Kumon India & Sri Lanka - Potential 2023 Issue 1

Dear Readers,

Welcome to the first edition of Potential in the year 2023. With the start of a new year, we are glad to continue this learning journey with you.

In this edition, we are excited to share with you the encouraging story of Anay Kanswa, who speaks about his Kumon journey and tells us about how Kumon made a difference to his learning curve and changed things for better. He talks about his experiences and changes he has observed in himself, which has made his parents proud.

Another excellent story is that of Arjun Kapoor, who as per his Instructor is a child with a mission. He has an insatiable hunger to learn and is a voracious reader. Be it sketching, playing the guitar or acing the Olympiads, he is indeed an all-rounder.

In the Local News section, we have highlighted the importance of consistency in learning. The article revolves around the quote “It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently”.

We look forward to delighting you in our upcoming issues with more inspiring stories of children who help us further believe in their unlimited potential.

Happy Reading & wishing you a great start to 2023!

-Marketing & PR Team - Kumon India & Sri Lanka

The Secret of Success Is Constancy of Purpose

The key to success is consistency. The Kumon method aims at the holistic development of a child besides academic growth and it is only possible with consistency. Our star kid Anay Kanswa has proved it right.

“My journey with Kumon has been incredible and magical. Doing Kumon worksheets regularly inculcate discipline and curiosity in me which help develop a positive attitude towards studies,” says Anay.

Not just studies, Anay is equally good at extra-curricular activities. He speaks about maintaining a balance in life and shares,” I love to play chess & keyboard, so I balance Kumon and school studies by concentrating and finishing it fast. This helps me get a lot of time for other activities.”

He aspires to be a very successful medical professional and wants to start a career as an Army doctor. His vision is to contribute his bit for the society and to help achieve his dreams, he is quite sure that the values, discipline and skills nurtured in him at Kumon will certainly take him a long way.

Anay gives complete credit of his success to his Instructors, Kumon worksheets and his wish to become a Kumon Completer one day. There were difficulties in his learning journey, especially during the Covid outbreak but he kept going with the continuous online support from Kumon Instructors and encouragement from his parents.

Speaking of the life lessons learnt at Kumon, Anay shares that besides maths and English he has developed confidence, discipline, regularity, self-belief and motivation, which will help him throughout life.

His parents proudly say that he has learnt so many important aspects of life from the Kumon method and his Instructors. They appreciate the Kumon programme as it is very systematic and it has helped Anay become an independent learner.

Here comes the most interesting bit about Kumon in the words of Anay’s parent, “Initially, I was hesitant with the self-study concept of Kumon and used to think how a small child can learn on his own. In just about two months, I saw lot of improvement in Anay’s daily study habits and an overall turnaround in his personality. I am glad to say that now he is able to complete all his work quickly and I am happy to see Anay develop as a consistent and self-motivated child at Kumon. I completely abide by the Kumon philosophy of “Every child is unique and we need to believe in his/her ability”.

Consistent Actions Create Consistent Results

To construct any building, layout is of prime importance. Similarly, laying the right study foundation from the start ensures a stable learning graph. Arjun Kapoor is a true reflection of it.

Enroled in the Kumon programme at the tender age of 4 years, Arjun was always a child with a mission. As per his Instructor, he always had an insatiable hunger to learn. He had once shared maths lesson plans with his Instructor so that he could teach the underprivileged children from an NGO in Delhi. Such a will to share and give back to the society that too at a very young age is a rare sight.

In a candid conversation with Arjun, he shares how Kumon has played a significant role in shaping his personality and has helped him stay ahead of his peers in school.

1 How has your experience in Kumon been so far?

I have been doing Kumon since I was 2½ years and I have always cherished challenging myself with all the advance levels and new sheets. Kumon gave me an edge in fast mental calculation and helped in school mathematics too. I am currently in TOP SET in mathematics at school- that is a dedicated class with a mentor who specializes in mathematics, separated from rest of the students. Here we do more challenging mathematical sums that are a level higher than our school level. I enjoy doing Kumon worksheets. It has made mathematics my passion.

2 What is your ambition? How will Kumon help you achieve it?

My future goal is to get admission in one of the Ivy League colleges in the USA. Kumon will help me achieve that by improving my mathematics along with improving the skill to work independently, stay focused and disciplined. Kumon has taught me no matter whatever the difficulty is, you will eventually overcome it.

3 A piece of advice you would like to give to other Kumon students.

My advice to other Kumon students is that no matter how hard the level is; never give up because the satisfaction you will receive after overcoming it is definitely worth it.

4 What is your inspiration to complete the programme?

My inspiration to complete the programme is the Completers Wall of Fame that is in the Kumon Centre, I would like to have my name and photo on that wall one day.

5 How do you balance studies and extracurricular activities?

I balance studies and extracurricular activities quite well. I trick my brain into thinking that things like Kumon, IMO, NSO preparation and Trinity Guitar Exams are a daily routine and I have to do it. I also draft a To-Do list that I make sure has satisfying ticks instead of disappointing crosses.

6 Would you like to share some life lessons you learnt at Kumon?

Yes, surely. After all, Kumon has made me a better person. The life lessons I learnt at Kumon are discipline, independent learning and competition with yourself or rather being a better version of yourself. I love challenging my own abilities now.

Arjun’s parents are proud of their son’s accomplishments and shared their views with us: “As a parent I feel Kumon has really helped Arjun not only improving his math skills and developing interest in the subject but I strongly feel that Kumon is a life skill which has imbibed lot of discipline in Arjun. I am grateful to Kumon Instructors for consistently helping and motivating Arjun in his levels.” We are proud of him, for his dedication and hard work and wish him all the success in life!

Did you know that on average, we forget more than half the information within the first few days of learning? In 1885, German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus conducted a series of tests and found that we retain only 40% of the information after a few days. This phenomenon is the “forgetting curve”. In separate studies studying the efficacy of learning, experts have also found that spaced repetition is superior to cramming to counter the forgetting curve. In one of the studies, researchers found that spacing was more effective for 90 per cent of the participants.

Space repetition makes use of studying the same material consistently at regular intervals to reinforce the knowledge to negate the forgetting curve. This consistency in learning is not just for studying just for information retention; doing a little every day is beneficial in the long run.

Like many professional sportsmen honing their skills and developing muscle memory through daily practice, our children do benefit through consistent daily practice. As our children work on their Kumon worksheets daily, with time they will develop discipline and habit, making daily study second nature to them.

Having a consistent routine allows our children to know when it is time to bring out their Kumon worksheets and school homework. Rather than having a power struggle with our children, having a consistent study schedule helps our children to know when it is time to put the toys away and pick up their pencils. Beyond studying, having a consistent schedule with time dedicated to various activities help our children get accustomed to the schedule and internalise it, making transitioning from one activity to another a smoother experience for both parents and our children. At the same time, our children feel a sense of accomplishment and confidence that they know what to do and are in charge of themselves.

Historically, our children return to school after a holiday at a significantly lower learning level than they were before the holiday – a phenomenon commonly referred to as summer learning loss. Summer learning loss has interested education researchers for more than a century and in 2021, a group of researchers found that students lost 17% –34% of the year’s learning gains during the following summer break. They also found that students who suffered summer learning loss are also more likely to continue to lose ground in subsequent summers. Not only do we lose ground on our learning progress, but it also sets us back from our learning goals and targets as well.

Our children who study consistently daily can reap many benefits, both on the academic front and in important life skills. Hence in Kumon, our children complete a set of assigned worksheets daily, instead of cramming a few days’ worth of worksheets at one go. Not only does doing so help students to manage their workload, but they also retain information better, develop discipline and good habits, the transition from one activity to another better, and during the holidays, consistent daily practice help negate summer learning loss, keeping our children on track with their learning goals.

Consistency yields more effective learning. It is not going to be a figurative walk in the park as our children will take time to get used to the new schedule. Look out as we discuss the 7 little tips to help our children get into a consistent routine in the Parenting Tips.

Instructors’ Quotes

At Kumon, students study worksheets on a daily basis. This enables children to develop a daily study routine that builds discipline. Children are encouraged to study every day at the same time and same place that enhances discipline further. This allows children to be self- driven, responsible and consistent. Kumon aims to develop healthy habits from a young age that builds self-confidence, helps overcome challenges and enjoy learning. My experience at Kumon tells me that children who adapt to the daily study routine show consistent growth and are driven to succeed in whatever they pursue.

Consistency is the key to success in Kumon, as our daily learning method is based on repetition and daily practice to enable our students to excel. Daily practice builds habits that lead to selfgrowth and improvements. Improving by one percent each day counts for a lot in the long run. That is how small victories lead towards achieving a bigger goal. It’s not what we do once that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently.

Alison, Kumon Malaysia

Neelima Lingareddy, Kumon India & Sri Lanka

I believe that every child has limitless potential. To fully develop their potential, they need consistency in their daily study. I think to do something consistently is not easy. During the process we encounter many obstacles. I always encourage my students and then communicate it with their parents about the importance of consistency in their study, including regular class attendance and daily home study. The result is students will not only have a good academic ability, but they will also have a good study habit, time management skills, responsibility and self-sufficiency. That will be such a strong foundation for their future.

The design of the Kumon programme starts students off on the right foot, with a low starting point to build self-confidence and the motivation to learn. As the Instructor, it’s important that I ensure students are progressing at their own pace, and the work is at their ‘just-right’ level, challenging yet not too difficult. With frequent communication to discuss barriers to progress, both students and parents can establish strategies to overcome them and consistently reach their goals.

Cynthia Posuma, Kumon Indonesia

Ashley Chown, Kumon Australia and New Zealand

Local

- Consistency is the key to learning and growing

“Slow and steady wins the race.” The story about the slow-yet-determined tortoise beating the speedy-but-overconfident hare is surely not new to anyone. However, the fact is that this timeless fable also applies to learning. Consistent practice is indeed the key to learning and growth.

It is a fact that an average person forgets half the information they learn an hour after being introduced to it. This is known as the forgetting curve. An easy solution to combat the forgetting curve is consistency.

Studies have confirmed that studying small portions consistently help the students learn more effectively and retain for long. This process, called spaced repetition is an essential part of the Kumon Method. Repetition of concepts is integrated into the worksheets and Instructors can assign additional repetition as per individual student’s needs.

Kumon students study daily. The Kumon Method puts major focus on consistency because students are required to complete worksheets daily. This process helps to train them to take the initiative to complete their homework efficiently at a given time. These positive study habits help children in achieving excellence in academics and beyond as well.

Consistent study is not just important for improving memory but is also the key to building habits. Kumon Students see maximum progress when they study every day without taking breaks. It goes without saying that when learning becomes a habit, a student’s potential is unlimited!

The Kumon Method aims at discovering and unlocking the potential in every child. Armed with critical life skills and the ability to self-learn, Kumon students gain the confidence to learn independently. The Kumon programme stresses on the importance of daily practice. The commitment of daily study is certainly challenging, but the results are worth it. Students committed to the Kumon programmes are rewarded with a deeper understanding and advanced ability that will last them a lifetime.

Parenting Tips

7 tips to build consistency and confidence in your children

1. Getting your children involved

Sit your children down at a place that is free from distractions. Get them to list down the daily activities that they need to put into the daily routine, which could include meal times, nap and bedtime, school homework, Kumon time, music and sports practice.

2. Assigning the time and duration

After deciding on the activities, discuss with your children on the duration to set aside for each task, adding in a little buffer to cater for activities overrunning the time allocated. The buffer could be used as a reward for extra play or screen time as a reward for completing the activities punctually.

3. Put the activities and time slots into a schedule

You can choose to DIY this – another opportunity for bonding – using recycled or scrapbooking materials, or even toys such as magnetic tiles. This helps to reinforce the various activities against the allocated time.

4. Display the schedule prominently

This acts as a source of reference for your children and yourself to refer to (and countering the forgetting curve). It could be on the wall, or if you had chosen to use magnetic toys or materials, then the fridge or on something that conducts magnetism well.

5. Have a clock

Having a clock helps to remind your children that it is time to transition to another activity. No more excuses for not knowing the time! This can be an analogue or digital clock. For younger children, a digital clock could be helpful.

6. Be patient and encouraging

Don’t expect the schedule to run smoothly from the get-go, as children will take some time to get used to it. You can remind them of the schedule in the beginning, and encourage them to keep to the schedule.

You might even want to reward them with extra activities that are not listed in the timetable, like extra time to read, or a trip to the playground or supermarket, for taking the initiative to complete the task punctually.

7. Be flexible

Exercise some flexibility with the timetable if there was a family outing oroverseas trip. For example, many Kumon parents would let their children complete their Kumon homework in the morning during overseas trips, festive occasions or when there are family outings planned.

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then is not an act, but a habit.” - Aristotle