Kumon?

[Anonymous]

Someone -- not clear if it is OP -- asked if PreK was too young. People are giving opinions in response to that question. Typically, 4 year olds who play soccer play against other 4 years olds so the equivalent for math would be doing math in school in PreK. FWIW, I am not sure how I feel either way, but your defense has gotten pretty aggressive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

If you family is full of math geeks, then why not play math games at home?

I suspect they do. Next insightful question?

It seems not, actually, or at least not seriously otherwise why would you resort to Kumon for a 4 year old?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

So your logic (or illogic as the case may be) to avert this problem (of being too advanced) is to slow a precocious child down?

Have you ever heard of this strategy for music (e.g., piano and violin) , art, language, sports development?

Would anyone (parent, teacher or administrator) with a teaspoon of brains slow a 4-year-old down from a voracious appetite of reading multiple chapter books and novels for fear this 4-year-old is too advanced for chronologic and peer group age in school (now or later)?

Why on earth would anyone put the breaks on a budding mathematician (or artist or musician)?

Its not a race. Thats why.

Who said anything about "racing"? I guess by that stroke of logic superbly and profoundly performing pianists, violinists, readers and swimmers are racing ... just like mathematicians ? Does your "race" have an end or time limit? Does knowledge and creativity have a finite end?

Can you explain your logic regarding 4-year-old kids who may perform at much higher and deeper levels (piano, violin, math, swimming, reader) than their mates? What are the intellectual and creative "no fly-zones" for a 4-year-old (perhaps ... no more than 5 chapter books or 600 pages of reading per week)? Of course, reading speed is immaterially in your worldview?

You were the one who used words like "slowing down" and "putting the brakes on". I was just extending the analogy. I have trouble understanding how drilling a 4 year old with math facts (which is what they do at Kumon, BTW. This is not about teaching your child to think about math theory and abstractions, its about teaching them the multiplication tables before kindergarten) equals putting the brakes on. And I don't get your hostility and defensiveness. But, hey, have fun with all that Kumon stuff. Sounds like a blast.

[Anonymous]

I've heard starting Kumon too young (ie 4yrs) could backfire since it's based on lots of repitition- some younger kids tire of it and start to really resist. I've heard first or second grade is a better starting point. Though this is a generalization and your child could take to it and want to stick with it.

[Anonymous]

16:30 Huh? Sorry but no, I am not envious of parents who freak because they expect individualized instruction for their children in K.

[Anonymous]

You were the one who used words like "slowing down" and "putting the brakes on". I was just extending the analogy. I have trouble understanding how drilling a 4 year old with math facts (which is what they do at Kumon, BTW. This is not about teaching your child to think about math theory and abstractions, its about teaching them the multiplication tables before kindergarten) equals putting the brakes on. And I don't get your hostility and defensiveness. But, hey, have fun with all that Kumon stuff. Sounds like a blast.

Precisely, Einstein's theory of relativity would argue "slowing down" relatively to whom or what? A race or speeding up relative to whom or what?
For the precocious child their pace may be too fast (or slow) for your child.

Who with a teaspoon of brains would actively slow down the progress of a 4-year-old gifted musician, mathematician, or swimmer because their talents and performance far outstrip the talents and performance of their age mates (...besides those left behind)? Who would tell a voracious reading child to slow down because of fear they will get to far ahead of their peers? Who would despise this voracious reader because of their talent? Why don't you tell Bill Gates and Warren Buffett to slow down their earnings because they make a million times more money than you do? Do you develop the same despair to Gates and Buffet you have for talented young artists, scientists and mathematicians?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

You were the one who used words like "slowing down" and "putting the brakes on". I was just extending the analogy. I have trouble understanding how drilling a 4 year old with math facts (which is what they do at Kumon, BTW. This is not about teaching your child to think about math theory and abstractions, its about teaching them the multiplication tables before kindergarten) equals putting the brakes on. And I don't get your hostility and defensiveness. But, hey, have fun with all that Kumon stuff. Sounds like a blast.

Precisely, Einstein's theory of relativity would argue "slowing down" relatively to whom or what? A race or speeding up relative to whom or what?
For the precocious child their pace may be too fast (or slow) for your child.

Who with a teaspoon of brains would actively slow down the progress of a 4-year-old gifted musician, mathematician, or swimmer because their talents and performance far outstrip the talents and performance of their age mates (...besides those left behind)? Who would tell a voracious reading child to slow down because of fear they will get to far ahead of their peers? Who would despise this voracious reader because of their talent? Why don't you tell Bill Gates and Warren Buffett to slow down their earnings because they make a million times more money than you do? Do you develop the same despair to Gates and Buffet you have for talented young artists, scientists and mathematicians?

"Despise the voracious read"? "Despair"? You left out "ennui," for God's sake. Dost thou chooseth to banish thy children to ennui?

[Anonymous]

I think all enrichment must stop. Now. Stifle all talent! Congress should pass laws! The Supreme Court should make them unconstitutional!

[Anonymous]

The OP never said her son was particularly gifted in math -- only that her husband (and she?) were gifted, and they would like to see that in their own son. Pushing their kid to learn basic facts sooner -- rather than do activities that develop a greater appreciation for the subject -- seems like a terrible idea, whether it's math or reading or soccer or violin. And it certainly doesn't seem like it's following the kid's lead.

[Anonymous]

I've heard starting Kumon too young (ie 4yrs) could backfire since it's based on lots of repitition- some younger kids tire of it and start to really resist. I've heard first or second grade is a better starting point. Though this is a generalization and your child could take to it and want to stick with it.

Funny, I've heard the same regarding reading too young because it's based on lots of repetition. Interesting, I've heard about the same things about repetition with violin, piano, swimming, gymnastics and computer programming. Perhaps we should simply do away with repetition as one mechanism for learning. But, let's make sure my pilot and surgeon have lots of repetition!!

[Anonymous]

The OP never said her son was particularly gifted in math -- only that her husband (and she?) were gifted, and they would like to see that in their own son. Pushing their kid to learn basic facts sooner -- rather than do activities that develop a greater appreciation for the subject -- seems like a terrible idea, whether it's math or reading or soccer or violin. And it certainly doesn't seem like it's following the kid's lead.

There are some parents incapable of leading (or capable) and elect to be led by their 4-year-old child. That's your prerogative. Unfortunately, my 4 year olds are not as bright, intelligent and all knowing as yours. They have required tremendous support and help all the way from scheduling their activities, school choices down to grooming and hygeine. Our young children follow our leads. We have not giving them their licenses to drive and vote quite yet.

[Anonymous]

The OP never said her son was particularly gifted in math -- only that her husband (and she?) were gifted, and they would like to see that in their own son. Pushing their kid to learn basic facts sooner -- rather than do activities that develop a greater appreciation for the subject -- seems like a terrible idea, whether it's math or reading or soccer or violin. And it certainly doesn't seem like it's following the kid's lead.

And what may I ask are these activities that develop a greater appreciation for the subject. Do they cost money? Are they activities only accessible to the middle class?

[Anonymous]

To OP - have you considered putting your child in a Montessori program? Our child has always been interested in numbers and math and has done great in a Montessori program..@ K is doing multiplication and division.

I should note that it is true that we face an issue of being so far ahead in school but he would have been there anyway. We don't do any supplementing but are in math related careers so can "talk about" numbers in a detailed way when our child wants to talk about them.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

To OP - have you considered putting your child in a Montessori program? Our child has always been interested in numbers and math and has done great in a Montessori program..@ K is doing multiplication and division.

I should note that it is true that we face an issue of being so far ahead in school but he would have been there anyway. We don't do any supplementing but are in math related careers so can "talk about" numbers in a detailed way when our child wants to talk about them.

Good luck.

I like your nuanced definition of supplementation...an act that cannot occur in the home with professionals. That's cute. I wonder whether supplementation at home from mathematicians beats supplementation in a Kumon center with high school students?

[Anonymous]

I think all enrichment must stop. Now. Stifle all talent! Congress should pass laws! The Supreme Court should make them unconstitutional!

Funny.

Those advocating for slowing kids down are precisely those mothers described in the article below who want to have it both ways. They want to have their cake and eat it...much like their parents and grand parents did.



http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1969/12/the-ivy-delusion/8397/1/