Kumon Center?

[Ar1el]

Someone asked about this before. Both Kumon and Sylvan are HUGE scams. They test your child low and then test them high to show improvement. You're best option would be to find a tutor through your childs school or even ask the teacher if they know of a retired teacher who may be looking for a few extra dollars. MOST teachers know someone who tutors and it will probably save you money. You can even call nearby colleges career services and request if they can post your search for a tutor.

What is your expeirence that you can say they are scams..........just wondering?

 

[DaniB]

I have no experience with Sylvan. I can't afford their prices so I keep shying away.

However I disagree with your statement regarding Kuman. Actually... let's modify that. It honestly depends on the on the CENTRE and the PERSON running it.

The first Kuman centre I brought my daughter to - I was not really impressed with. After 3 months of us being there - it closed. I don't think her heart was into it.

I transferred to a closer location and he is amazing!!!

His centre is a permanent location were the files, books, everything stays. He has specific time-slots for each child; has the work prepared & ready in baskets for the children to pick up when they arrive; helpers at each work station; kids divided into stations by their levels; many books for children to sign out; and much more. The kids don't just complete their daily worksheet and leave. He reviews it personally with them to make sure they can do the work. The kids get extra work during this session relevant to their needs. For my daughter, that means reviewing blended letter sounds. For my son, it's printing out the alphabet and numbers as well as verbally stating them in order.

As for the testing low and then testing high bit. Nope. In fact, he refused to pass my daughter to the next level when she didn't pass the test. Good for him! I had doubts that she would pass the test. She wasn't happy about it, but she's currently re-doing the level for the extra review.

My kids started with him in January. Since then (3 months!) my daughter is *finally* grasping the concept of sounding letters out to read the word & to spell the word. We haven't been able to teach her this; nor the school; nor her teachers; nor the volunteers who were pulling her out of class to work one-on-one with; nor the learning disability centre she would go to for extra tutoring.

And my 6 year old jumped 3 reading levels in the same time frame.

Don't bother telling me Kuman doesn't work. As long as your child goes twice a week to them, AND a parent sits with them to do their daily Kuman work - it works! And to add to that, you need a centre who truly cares about the kids!

As for a tutor... I have looked so many times. And what burns me is how many teachers (retired or offering summer tutoring) want $30-$40 an hour. I can't afford that! Totally insane, unrealistic, and comes across as more in it for the money than to truly help children & parents.

 

[mjkacmom]

As for a tutor... I have looked so many times. And what burns me is how many teachers (retired or offering summer tutoring) want $30-$40 an hour. I can't afford that! Totally insane, unrealistic, and comes across as more in it for the money than to truly help children & parents.

Around here, certified degreed teachers get at least $50 an hour - they are professionals! Heck, piano lessons run $40 for a 1/2 hour lesson. It is not insane, and certainly not unrealistic, because people do pay that much. They not only work that hour, but prepare lessons for the kids as well. Try getting a plumber or electrician to come to your home for $30 an hour.

Most of those types of centers here are rip-offs, staffed by underpaid teens and/or college students, a bunch of computer work and worksheets. I don't know of a single person who found them helpful.

 

[DaniB]

Around here, certified degreed teachers get at least $50 an hour - they are professionals! Heck, piano lessons run $40 for a 1/2 hour lesson. It is not insane, and certainly not unrealistic, because people do pay that much. They not only work that hour, but prepare lessons for the kids as well. Try getting a plumber or electrician to come to your home for $30 an hour.

Point taken about professionals. But I still disagree when a teacher says they are tutoring to help children, or just to make a little extra money - to charge that much in addition to their own paycheque. At that point, they are running a business. Which is fine. But be upfront about it.

Most of those types of centers here are rip-offs, staffed by underpaid teens and/or college students, a bunch of computer work and worksheets. I don't know of a single person who found them helpful.

Now you do. This place, after 4 years, is the only thing actually helping my daughter for the first time.

And as I said - it totally depends on the centre & person running it! Luckily, I came across a centre, being run in the evenings by a teacher, devoted to truly helping children.

No computer work here by the way. It's worksheets, 1-on-1 help, verbal reviews, and books.

 

[gatormom2tots]

As a teacher I am VERY leary of these places.....I have heard of some very questionable things being done to ensure they make the "guaranteed growth" as promised so they are not required to give you your money back. Many of my friends in grad school worked at these palces. I am not doubting that kids are making progress, but I think there are better alternatives.

One on one tutoring I believe is a much better option.

As a 1st grade teacher I also get a little nervous about hearing of 4 year olds in these type of programs. Reading is very much a developmental skill.....if a child's brain is not ready, there is nothing in the world that is going to make them acquire these skills significantly quicker.

And many of these kids that are pushed so early gain a very negative association with reading, writing, and math. The research shows that a child's opinion of schooling is developed by 2nd grade. If they already hate school in the 2nd grade, it pretty much indicates that the negative association will remain throughout schooling. I cringe when my parents tell me they make their kids read for an hour every night...15 minutes is what I ask- it is to be a pleasurable experience. When reading ceases to be fun, you have lost the intrinsic value and enjoyment in it.

I am not saying that parents shouldn't help their kids...I wish more assisted at home. But is is about balance and moderation, not drill and kill!

 

[lisayvonne]

My child did Kumon for a while. We liked it at the beginning. It helped my child in math calculation skills. But over time, the benefit is no longer that visible and we feel more pressure on its monthly bills. We are now using beestar for math. DD's teacher recommended it to us. It's free and full of all real life world problems, challenging stuff to help kids thinking. DD loves it a lot. Plus, I don't need to drive her to Kumon, saving my time and $$.
Lisa