Has anyone had any experience with Junior Kumon classes which the website claims can begin at age 3?
I think Heath takes her son, I would be very interested in hearing this too. I just got a flyer in the mail from them yesterday.
Hi
I take my son to Kumon. As to what age you can start, depends on the institute, I called one and she said she won’t take until 4. Then I enrolled him in the one he is going to right now. I like it, so far. They have 200 worksheets that you have to do for each level. 5 worksheets a day i.e. 10 sides, 6 days a week. They are smaller than a A4 size paper, (some centers give 10 but 99.99% of the time they don’t). If a kid is going slower they reduce it to 3 sheets per day. They repeat the worksheets depending on how a child does and also to drag some time. The monthly tuition ranges from $90 to $120 for each subject (English and Math). I enrolled my son only in Math. I think in the first two levels you don’t write. But, in my center they made him write.
Pro’s - Kids learn grouping in 5’s and 10’s easily
They will learn to write numbers. (My son writes his numbers very nicely. His English writing on the other hand is not that good because we don’t have the discipline. )
They learn to have a commitment, to finish their work everyday.
Practice makes you perfect.
Con’s - Kids get bored easily
Lot of repetition.
Very commercial
I don’t like the testing part at the end of each level. Especially at our center. Somehow, I feel there’s a negative vibe when they sit to do the test. My son does everything right at home. On the day of the test he writes his 2 like an S or a 3 becomes a E. He must have written his 2 a million times now. I heard some centers don’t do it.
Here’s a link about what is taught at each level
http://www.kumonsunnyvale.com/public/page.do?page.ID=1325#7A
http://www.kumonsunnyvale.com/public/page.do?page.ID=1323
Here’s a link to some sample worksheets
http://www.kumon.ne.jp/english/about/worksheets.html
Let me know if you have any questions.
Yeah, this testing aspect makes me fear the onset of perfectionistic behavior too early which is just so destructive.
It can cause severe under-achievement later in life.
Ugh.
You would think that for the pre-school aged program it would be something different and more fun, like songs, manipulatives and such.
I wonder if they would sell you the worksheets or if you have to buy the books at bookstore
No, they don’t sell their worksheets. I wish they would. You can just get the books.
http://www.gideonmathandreading.com/index.html looks similar to Kumon. Their worksheets look more colorful.
Hi,
I came across workbooks by Kumon, few months back…easily available here in singapore. You can choose according to the level of child. We started with coloring and pasting for age 2+. They have loads of them and are colorful (atleast the 2 which i got). Not expensive. great buy.
I was looking up reviews on Kumon and came across this math site
their online math curriculum/worksheets are free. they have other courses that are $20-30 per semester. If you choose to register an acocunt (which is free) please use my email as a referral. Thanks!
Beestar is pretty great, especially its math program. My child has been using it. She enjoys the 10 quick questions very much and it really helps kids thinking.
Lisa
My question about beestar…
Does it actually teach the concepts or is it just review of what a child already knows???
Thank you kindly,
Susan Khan
You are welcome. 
Beestar offers series of worksheets according to school curriculum. I think it is suitable for consolidating what kids have learned and finding out what they missed so the knowledge can be made up timely. Plus, all the worksheets are timed. This is useful for accuracy and efficiency.
Lisa