori in Greenhills, and I forgot the other one. Anyway, my advise to you is to enrol your kid on a Montessori-Piaget school.

Indeed!

[PennyLane]

hi there.

i not really familiar with ALOHA but I am with KUMON because my son's school offers it. kung enrolled ka dun, integrated and kumon sa curriculum.

anyway, kaya ko gusto ang kumon because it gives me a chance to interact with my kid scholastically. parang bonding na rin namin yun.

[rchrdsgrl4evr]

having learned all this i think will have to discuss kumon with my husband soon...kelangan yung anak namin gets to maximize her potentials and if kumon is able to develop that then go...
thanks people for your insights...
contact numebr ng kumon, pls?

[mytitagirl]

My 3 yr old took Kumon just this sem-break from his pre-school. I was worried because 2 weeks is a long time for no formal lessons, so I talked to the teacher at Kumon Marikina, and they took him in for the 2 weeks (Tuesdays and Saturdays). Okay naman Kumon, may discipline kasi learning, parati may homework at systematic. Kaso minsan tinatamad anak ko at mabagal daw, kasi listening to cassette, ginagawa anak ko inuunahan cassette at siya na nagtuturo at nagsasabi kung ano nasa worksheets. So iniskip na cassette, at flashcards at worksheet na lang sila. Alam ko dapat longterm, kaso super expensive na aabutin kasi enrolled din siya sa regular pre-school. I'll have to think about it first kung itutuloy ko pa ang Kumon.

[minnow]

Originally posted by jisc
another question eh tungkol sa montessori, pano ko malalaman na totoong montessori yung school?

jisc and joben - what i did was i first checked out the international montessori websites to find out for myself what a genuine montessori school is all about. i also bought some books para malaman ko yung vision/mission, curriculum and techniques. it was through these websites that i learned about the montessori materials. (the advantage of surfing is you also keep your mind open to other types of curricula. Pati yung mga Waldorf schools na yan, pinag-aralan ko yung curriculum to see kung ano yung tugma sa needs namin.)

a real montessori school still makes use of the traditional montessori curriculum and materials-sensorial, motor, practical life exercises etc. pati equipment nila, standard (ex: pink tower, number rods, sandpaper letters). kung totoong montessori yung school pag pasok mo pa lang sa classroom, isang tingin mo palang sa materials alam mo na. standard equipment yan in *all* montessori schools, kahit saang lugar/bansa. yun nga yung hanap ko-something na standardized para confident ako na alam ko what to expect kasi may pagco-comparean ako. mahirap kasi yung ipauubaya ko totally yung curriculum sa school, kung ano lang type nilang ituro, kasi i'll be taking their word for it lang. eh malay ko kung palpak pala ang style nila.

then when you observe the teacher and student in action, malalaman mo kung orig talaga. For ex, there is this 3 step lesson that Montessori uses. Step 1: name the lesson (This is red.) step 2: Show the lesson. (Show me red.) Step 3: Recall the lesson. (What color is this?). Universal style yan in all Montessoru schools.

then check the credentials of the school and its directress. Hindi lang 2 ang legitimate Montessori Schools in the Philippines. Marami na.

The school my sons go to is accredited by Association Montessori Internationale. The directress trained in Canada under Renilde Montessori, the granddaughter of *the* Dra. Maria Montessori herself. She has the certificates to prove it. Pati pictures with Renilde. So in my case, I know na legitimate na Montessori ang school ng kids ko. :)

P.S. i commend you for asking this question. sobrang dami ng nagpapanggap na Montessori schools kuno, so you better check it out talaga-if you're gonna spend for your kids's schooling, you and your kids deserve to get the real deal and not some fake-o.

[nailbiter]

My cousin is 16 and she's really bad at Math. REALLY bad. In their school sa probinsya, the teachers allow them to use calculators, kaya hindi talaga na-train. She's about to enter college. We really hope she'd at least develop some math skills, para man lang sa paghawak ng pera. Are there any programs for someone her age?

[joben]

My cousin is 16 and she's really bad at Math. REALLY bad. In their school sa probinsya, the teachers allow them to use calculators, kaya hindi talaga na-train. She's about to enter college. We really hope she'd at least develop some math skills, para man lang sa paghawak ng pera. Are there any programs for someone her age?

Nailbiter

I was just reading an article on the kumon newsletter about 4 days ago and they featured a student who's now in 2nd year college and started taking kumon rather late (high school). The way I know the kumon program, anyone can start at anytime since the program is really based on what your current skills level are. In the center where my son goes to, a 38+ year old man is taking up math and reading. He is your quintessential "self made man". Now that he can afford it, he wants to complete his "education".

So if your cousin wants to, she can go to a Kumon center to have herself assessed and get on the program. It will require her to do something daily but it is on a level she can handle. She only advances as she masters her level. I think it will do her good in the long run. Especially now that she's going to college, teachers wont *care* if you catch up with the rest of the class.

browse through http://www.kumon.com.ph for the address of the nearest kumon center.

fyi, my wife is thinking of taking up kumon when our son's level is already beyond what we can recall :D Nakakahiya naman kung tinanong kami eh kamot ulo lang ang sagot :p

[Gabriela]

I've been looking for this thread.

I finally sent my kid to nursery and she did well on her first few months. Kaso I got a feedback from her teacher lately that she is lagging behind (particularly in letters and numbers). Nung una hindi ako affected kasi she's only 4 and she shouldn't be pressured in school. Kaso i found out that she's the only kid who's having difficulties. Tapos makulit pa raw sya sa school. Mukang kelangan ko na talaga sya ipasok ng kumon. thing is, it's expensive to send her to kinder tapos nagkukumon pa sya. since na-experience na nya magschool for 1 yr, i'm planning to enroll her nalang sa kumon.

sa mga parents na who have kids enrolled in kumon, ok ba yung magiging decision ko? please help...

[funshinebear]

About Montessori Education, before enrolling your child in a Montessori school ask the directress first is she has a Certified Montessori Certificate, mas maganda sana if sa ibang country lalo na Italy, Canada, and States kasi ito talaga yung cetified Teachers Montessori Training. But they also have here in the Philippines na, kaya its ok also(pero better pa din sa ibga countires, may iba pang reasons eh). Teachers as well should have a Montessori certificate. Kasi ang daming schools na di talaga montessori. Ang dami din kasing school na fake Montessori school eh. The reason is so that they can make the tuition fee much higher.
And yes your right sa environment pa lang nakikita na agad if its a real Montessori school, part of its philosophy is the "Prepared Environment."

Yung mga Montessori schools naman if effective sa bata, well for me it depends if your child is creative and more on the artistic child I think hindi ok ang montessori. I like progressive schools or what is known as Regio Emilia schools. But I think for special children a true Montessori school is recommended, kasi at first MAria Montessori designed a system of learning for special children, thats the reason why very systematic and ang daming self-help skills sa curiculum niya. Basta for me it really depends. And by the way do PM me if may alam kayo na di totoong Montessori school, kasi you can report them nakalimutan ko lang ang number.

About KUmon and aloha naman. I think for prechool children sa reading ok na ok ang Kumon. But for me enrolling your child sa preschool is better than Kumon alone. Kasi in preschool children learn to be sociable and creative which they cannot do in Kumon or Aloha since it is a center, and yung task lang ng chldren is to answer activity sheets. But if your intrested in Kumon you can enroll your child both in Kumon and preschool.

Let us remember na di lang reading , language, and math ang inteligence ng tao. This centers kasi they just let the child answer tons and tons of worksheets, which might be draining for other children. So for me if your child like KUmon, they enroll him. Pero pag hindi wag na maybe yor child learns differently. for parents imagine yourself listening to a whole day seminar, after nun you will answer worksheets pa, diba nakakapagod din.

Anyways Kumon or Aloha is ok, if your child really likes it. Please also read Gardner's Multiple Intelligence Theory, Edward de Bono's Lateral thinking, EQ.

And there's a preschool na part ang Kumon sa curriculum nila.

[Gabriela]

Let us remember na di lang reading , language, and math ang inteligence ng tao. This centers kasi they just let the child answer tons and tons of worksheets, which might be draining for other children. So for me if your child like KUmon, they enroll him. Pero pag hindi wag na maybe yor child learns differently. for parents imagine yourself listening to a whole day seminar, after nun you will answer worksheets pa, diba nakakapagod din.

Thanks for sharing your insight.

Pero diba ang isang kumon session only lasts for 30 mins? and from what i understand from their website, a child will work on 5-10 worksheets depending on his/her pacing. So i guess if she's quite slow, 5 sheets lang. i noticed that my kid's attention span is really short that's why i'm assuming that kumon will work for her.

I'm still in deep thought about this...

[funshinebear]

Hi GAbriela how old is your son? Ang Kumon walang group dynamics and singing of songs its just worksheets and listening to CD's. Yes, at least 30 minutes yung session. YUng worksheets naman paulit, ulit lang hangang ma master na ng bata. At first more on repition of words and tracing yung activity ng mga bata. And tama lahat ng na research mo about Kumon. But again it will not work for everyone.

All children talaga do have short attention span lalo na ngayon. Try not letting him watch TV, kasi isa yun sa mga reasons why children do have short attention span. Imagine a child watching MTV sa loob ng one minute ang dami nang nangyayari, daming location and slides. Kaya ang bata gusto din ng mabilis ang lahat. Instead buy him sensory motor toys, the simpler toys the better. For me the best toys are blocks, or duplo, clays, paints, etc.

Try evaluating your child din. KUng ano gusto niya, malapit na din ang summer so you can enroll him in summer schools. Like if medyo malikot siya, and always moving around you can enroll him in martial arts, or if singing ang hilig niya enroll him to theater workshops. This can help your child be disciplined, be more attentive, sociable, and at the same time you are trying to enhance his skills, or you can discover his skills.

KUmon is just a supplementary learning. I think I would recommend Kumon if your child is in Kinder na.

I hope you can give me a brief description about your child. Angd a brief background about yourself. I hope you like reading books also.

[funshinebear]

But Kumon is also good. Wala akong idea about Aloha.

[Gabriela]

My daughter is 4 y/o na and she'll be in kinder this coming school yr. i also suspect that the TV was the culprit. i stopped working for a few mos when she entered nursery kaya natutukan ko. when i went back to work, lahat ng tao sa bahay binabad sya sa tv (para siguro low maintenance sya). feedings were done sa harap ng TV din! a few mos after, the teacher told me na nga that my kid was not attentive in class and didn't do her seatwork unless the teacher aide was beside her. her grades have not been improving for the past 2 quarters. and at age 4, she was already sent out of the classroom sa sobrang kulit nya! i've been making some damage control by talking to her every night. hindi ko lang talaga matutukan bec i'm also very busy at work. i'm quite happy naman these past few days kc she's got stars stamped on her hands this week (i haven't seen them for months!).

the reason i'm considering of putting her in kumon is the one-on-one session. baka the change of method will benefit her both academically and psychologically. since the in-laws are not helping me in this crusade (they continue to spoil her despite their knowledge of this problem), my kid and i are transferring to another house so i can start re-building her values without the bidas (kontrabida kasi ang turing sakin sa bahay kasi disciplinarian ako).

a friend of mine told me (like what you said) that some kids get bored with kumon. i may want to enroll her daw muna for a month and see if she's enjoying it. by the way, i love reading books and i read her favorite book every night.

[funshinebear]

Ah ok. First of all I think sending her out of the classroom is really, really not good. Buti di ka nagcomplain sa teacher.

How do you talk to your kid? As adults we should always avoid talking to them negatively, search mo na lang sa net how. Basta we should say it in a positibe way so children will really, really learn listen. Like for example di niya nililinis ang toys niya you can say " Anak, let us clean the room, can you help me? So that we will have a clean room, para healthy tayo and para walang rats.

And also give feedbacks if she recieved a star.

Granparents are really like that, sabi nga nila mas enjoy maging lolo at lola than being a parent because their main role is pampering the child , and not disciplining them. That's really normal.

It's good that you love reading books, try reading her books of Eric carle, Adarna Books, and Good Night Moonm and Guess HOw MUch I LOve YOu. You can also let her make a book of her own. Using 2-3 coupon bonds, fold it together then staple ayun may book na siya, don'[t correct her muna if her writing, spelling , and grammar is wrong, That's a good alternative than letting her watch TV. At madali lang yun gawin, tell her yaya about this. Then pag gabi let her tell you the story she made, it's amazing I tell you (you can record this also). Bonding time niyo na din yan. And its something positive rather than always talkingto her about school.

About her behavioral problem in school naman basta just motivate her to be a good girl. Every moring just tell her how a good girl she is. Don't tell her "Oh be a good girl in school ha"

Hay naku nawala na ata tayo sa KUmon. Sige just try Kumon. May mga trial sessions ang Kumon, so grab the oppurtunity. I would recommend reading instead of Math for prechoolers sa KUmon. But don't rely in KUmon alone, kasi srategy lang talaga ang Kumon. Pagdating sa Kumon homework I recommend you to be with her and also ask her several questions about the story for her to improve her comprehension as well. Pero don't ask her the what how when, question lang, if for example the story is about the nursery rhyme na Jack and Jill, you can ask your child,"What if you feLl in a hill, like Jill what will you do?" Rather than only asking "What did Jack and Jill do?" For gradescholl children naman Math ng Kumon is ok.

Pero still try enrolling your child in summer school, that can showcase her talent. I'm sure your child ha a talent.

[Sweetkay]

Any information what age a kid can start on Kumon and if there are any schools here in Las Pinas:?:

:help:

[joben]

Sweet Kay,


Kumon Centers in Las Pinas (http://www.kumon.com.ph/kumoncenters_centers.php?recordID=10)

[si_ako]

hi there! i still undecided whether to enroll my kid in kumon or just hire a private tutor for him, which is better anyway?

thanks!

[itt]

hi pde pa ba ang adult mag kumon or aloha? hehe parang nakakahiya eh :D

:bluefish:

[msbles]

To be honest with you peeps, I used to be an Aloha Mental Arithmetic instructor. But in my opinion, Kumon is better.

Indeed!
I was just browsing through the older forums when I came upon this one, and I just had to comment:

I totally agree with you! :)

I used to be an ALOHA teacher myself, and for all the advantages of the system, I'd say that its method digresses a little too much from the standard teaching of arithmetic here in the Philippines (I don't really know if that's even how they teach it in China... I forget if ALOHA is indeed from China) that if the child tries to use the ALOHA method in school, she's more likely to be confused or scolded by the teacher. Lalo na for math problems na kailangan ipakita ang solution tapos iba ang solution na isusulat ng anak mo at hindi gaanong malawak ang pag-iisip ng teacher nya, AY away yan!

Besides, ALOHA is just math while Kumon also has English, and I've seen their worksheets too. Very impressive modules, good pedagogical design. Also teaches the child good discipline and study habits, and forces the parent to become involved in his/her child's studies and not depend everything on the teacher.

[cmars2]

I'm based in Mindanao and I really want to enrol my son in Kumon ever since I got pregnant. Kasi I've seen yung learning center ng kumon in Iligan City and noticed that the kids are brilliant conversationalists at age 6. They are very articulate na and I suppose they are also good in numbers. Problem is, walang Kumon center dito sa place ko.:( I was hoping na merong mag "franchise" from here kasi gustuhin ko man magkaron ng sariling learning center, eh wala pa akong pera. :glee:

[crispypata]

hi pde pa ba ang adult mag kumon or aloha? hehe parang nakakahiya eh :D

:bluefish:

Hello! I believe KUMON is a very universal method. Sa Japan alam ko they have centers that are for "senior citizens" Madami din akong alam na mga parents na sumasabay sa mga anak nilang mag-Kumon. Kaya pwede ka pa! :rotflmao:

[Mhixxgirl]

Baka naman po puedeng i-post kung mga magkano ang enrollment fees sa Kumon centers? Daily, weekly or montlhy basis ba ito?

[tropicana]

Nagsisimula pong magKumon math ang aking 5 y.o.

Tanong ko lang po if it's really good and kung mas ok siya than Aloha Math.

HOw many months makikita ang improvement?

Kasi naman medyo mabigat din ang per month na bayad so nagtatanong po kung me magandang kalalabasan ba ito.

Thanks!:rotflmao:

-------------------------------------------
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[sophiegray]

at what age can a child start kumon/aloha?

[sabrinaster]

my son is 6 years old and he is autistic i enrolled him in Kumon and he was able to learn how to read and count.. saka mura pati ang Kumon sa Philippines. Dito sa US ang mahal $100 per subject tapos since with special needs sya di lahat ng center tumatanggap ng mga with special needs na students kasi di sila equipped

[chummykins]

can someone here tell the difference between kumon and enopi? or is there anyone here who had their kid enroled in enopi so we can compare.

thanks!

[BSCN]

P1460/subject/month yata ang fee sa kumon...

[spycemoon]

Enopi vs. Kumon

If you want to know the detailed methods of Kumon and Enopi, just read the above posts. There are enough dissertations of the strengths and weaknesses of each for me to repeat. However, if you want to know the actual results that enrolling in Kumon or Enopi will have on your own kids, I'll share with you my experience.

Based on what we've gone through, I would suggest that parents start their kids with kumon. And when they get sick & tired of the endless and very repetitive worksheets (they will at some point, I guarantee you), move them to Enopi.

I've had two kids who have done Kumon from start till Level F. They're both very good in Math, and doing very well in school. My third daughter (who is reallly kikay and likes pa-beauty and dancing/singing more than studying) started kumon for about 1 year. Then I shifted all of them to enopi when their kumon center closed.

The most important difference between kumon & enopi (at least from my kids' point of view) is the difference in the number of worksheets they have to do. With Kumon, it is about 5 to 10 a day. WIth Enopi, only 1 or 2 per day

From that fact alone, you can already derive 2 possible conclusions:
1. with Kumon, your child will get more practice
2. with Kumon, he/she will be more easily bored or discouraged

Another added attraction of enopi is that the worksheets are attractively and colorfully sprinkled with illustrations, fun games/puzzles, and funny comic strips that kids will love.

My kids ended up grabbing each other's worksheets just for the comics.

Of course, if your child is the studious/genius type, putting him through 5-10 worksheets a day (as Kumon requires) may be "sisiw". But if your child is a math-hater, Enopi's lighter work load and more interesting worksheets might be a better option for him.

Another important observation I've made about Kumon is that when you get to the higher levels (F and above), its going to take "at least" 1 hour for your child to finish his DAILY worksheets. For children who are neck-deep in full-time Grade 5 to High 4 studies, that just might be too much time, as was the case with my kids. In enopi, they can finish their daily work load well within 30 minutes.

My only concern with Enopi is that their basic math skills program (+,-,x,Division) may be too light (i.e. too few worksheets) to really make "hasa" the basic math skills of your kids.

My too older kids grew up on Kumon basic math, and they're now much better (and faster) than me in mental math.

My 3rd is currently on the Enopi basic math program. I'm planning to move her back to Kumon just to sharpen her basic math skills. And then move her back to Enopi when she's in Grade 4 or 5.

As for the highly-touted "critical thinking" part where enopi supposedly has that kumon doesn't, i've noticed that the younger kids don't really need it as it just mostly about matching and finding patterns.
ex. what comes after AA BB CC
I feel this is just mostly fluff and a nice selling point but little substance. You don't really need to have kids doing drills on these every day...its really just common sense. THe higher "critical thinking" worksheets are a bit more challenging. So like I said before, I can do without them for the little ones and just concentrate on the basic math. For the older kids, "critical thinking" may come in handy for the aptitude or entrance tests.

Another plus point of Kumon over Enopi
Kids are under time pressure. Because of the pressure to think of the answer faster, they are more likely to try harder (and master faster) than those who are given the luxury of time to think of an answer.

Another plus point of Enopi over Kumon:
Enopi worksheets have more word problems. Kumon is just mostly numbers. So your child may end up mastering math, but not know how to analyze or solve any word problems that are the staple of most higher math, higher education, and real life challenges.

These are what I know about the Kumon/Enopi experience and how it has helped/benefitted my kids.

Remember that whether you choose Kumon or Enopi, the center itself is more important that the method. You have to monitor the kid's progress.

If your children become "stuck" in a certain level for over a month, find out why. That's the usual cause of boredom. You never know if its just the kid or maybe the center wants to make more money, who knows? Most centers are willing to give special attention to kids with weak areas.

Do not be afraid to pull your child and move him to another center (of the same or diff method) if you think the center is overloading (too many kids to 1 teacher ratio) or not giving any personal attention to your child if he has weak areas.

Monitor his homework performance. The kids have many techniques how to cheat (such as copying from old or previous worksheets), and that would defeat the purpose of their daily "practice".
On many occasions, I've had to physically cover solutions with my hand or a piece of paper so that they don't just copy or derive answers from previous solutions.

There are many people (includeing educators) who advise against supplementary education like Kumon or Enopi. My take is, if you don't have time to tutor your child EVERYDAY personally, and you can afford it financially, then go for it. Becuase if your child starts having problems in higher math when she's already in grade 4 or 5, you may not be able to successully put him through such programs if he already hates math and/or studying. It will be much harder for you to motivate them and develop that "daily habit". For them it will be a "daily chore" or "grind".

Kumon/Enopi forces your kids to think math everyday. Start them early (no need to be too early--4 or 5 is still ok) while they can still be trained.

Yours truly,
spycemoon

[spycemoon]

Another thing, when choosing a center ask if they do oral drills. This is not included in the standard Kumon/Enopi method but many centers offer it as reinforcement. Its also a very effective way of gauging if your child really knows his math or is just good with written worksheets (where your very creative child may have discovered some "secret techniques" to do well in written work without really thinking) :) :)

spycemoon

[chummykins]

Sorry super late reply. Thanks Spycemoon for your elaborate feedback!

Meron naman bago ngayon Singapore Math. Anyone tried it? Feedbacks please.

[rishypoo]

I'm thinking of enrolling my son in Kumon for the summer so he won't just have playing and computer games in his head. How much does it cost? he'll be in 3rd grade nxt school year.

[Maite Ocampo]

I enrolled my 2nd Grade (7 yrs. old) girl in Kumon Math last October here in the US. My nephews (now in HS in College) since I was pretty overwhelmed with my nephews math skills. They all went to Kumon at around the same age and now their in HS and College. How fast should she be able to finish her exercises at home? Right now, she's finishing between 8-10 mins.

[mulberry_me]

Hi Everyone!

May I please have your feedbacks about this Montessori school?

I am currently in search of a pre-school where I can enroll my 21/2 yo son this June and I am considering Mandaluyong area. If you happen to know of some other good schools, please do let me know.

I really really appreciate your thoughts.

[prettysphynx]

Does anyone know yung updated price ng Kumon? I've email them last week to inquire but still haven't received any response yet.. saka ilang hours a day ang pasok ng bata sa school and how many days a week? salamat po!

[shanse]

Enrolled ang daughter ko ngayon sa Kumon, 1,460 ang monthly fee, twice a week pasok for only an hour of session, pero minsan almost 2 hrs sya pag marami corrections.

[prettysphynx]

hi shanse! thanks for the post. yung 1,460 per month, ilang subjects na yun? or para sa reading and math na yun? thanks!

[stwacko]

Hi!

Ano *** minimum age requirement sa Kumon? Just want to prepare my daughter...

[nohankypanky]

i only started researching about this center when i had a bad encounter with the "principal" Lenny. The school overall is fine, airconditioned, spacious and is equipped just right for the kids to be entertained. But for all the mothers out there who is just like me na tutok to their child, i wont really recommend this school. Yes its cheap but the quality of teaching and care for kids is a two thumbs down. There is this teacher who just pulls down kids without care forcing them to sit and listen, teachers chat loudly with the "principal" supposedly during the time of class instead of watching over the kids. A teacher pronounces "feet" as "fit". Theres a mouse running around the "snack area" where they feed kids and store food. The indoor playground i doubt if it gets cleaned at all, and kids are kept barefeet while on that area. We are talking about toddlers here 2 and a half to 3 and a half years old who are still suseptible to bacteria and illness. I also dont see compassion for the kids from the teachers. Same set of teachers and aids are handling the morning summer class and afternoon so imagine how grumpy they will get for the next class.
Well maybe im just an overprotective mom, but for me, that school suck big time. The appearance of the shool is pleasing you would even think that youre kids will be comfortable to that school but the system of the school plus the teachers in charge, it rots. They can not even accept a suggestion. (just dont want to put into details anymore things i suggested to that "bastos" Lenny) but she is soo defensive about it. I dont know why she has to be defensive about it. But yea, if youre planning to send your kids to that school, give it a second thought.

[si_ako]

i've heard tumaas daw fee ng kumon, how much na ba ngayon per subject? thanks

[yoroshikuonegai]

maganda kumon pag bata pa haha. Pero i dunno it has been our family tradition to treat math as a useless object that cannot be used in life except for simple arithmetic math. Well tama nga parents ko =))

[yvonnemommy]

My child used Kumon for a while, but she didn’t like it very much. Then we used beestar.org(a friend recommended it to me). Now yvonne has been using beestar for a semester and she likes it very much. She said that the exercises are very interesting. Besides, beestar is much cheaper than Kumon. Now, I’m considering enrolling next semester exercises.:)
Lisa

[Roxinee]

Kumon Philippines is having a nationwide two-week Free Trial. For more information, inquire today by calling (02) 885-0226 or 1800-1888-0231 (toll-free). You may also visit, www.kumon.com.ph for more details.

http://www.kumon.com.ph/freetrial.htm

[cofitalk]

I made my 4 1/2 yo daughter take the trial math KUMON class last week and my usually enthusiastic child gets a little bit bored with the repetition of dots... although prodding (and a little bribery) does get us through the worksheets...

My mind's pretty made up in enrolling her after trial classes finish (this week) even if she's not exactly enthusiastic, coz im thinking its normal in the beginning and then she'll build up the skill -- im all for no pressure and having fun while learning, but not all things are fun in the beginning right? i do hope im not making her averse by enrolling her in KUMON despite her lack of enthusiasm... she's ok naman she doesn't really complain, but she's not jumping for joy either - which she's known to do with other things.

So then, today i hear of enopi.. i see their ad signs but never really knew what it was about until a parent said its more fun. An earlier post was very helpful -- the parent who transferred her 3 daughters from KUMON to enopi, and her advise being start KUMON and transfer to enopi later on. Maybe i can do that.

I was just wondering if any other parent have any thoughts on Kumon or enopi for 4 1/2 yo kids?

Should we focus on fun worksheets or the discipline of KUMON?

The chief instructor also advised me not to do KUMON reading and math at the same time. Do you agree?

Does the KUMON center matter? I heard some feedback that KATIPUNAN KUMON is not exactly a great one?

Will i be putting pressure on my daughter if i let her take KUMON even if she's not jumping for joy?

Will appreciate inputs... thanks!

[cmdcmd]

I made my 4 1/2 yo daughter take the trial math KUMON class last week and my usually enthusiastic child gets a little bit bored with the repetition of dots... although prodding (and a little bribery) does get us through the worksheets...

My mind's pretty made up in enrolling her after trial classes finish (this week) even if she's not exactly enthusiastic, coz im thinking its normal in the beginning and then she'll build up the skill -- im all for no pressure and having fun while learning, but not all things are fun in the beginning right? i do hope im not making her averse by enrolling her in KUMON despite her lack of enthusiasm... she's ok naman she doesn't really complain, but she's not jumping for joy either - which she's known to do with other things.

So then, today i hear of enopi.. i see their ad signs but never really knew what it was about until a parent said its more fun. An earlier post was very helpful -- the parent who transferred her 3 daughters from KUMON to enopi, and her advise being start KUMON and transfer to enopi later on. Maybe i can do that.

I was just wondering if any other parent have any thoughts on Kumon or enopi for 4 1/2 yo kids?

Should we focus on fun worksheets or the discipline of KUMON?

The chief instructor also advised me not to do KUMON reading and math at the same time. Do you agree?

Does the KUMON center matter? I heard some feedback that KATIPUNAN KUMON is not exactly a great one?

Will i be putting pressure on my daughter if i let her take KUMON even if she's not jumping for joy?

Will appreciate inputs... thanks!

I enrolled my son in Kumon when he was 6.5 years old. After a year, I realized that I should have enrolled him earlier after seeing the rewards of Kumon discipline.

Should we focus on fun worksheets or the discipline of KUMON? For my part, I appreciate more the discipline of Kumon. Most of the textbooks used in school right now are activity based and made more fun for kids, the books we buy for them are colorful and interactive, so the discipline used by Kumon would balance out the fun in school and at home.

The chief instructor also advised me not to do KUMON reading and math at the same time. Do you agree? I initially wanted to enroll my son in the reading program only but then I was told by the Chief Instructor that they only start students in math program. The CI's rationale is that the student adjusts well in math than in reading at first. When the student has adjusted to the lessons, discipline and techniques of math, then they would let the student enroll in the reading program. In our case, it didn't take a month that my son was allowed to enroll in the reading program. This policy varies from center to center. Some centers might allow math and reading at the same time while some won't.

Does the KUMON center matter? Yes, I think the center plays an important role in carrying out the discipline of Kumon. The CI in my area is so passionate about Kumon that eventhough they have hundreds of students in the center, she takes time to oversee the student progress and makes sure she sits with students once in awhile though she is not the teacher in charge of all students.

Will i be putting pressure on my daughter if i let her take KUMON even if she's not jumping for joy? It will be a case to case basis, I personally don't know your daughter but perhaps my experience would be of help. Initially, my son was not exactly thrilled to do Kumon but I talked to him and asked him to try it out at first. He was having a hard time reading that's why I wanted him to try it out. Worksheets are easy at first then average then difficult because they would be taking advance lessons already. There were times he didn't enjoy the repetitive worksheets but he himself is amazed that he was able to read after just a month. And its not just basic english, his comprehension has improved a lot too. I don't want to put pressure on him too so I give him the option to quit if he wants to. Right now, his worksheets are more advanced and there are times that I have to prod him to do it on time. When I see him getting fed up or tired, I ask him if he wants to stop, he would say no. His reason is that he has finished several levels in Kumon that he wants to achieve more.

Hope this helps and you find a good Kumon center for your daughter. :)

[cofitalk]

cmdcmd -- thanks a lot! it does help a lot hearing about another parent's experience with kumon. Actually its just in time coz our trial ended last week and tomorrow - monday, i'll enroll her na.

I just came from a get together with some friends and some mom's recommended another center instead of the one where we got our trial... so based on what you said that the center does matter.. and from my friends' recommendations also, i think ill enroll her in the slightly farther one but better feedback.

I really appreciate your response, super thanks!! :)

[cmdcmd]

cmdcmd -- thanks a lot! it does help a lot hearing about another parent's experience with kumon. Actually its just in time coz our trial ended last week and tomorrow - monday, i'll enroll her na.

I just came from a get together with some friends and some mom's recommended another center instead of the one where we got our trial... so based on what you said that the center does matter.. and from my friends' recommendations also, i think ill enroll her in the slightly farther one but better feedback.

I really appreciate your response, super thanks!! :)

Glad to be of help. You're welcome! :)

[meganx]

My child used Kumon for a while, but she didn’t like it very much. Then we used beestar.org(a friend recommended it to me). Now yvonne has been using beestar for a semester and she likes it very much. She said that the exercises are very interesting. Besides, beestar is much cheaper than Kumon. Now, I’m considering enrolling next semester exercises.:)
Lisa


Cool! We are also using Beestar. It is so lovely that my daughter loves it! She likes to see the vivid pictures and interesting stories, and most of all, her name on the honor roll. For parents, we receive automatically sent email telling us the performance of kids. Emma is doing free math and GTM now. Do you think we should register the reading program or social studies? Thanks.

[Lolita]

Bakit ba sikat na sikat ang ganitong "schools" ngayon?

Nung panahon naman natin walang Kumon or Aloha and in my case, I was OK with math and reading.

Di ko tuloy alam kung kailangan ko bang i-enroll ang anak ko kasi parang nagiging requirement na ang classes such as Kumon and Aloha.

[leland]

Bakit ba sikat na sikat ang ganitong "schools" ngayon?

Nung panahon naman natin walang Kumon or Aloha and in my case, I was OK with math and reading.

Di ko tuloy alam kung kailangan ko bang i-enroll ang anak ko kasi parang nagiging requirement na ang classes such as Kumon and Aloha.

I think most of these "schools" are capitalizing on the tendency of parents nowadays to want to give their kids a head start when it comes to education.

Tapos parang domino effect na yan. If you have a friend or an acquaintance whose child is enrolled in these learning centers, you feel pressured to likewise enroll your kid.

As a new parent, marami na akong "pressure" na tinanggihan.

[Lolita]

^But will my kid really have a head start or be brighter and better if I enroll her in these classes compared to kids who didn't?

Hindi ba kaya ituro ng regular school ang tinuturo sa Kumon and Aloha?

[leland]

^I think you should just trust your instinct about whether these classes will help your kid or not.

I have a friend who enrolled her kid in Kumon and her kid did pass a competitive entrance exam for high school. Yun nga lang, her kid is a major slacker now. I'm not saying that Kumon has something to do with it. As I have mentioned in another thread, burn out is something that parents should always think about.

[motherof3]

They both have the same objectives...but different approach. I agree to some of you that enrolling your children to these centers is a trial and error thing.

My children are with e-nopi and used to be with Kumon. My major decision of transferring them was because of the Critial Thinking and lots of word problems (very important) in their Math subject.

Kumon is basically Reading. Kumon is English - phonetics, grammar construction, and writing skills - supports Reading skills.

But relying on Kumon and E-Nopi to enhance their math skills would I believe disappoint all of us parents. They teach only the basics, but the techniques they do not teach that. Plus, they have a course outline to follow which sometimes does not jive with the school's course outline. The tendency is, lost ang bata or eventually magiging bored ang bata.

Try to explore Singapore Math which is being taught sa Ateneo na din.

The bottomline is, our children will tell us what they need and us to just listen and observe and give what they need the soonest.

[motherof3]

^But will my kid really have a head start or be brighter and better if I enroll her in these classes compared to kids who didn't?

Hindi ba kaya ituro ng regular school ang tinuturo sa Kumon and Aloha?
Kumon and Enopi are just supplemental...they cannot replace school teaching!

But again, Ateneo adopted the Singapore Math which techniques are accepted worldwide and why Singapore is No. 1 in Math.

My son has been begging me to re-enroll him in Singapore Math at Tutor Link in Mindanao Avenue.

[yvonnemommy]

Cool! We are also using Beestar. It is so lovely that my daughter loves it! She likes to see the vivid pictures and interesting stories, and most of all, her name on the honor roll. For parents, we receive automatically sent email telling us the performance of kids. Emma is doing free math and GTM now. Do you think we should register the reading program or social studies? Thanks.

Sorry for letting you wait such a long time. My DD has been using the math program, too. Now I’m considering register the reading and vocabulary program. DD did the example programs for fun and she likes them. I think if your daughter has extra time, and likes them, or you want to help her improve reading and social studies, you could have a try.:)

Lisa

[meganx]

Sorry for letting you wait such a long time. My DD has been using the math program, too. Now I’m considering register the reading and vocabulary program. DD did the example programs for fun and she likes them. I think if your daughter has extra time, and likes them, or you want to help her improve reading and social studies, you could have a try.:)

Lisa


Thanks Lisa! I am going to register reading program for Emma next semester. I think it is a little early for her to bury in social studies. Perhaps reading will be the priority. How's your daughter going with the reading in Beestar?

[marco_1]

ganda pala ng mga kumon books, kaso mahal lang :(
nagpaorder kami sa byenan ko, bumili sila sa national bookstore, (355 ang isa!) at pinadala dito sa uae

[leader01]

my eldest daughter have been studying in kumon for more than 4yrs...and i am very pleased with what kumon has done to her..accelerated from kinder to grade 2, best in math and english and first honor ng kinder...kasama sa regional math contest...:D

pero sometimes naawa ako sa kanya, more on study na lang since may mga homeworks nga from kumon and also from school..plus may tutorial pa sa evening every sat...nde na nya nae enjoy pagiging bata!:(

[yvonnemommy]

Thanks Lisa! I am going to register reading program for Emma next semester. I think it is a little early for her to bury in social studies. Perhaps reading will be the priority. How's your daughter going with the reading in Beestar?

Actual, very well.:lol: As for social programs, since social studies had always been my weakness when I was a student at DD’s age, I am inclined to let her practice earlier, on as my DD makes up my weakness.;)
Lisa

[beybi.angel]

how much po ba ang kumon? e-nopi?