If you are looking for learning math concepts it really depends on the child too. For some of my kids they learn better with Kumon and Singapore Math and others more with Beestar. I personally like Beestar since it gives children that incentive they seem to be missing at school when they score below the curve. Some of my students also have used the new gifted and talented section and have been placed into those classes which keeps the learning momentum.

I believe the best thing to do is to

1) provide meaningful math (conceptual understanding e.g., www.dreambox.com)
2) provide opportunities to practice automaticity of math facts AFTER the conceptual understanding is reached (e.g., IXL, flash cards)
3) as much as possible keep it fun (e.g., math games, building, engineering, etc.)

What does your child need? It's my understanding from looking at Kumon materials and talking with our local "sales rep," that Kumon specializes in the second point. Lots of practice and automaticity. The rep explicitly told me that Kumon does NOT TEACH CONCEPTS.

Therefore, we are not interested in Kumon for our child. We can do automaticity practice for zero money in our house.

Anonymous wrote:How is Sylvan different from Kumon? less worksheets? is there instruction or is it self learning like kumon?

Kuman is a bunch of worksheets that you do in a mostly self directed way and mostly at home. You are supposed to work on your Kumon worksheets every day. At Sylvan, my dd is assigned an instructor. The ratio is no more than 1 teacher to 3 students, but sometimes my dd gets her own instructor. The work is done at Sylvan on an ipad or on a white board. We don't have worksheets to do at home. They recommend you go to Sylvan 2-3 times/week, but we have only been able to go once a week, and it has helped especially over the summer to keep doing math.

I'm the Mathnasium poster.
I agree that there needs to be some repetition, yes, but doesn't have to be memorization.

When we were looking around for a math tutoring place, I was totally sold as soon as I read about the Mathnasium method:

Focuses on explaining why mathematical rules work so that children learn and understand the rules, not just memorize them.

After having my kids in there for the last 2 years, I still say this is true.

Anonymous wrote:18:57 here.
Mathnasium teaches math sense, rather than drills.
My kids are in 5th and 8th grade. The do have high school kids in there.
I love it that they customized their curriculum and teaching method for each kid.
We pay 275 a month for each kid and they can go 2 to 3 times per week. All work is done at their sessions, never at home.

That price is almost twice that of Kumon. May be their approach is different.

Do they sit one on one or do they conduct specific instructional sessions by levels or grades?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:any math program has an element of repetition built into it. given the scaffolding nature of learning math, practice and mastery of early concepts frees up the mind to allow focusing on the more advanced concepts. Sooner you start the better, maybe 5 to 10 minutes a day.

This.

A different view

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/15/fashion/with-kumon-fast-tracking-to-kindergarten.html?_r=0

OK, a report from Fashion & Style section. wonder why it go under the Education section.

Thanks, PP!

18:57 here.
Mathnasium teaches math sense, rather than drills.
My kids are in 5th and 8th grade. The do have high school kids in there.
I love it that they customized their curriculum and teaching method for each kid.
We pay 275 a month for each kid and they can go 2 to 3 times per week. All work is done at their sessions, never at home.