Reading Archives

Tag : Reading

News

July 9, 2020

Providing Children with the Appropriate Books

Home Study, Reading, The Kumon Method

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Reading has a lot of benefits for children. It increases their knowledge with the various events in society, boosts their reading ability and vocabulary, and allows them to experience the imagination’s wonder. Experts recommend that children start reading at an early age and that a wide range of books from various categories is made available. It is also advisable for parents to begin building their children’s mini library at home to get their children used to reading a wide variety of books.

One of the aims of the Kumon Reading Program is to encourage children to develop the habit of reading a variety of books so that they can continue learning throughout their lives. According to the late Kumon chairman, Mr. Toru Kumon, “if children are given books appropriate to their abilities, they will show an interest and start to read them.” With this, parents must provide their children with the needed guidance for them to come across a variety of authors, stories, and views. However, deciding which books are appropriate is a difficult and lengthy task considering the time and effort it takes.

Here are some tips on how you can develop criteria to assess just how appropriate certain books are:

Age

Consider the age of your child and the books that certain age groups usually chose. For example, babies and toddlers love board books and picture books, beginner readers like short stories with pictures, while grade school children generally choose short chapter books. Once you find the age-appropriate book for your child, you can sit with him/her and read the book aloud, especially if your child hasn’t developed his/her reading ability yet.

Ability

Be familiar with your child’s reading ability so that you will be able to check if the words used in the stories are appropriate for your child’s reading ability, and if the scenarios presented can be easily understood by your child. It is better to build your child’s reading ability by starting with easy or just-right books since starting with difficult books might put them off reading for good.

Interests

Ask your child what stories he/she prefers and consider books that capture his/her interests and educate him/her at the same time. Some prefer funny stories, while others love factual books. Some like interactive books that invite interaction like repeating rhymes and words, while some love books filled with illustrations.

Recommendations

Talk to other parents and teachers about books that they could recommend. Also, the Kumon Program has a Recommended Reading List, which you can acquire from your Kumon Instructor. This list consists of 377 titles from 298 authors. The books mentioned in the list are various award-winning literature and popular books that cover a wide range of topics from adventure, fantasy, science fiction, nature, and biographies.

Above all these, one thing must always be remembered: choose books you think your child will enjoy! Children who enjoy books are far more likely to keep reading and exploring various authors and genres. Please share with your child a simple rule regarding reading time at home: reading is fun!

News

May 7, 2020

Why You Read to Your Child

Reading, The Kumon Method

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One great piece of advice that all parents can attest to is that you should read to your children especially when they are young. This is often shared and emphasized in books, seminars, and through word of mouth. But when you agree and start to read to your children, are you familiar with the specific advantages they can gain? Do you know just what it is you are developing in them?

To give you a better idea of the power of reading, here are five benefits that highlight the importance of reading to young children.

Basic speech and reading skills. At the preschool age, your child is at his prime for learning. He is very eager to explore his surroundings and absorb information. He jumps at the thought of seeing what words look like, learning how to say them, and hearing what they sound like. Reading to your child allows him to mimic you and to learn from your example, specifically by letting him say the word right after you read it. It also gives him the chance to experience how to read a book – how the words are separate from the images and how to read from left to right.

Better communication skills. Stories and books, especially those suited for young children, are composed of numerous conversations and interactions between characters. By reading this and by regularly interacting with you during reading time, your child gets a better grasp of what happens when people communicate. He gets to expand his vocabulary which leads him to better express himself – be it through speaking or writing. Your child is also able to relate to more people since he is exposed to different topics and cultures through the varied stories he reads.

More logical thinking skills. Each book or reading material your child reads consists of a message that needs to be uncovered. With this, your child thinks and makes use of logic to figure out what is happening and to make sense of the message. He develops the ability to grasp abstract concepts, to discover patterns, and to recognize cause and effect. At a young age and with your help, your child can begin to relate scenarios in books to what is happening in the real world. Engaging him in conversations that relate to the book can also help.

Enhanced concentration and discipline. Reading requires your child to stay in one place and to devote time, effort, and focus on one activity for a period of time. With him being very energetic and playful at a young age, reading allows your child to develop concentration and discipline. He may squirm and be distracted at the start, but he will eventually learn to stay put – especially when he read books that interest him. Your child also develops longer attention span and better memory retention since he is engaged in an activity that simulates his brain.

Academic excellence. Studies suggest that exposing your child to reading at a young age gives him a higher aptitude for learning. More often than not, he will not only excel in reading and English, but also in history, math, and science. This is because the ability to read and comprehend is a basic skill that is used in all subjects. Your child will need to comprehend a math problem before thinking of how to solve it. He will also need to read through what happened in history to understand its effect at present.

Indeed, reading has the power to benefit young children in a number of ways. As parents, reading to your child is one of the most important things you can do to build a solid and good foundation for his journey to academic excellence and success.

News

August 30, 2019

Love For Math From Then ‘Til Now

Completion, Free Trial, Goal Setting, Math, Reading, The Kumon Method

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As long as Ma. Arselene Aquino could remember, math was her favorite subject. It’s no wonder that she was excited for her Kumon journey back in October 2002. She and her mother found out about Kumon through her classmate’s grandfather. After attending the Parent Orientation, her mother was amazed with how Kumon works and immediately registered her for the Free Trial available at that time.

By being enrolled in both the Math and Reading Programs, Arselene was able to notice a significant improvement in two aspects of her work. First, she was able to improve on her carelessness and her tendency to commit errors in solving math problems; and second, she was able to develop her comprehension skills and a love for reading. Through the years, Kumon continued to play a big part in propelling her to success in school and in her chosen career. In fact, she was awarded as one of the Top Employees of BDO in 2014.

The pull to continue

Just like any other student, there were times that Arselene really wanted to give up. She can still remember the extra hours she spent in the Center with her Kumon Instructor just to finish my Math and Reading worksheets. There were times when she felt that she already knew how to solve a difficult problem in math, but the next problems got even more difficult. There were also times when she still could not understand a passage even after reading it a number of times.

“I was blessed enough to have two supportive mothers, my mom and my Kumon Instructor, Teacher Nelia. Both of them have always encouraged me to continue and finish Kumon. They would always tell me that once I finish, I will be able to see the benefits of all my hard work and effort. In fact, my mom would always remind me that there is always happiness and fulfillment after all the sacrifices.”

The push to complete

What really pushed Arselene to complete the program were three things: first, she was driven by her mantra of having to finish what she started. “I realized that if I just quit, I might develop the habit of starting things and not completing them.”

Second, she was inspired by how people saw her as a role model. “Relatives and family friends wanted their own children to be just like me – excelling in school and sharing the knowledge with friends. This made me realize that what I was doing then was a blessing to me and the people around me.“

Last, she developed perseverance and patience to work hard. When faced with the challenge of solving difficult topics in the worksheets, she learned to do her best. “All my efforts would be put to waste if I did not achieve the ultimate goal of completion. What really helped me get through it all was the support of everyone, especially my parents and Kumon teachers.”

The pull to be better

There are four things Arselene is most thankful for in her Kumon journey. One is her love for reading. She was not a reader back then; but through reading passages and borrowing books from the mini library every Center day, she eventually became a reader who reads and buys books whenever she visit the bookstore. “I even have a mini library at home filled with books from all genres. Throughout my journey, I have developed my reading comprehension ability and widened my vocabulary.”

Two is her preparedness for her academic life. Kumon helped Arselene be better prepared for entrance exams and for other academic responsibilities. She was an advanced student so she learned topics ahead of time – and these were the topics that came out in the entrance exams. She also developed mental calculation ability which helped me solve math problems faster.

Third is her value for patience and time management. “For patience, I learned that all things can be achieved in good time and with a lot of hard work. For time management, I learned that I must always keep my deadline in mind so that I avoid postponing my tasks to the next day and eventually end up with a long list of things to do.”

The push to do her best

In her career, Arselene has been able to apply certain practices that she used to do when I was in Kumon. She has been with BDO for six years, where she started as an Accounting Assistant in the Tordesillas Branch in Makati City. This position involved making sure that each and every transaction that the teller makes is correct and that the cash flow is balanced. If there are discrepancies, she has to go through and check all the transactions and documents to spot the mistake.

“In order to ensure that the transactions are balanced, patience and perseverance are needed when I work through the calculations– similar to how I answered and corrected difficult topics in Kumon.”

Recently, the area head got Arselene as her Administrative Assistant. Compared to her previous position, her current position calls for her to consolidate month end reports, requests, and requirements that the 27 branches under a certain area would need. “I make use of my time management skills to be able to cater to all the requests and to all other tasks that need to be done.”

Also, Arselene was lucky to be included as one of the Top Employees of BDO in 2014 (Smart Frontliners). In order to qualify for this award, one would need to have a high performance rating and be an awardee for 12 consecutive months. There is an awarding ceremony where all awardees are recognized on stage with the bosses, heads of departments, and other awardees in the audience.

Push and pull for other students

What advice can Arselene give to students who are aspiring to complete the program?

“No matter how difficult the worksheets may seem, always remember that you can do it! Don’t give up and never quit – it is not an option. You may think that your parents are unfair for making you do Kumon; but in the long run, you will be able to appreciate how Kumon has changed you, and you will be able to proudly say, “I am a Kumon Completer!” Keep in mind that Kumon is not only for the improvement of your academic skills, but it also molds your character and helps you develop life skills to eventually lead a successful life.”

News

August 30, 2019

Four to Tango: A Kumon Parent’s Pin to Success

Free Trial, Math, Parenting, Reading, The Kumon Method

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It was a 2-Week Free Trial advertisement that came as a sign for Mrs. Gabriel to push her daughter, Emille Angelie, to try Kumon. What started as a trial became a long-term stay and eventually, a deciding factor in enrolling Emille’s younger sister, Princess Victoria.

Eight years later, Emille is now a Math and Reading Completer, while Princess is currently enrolled in the Reading Program and just recently became a Math Completer as well. Indeed, the Gabriel Family’s Kumon journey paved the way to great successes for both Emille and Princess throughout the years.

Deciding to Stay

Mrs. Gabriel believes that enrolling her daughters in Kumon is one of the best decisions she has ever made as a parent.

“With all the traits that Emille and Princess have acquired, such as perseverance, patience, time management, focus, and discipline, I can say that I made the right decision.”

For Emille, she believes that Kumon changed her into a better person. “I am able to manage my time more properly, I became independent, responsible, plus I developed positive thinking and patience.” With this, Emille gained confidence especially when reciting in class and socializing with classmates.

For Princess, she felt happier because she was able to reach her goal. Like Emille, she gained independence, time-management skills, and confidence. “Also, Kumon develops my calculation skills which make it easier for me to understand my math lessons in school.”

Mrs. Gabriel and Her Daughters - Four to Tango: A Kumon Parent’s Pin to Success

Balancing Act

To be enrolled in Kumon means advanced learning in Math and Reading. This held true for the Gabriel siblings since they used a lot of their extra time in studying other subjects in school instead of reviewing their math subject. With this, a lot of opportunities opened up for Emille and Princess. They participated in big competitions such as the Mathematics Team (MTG Philippines) and they maintained being part of the honor roll in school.

“Kumon has opened the doors in order for my daughters to gain much confidence. This is a good foundation for them until they reach college,” Mrs. Gabriel proudly says.

Influencing at a Larger Scale

Gabriel Siblings: Four to Tango: A Kumon Parent’s Pin to Success

The Gabriel siblings share that they have been supporting each other for the longest time – from pushing one another in finishing their worksheets to encouraging each other in joining extra-curricular activities. For Princess, she motivates her sister through telling her meaningful sayings from well-known people. “I also remind her to analyze the stories and questions in her worksheets,” Princess adds. For Emille, she constantly pushes her sister to reach her goals. “I always tell her that no one else will do it for her- she is the only one who can do it for herself.”

There are two pieces of advice that Mrs. Gabriel wants to share with her fellow Kumon parents. First, do not let your children quit Kumon. “As parents, we are the decision makers when it comes to the welfare and education of our children. Kumon is an investment we make for our children’s future.”

Second, partnership is needed for a successful Kumon journey. “They say it takes two to tango. In Kumon, it needs the teacher, student, parent, and worksheets,” Mrs. Gabriel adds. And so, it takes four to tango – in completing the Kumon Program.

News

August 30, 2019

Better than Average

Free Trial, Reading, The Kumon Method

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Kumon has taught me that success really takes time and effort. If I really want to achieve something, I have to exert effort constantly until I reach it. Success doesn’t come overnight, but it will come at the right time, with patience and determination.

Ysabelle Pangilinan identifies herself as an average student – neither the most intelligent person in class, nor the achiever. This is the main reason why her parents decided to enroll her and her siblings in Kumon. Her parents found out about the Kumon Method from common friends and heard countless testimonials about how it has helped developed the habits of their children.

“After participating in the Free Trial and seeing how the program can help my siblings and I, my parents realized that we had so much potential that can be unleashed if we enroll in the program. So they decided to do just that – enroll us in the Reading Program first then in the Math Program after a few months.”

Armed with a degree in Industrial Pharmacy and with plans to pursue medicine, Ysa can attest that, indeed, Kumon has pursued her potential, ignited her passion for reading and learning, and pushed her one step closer to success.

Managing Time and Expectations

Making time for Kumon while juggling academics and extra-curricular activities in high school wasn’t easy. There were times when Ysa would arrive home and want to spend the energy she has left on homework and projects; but after quite some time, she got the hang of it.

“Luckily, I wasn’t the only one doing Kumon in school, so there were times during breaks when we’d group together and answer our worksheets at the same time. I also got through with the help of my Kumon teachers, who kept on making adjustments with my workload whenever they feel I’m overwhelmed with my schedule.”

More than finishing the program, Ysa realizes now that her ultimate goal was to make her parents and teachers proud of her. She learned that nothing would make them prouder than seeing her finally take and finish her Completion Test.

“As the eldest, there was a lot of pressure on me to complete. When my parents told me that I should be a role model to my siblings, I took this to heart. I even saw it happen when my sister completed the program after I completed it – I saw my reflection in her. Our youngest two siblings are still enrolled in Kumon so I always remind them of the benefits of the method and the investment we have made.”

Developing Skills and Values

Kumon has become a part of Ysa’s life that she would never forget. Kumon has taught her the value of three things:

Developing Skills and Values - Better than Average

Currently, Ysa is working as a regulatory pharmacist. This role requires her to ensure that all their products are safe, effective, and of quality for their patients. This entails reading and comprehending countless articles and legislations regarding pharmaceutical products, drafting letters, and communicating with all types of people in her field.

“The main part of my job is to communicate with the Food and Drug Administration with the licensing of our products and establishment. This I do with enjoyment since my reading, writing, and communication skills have been honed over the years.

Kumon made me realize that I am capable of achieving greater heights. Because of that, I dream bigger and push towards a better version of myself for my future. This is why I took the National Medical Admission Test (NMAT) two years ago and plan on enrolling in medical school by this year.

Her advice for her fellow Kumon students?

Never. Give. Up.

“I may not be the first person to tell you this but this advice is applicable not only to your Kumon journey, but in life as well. There are things far more difficult than what you’re experiencing now, and I promise you that Kumon is only equipping you with the skills you need for the challenges ahead. Always remember that all the hard work, time, and effort you exert temporarily will be rewarded in the end.”