About Kumon Publishing

Our History

Mr. Toru Kumon, Founder of Kumon

Kumon [koo-mon] began over sixty years ago with a father and son in Japan. High-school math teacher Toru Kumon created a step-by-step, individualized approach to help his son, Takeshi, improve in math. This approach, known as the Kumon Method, established the basis for what would become the world’s largest supplemental education program, with learning centers in 56 countries and a student population of over 4 million. To learn more about Kumon Learning Centers or to find a location near you, visit https://www.kumon.com.

Kumon Publishing North America was founded in 2004 to bring principles of the Kumon Method to a wider audience. We have grown to become a leading independent publisher in childhood education, selling over 2 million workbook copies annually worldwide.

Our books are created through close collaboration between instructors, editors, artists, and designers in both North America and Japan, resulting in workbooks that are highly effective and intuitive while offering children a unique and fresh approach.

Our books are available at your local bookstore, some toy and educational supply stores, and online retailers such as Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com.

The Kumon Workbooks Approach

Kumon workbooks empower students to learn on their own with:

A gradual progression through content in which each step builds logically and naturally on the previous one.

Intuitive page and activity design, so students know what is asked of them without having to rely on a grown-up.

Carefully structured activities that promote learning through doing.

“Just right” challenges that set students up for success.

Sufficient repetition for memory and understanding.

Each book targets a single skill at a specific level, so you can provide the right lesson for each child.

How we're different

Pick up any Kumon workbook and you will immediately see that we offer something different from our competitors.
What sets us apart?

High quality original artwork

We support independent artists and designers in the US, Japan, and around the world.

We don't license other media

We believe children don’t need the latest fad or cartoon character to develop a love of learning.

An obsessive attention to detail.

Our editors, artists, and designers develop each page with painstaking care and craftsmanship.

Cross-cultural collaboration.

With offices in North America and Tokyo, we are uniquely positioned to develop materials with a global resonance and appeal.

High quality paper, printing, and binding.

As with our editorial and design work, we don’t compromise on quality when it comes to print and production.

The Kumon Method in Action

Want to see the Kumon method in action? Take a look at the sample page sequences below, from some of our bestselling early learning titles, to see how it works.

Intuitive for Children

Our books are intuitive for children. When teaching how to write letters, we start with simple tracing exercises, and then teach the letter L, because it is the simplest for children to learn from a fine motor control standpoint.

Following L, we teach T, and so on. This may seem strange to adults who have learned to write according to alphabetical order, but it helps kids learn to write letters without frustration.

The right amount of support

We provide the right level of support so children can find the answers with confidence while developing new skills.

When teaching number sequence, we start with a clear path to follow, from one number to the next. Once the student has had a little more practice, we can remove the path and provide other supports—like arrows at the trickiest spots—where they are needed most.

Gradual, step-by-step development of skills

Our workbooks approach topics with step-by-step learning in mind. In our coloring books, children begin by scribbling freely, but eventually learn how to color with control and precision.

This is a natural and comfortable learning progression for students, and an important precursor to writing letters and numbers. Plus, our use of sturdy, high-quality paper promotes the natural development of this skill in a fun, enjoyable way.

See our workbooks in action here

FAQs

How do I know which book is right for my child?

To begin, you can choose books according to subject matter, age, and grade based on your child’s needs, ability, and goals. Feel free to visit your local bookstore or view the sample pages on our website to see which materials are best-suited for your child. We encourage you to choose books that offer a comfortable starting point for your child in order to boost confidence and make learning feel effortless and fun.

Do your books follow a progression?

Yes, most of our books are meant to be used in a particular sequence so that your child can progress by building on previous skills. Please look at our workbook chart that shows the progression of our main line of workbooks. Otherwise, please follow the sequential grade levels. If your child is just starting to work with Kumon workbooks, choose books based on your child’s level, age, and goals.

Does my child have to study one subject at a time or can he/she study more than one subject?

It is okay to use workbooks that focus on different skills in the same day—for example, your child could work on mazes (motor control skills), uppercase letters (verbal skills), and numbers (math skills) in the same day. As long as your child does not get frustrated, overwhelmed, or bored, he/she can use different books in the same study session. Always try to stop the activity when your child wants to do a little more so he/she is eager to start again the next day.

Where can I buy your books?

Our books are available at your local bookstore, some toy and educational supply stores, and online retailers such as Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com.

Do you sell the materials used in the Kumon learning centers?

We do not sell the worksheets that are used in the Kumon learning centers. However, we use the same learning method as the Kumon learning centers—the Kumon Method—in our workbooks. If you are interested in the Kumon learning centers, please visit www.kumon.com.

What is the difference between the worksheets used in Kumon learning centers and the materials in Kumon workbooks?

Our workbooks use the same learning method as the Kumon learning centers—the Kumon Method. However, if possible, we encourage you to enroll your child in the learning centers, as the workbooks do not cover as much material as the worksheets used in the centers. Also the Kumon learning centers offer an instructor who guides, assesses, and encourages your child every step of the way. If you are interested in enrollment, please visit www.kumon.com

What about the Common Core State Standards?

The Common Core State Standards are a set of academic standards in mathematics and English language arts. The standards define the math and English skills students must be competent in by the end of each grade.

Though Kumon workbooks are not developed specifically to correlate with the Common Core, the subject matter of our workbooks generally overlaps with Common Core standards.

Kumon Publishing creates educational workbooks with the aim of helping children achieve their full potential. Similarly, Common Core standards are designed to ensure that all students in the U.S. graduate from high school with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in college, career, and life. Kumon Publishing takes this ideal one step further by crafting educational materials that also encourage a love of learning in children and help them become self-motivated learners.

While national or state curriculums may change, Kumon Publishing will always strive to offer the highest-quality educational materials that provide the most benefit to children. For more information on our workbooks and the Common Core, please contact Kumon Publishing at books@kumon.com

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