By Mrs. Trixie Fajardo
My elder daughter Nicole (Gr. 4) has been with the KUMON program for 5 years now. She started with Level 3A (basic addition) when she was about to enter Prep school and is now halfway through Level G, Algebra. Ysabel, her younger sister, also enrolled in the Math program last summer… Even before I enrolled my children to KUMON, I have already heard of the KUMON Learning Program from a few friends and have read a couple of its ads in major newspapers … in Manila…Actually, my mother and I had difficulty tutoring my nieces in Math when they were in grade school perhaps because they did not have sufficient background of the basics in Math so we though KUMON might help. Curious also of the program after attending the Orientation, I then enrolled Nicole together with my nieces.
I really did not see the long term effect of the program until Nicole entered grade school. Since she was already 3 levels higher than her grade level she really did not have difficulty with her Math. Having mastered her addition, subtraction, and multiplication, she would do her seatwork and quizzes way ahead of her classmates. She could already do exercises from the book even before the teacher introduced a new lesson. Sometimes, during exams, we would skip reviewing Math because she fully understood the lessons…we would then review only Math concepts she has not taken up at the center…Nicole’s journey with the program was not all smooth though. Whenever she would move to the next level, and had difficulty doing it, she would nag me about quitting the program. Crying, she would question why I enrolled in KUMON and would give me a litany of reasons why she need not go to KUMON…the worksheets would mean additional work…, not to mention the fact that she needed to review for quizzes the next day…I must admit that whenever she would nag me about quitting I would tell her to quit dance classes too, to unload her of the many things she is into. Of course, she would refuse because she loves dancing so much, so KUMON lessons had to continue without question. But as soon as she understood the lesson and could solve them then she would do the worksheets faster and would look forward to coming to the center again.
I believe that apart from the technical point of view, KUMON has helped Nicole in many ways. With the skills she has attained, she has gained confidence. She has not only represented the school in a couple of Math competitions, just recently, she participated in a cheer dancing competition. She is also into Polynesian and hiphop dancing and a member of the Discovery Club in school. Despite her various activities, she has maintained to be in the honor roll…Before KUMON, Nicole was so timid but now she is not afraid of discovering her other skills and developing her talents. Her enrollment with the KUMON program also helped her to become independent. Now, she would do assignments and review her lessons on her own especially when I am not at home. She would also volunteer to do other household chores aside from her usual duties at home…To Nicole, I hope that she would continue believing and learning because only in believing that she would achieve. And what she achieves, she becomes. And I am sure KUMON plays a very significant role in the development not only to Nicole, but also, I am sure, of every student at that.
Name of Children: ANDREA NICOLE AND ANDREA YSABEL FAJARDO
Name of Parent: TRIXIE FAJARDO
Center: BAGUIO CENTER
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Need Vs. Want
By Engr. Francis Apostol
“There is never good enough. There is always something better”.
These are very motivating words from the founder of KUMON. And yes, they are true, and I believe in them. I have all my four children enrolled with the KUMON Method. They started with Math, then after a few months, they started the Reading program. Today, after almost two years, they have medals, awards, certificates, and other sorts of recognitions, in and out of school including today’s celebration. It is a very rewarding feeling for us parents to hear that our children are achieving and getting good names. And before you know it, your wife or the lola has already told the story to a number of parents, or friends. Of course, who wouldn’t be proud of their achievements? But do you know that there is a relation between how your child performs and the right love or parenting you extend to your child? I am talking about the relation that simply says, “if you share more love, and extend the best parenting you know to your child, you can expect your child to do better.”
Case Point #1: When I brought my second child to the Philippine Science High School in San Ildefonso, Ilocos Sur, I noticed a general pattern among the students as well as the parents. I would say 90% of the students belong to above average families. Both parents were all there, their children, and even their cousins. Only few arrived who took the bus. I got the chance to talk to a number of them and the common scenario is that their parents or their family exerts more effort helping each other, cope up with the child’s schoolwork, projects, assignments and even financials (‘igagapang nila’) just to make sure their child can move forward in school; Case Point #2 My parents are from the Visayas, and I studied here at Saint Louis University. I was a Dean’s Lister, but by accident. It involved two persons on top of my parents supporting me. The first person was my roommate who was very rich, and had everything he needed to study - books, computer, money. But something was unique with him - his father would call him from IRAQ almost every other day. His mother would visit him every week. It was an inspiration and an advantage. I got the chance to borrow his books and facilities that no other students had. He graduated Magna Cum Laude; I was a Dean’s Lister. The other person was my instructor who treated me like a son. She would bring me to her home in Bakakeng during weekends and live with a family. That way, I was ushered to a life full of meaning and to move forward.
But what is the pattern? It is that if we, the parents, would put more focus on the needs of our children’s schooling, and provide them the best support, then we can always expect that they will do well. But parents who know that there could be something better and venture into it, easily have children performing well in school. The KUMON Methods is one way and I am a very proud husband because my wife has more time for me now. Before KUMON, my children had difficulty coping with their school activities and constantly called on Mommy! But now my four children are helping each other complete their assignments, and we just guide them. Be we are careful - giving more love doesn’t mean we give them a new IPOD or a Nokia N95 in exchange for their performance … parenting is knowing what is needed over what is wanted.
So we remember what the founder has said, “There is never good enough... There is always something better”.
Name of Childre: NIKKA, CARLO, MARCO and ANGELA APOSTOL
Name of Parent: ENGR. FRANCIS APOSTOL
Center: BAGUIO CENTER
“There is never good enough. There is always something better”.
These are very motivating words from the founder of KUMON. And yes, they are true, and I believe in them. I have all my four children enrolled with the KUMON Method. They started with Math, then after a few months, they started the Reading program. Today, after almost two years, they have medals, awards, certificates, and other sorts of recognitions, in and out of school including today’s celebration. It is a very rewarding feeling for us parents to hear that our children are achieving and getting good names. And before you know it, your wife or the lola has already told the story to a number of parents, or friends. Of course, who wouldn’t be proud of their achievements? But do you know that there is a relation between how your child performs and the right love or parenting you extend to your child? I am talking about the relation that simply says, “if you share more love, and extend the best parenting you know to your child, you can expect your child to do better.”
Case Point #1: When I brought my second child to the Philippine Science High School in San Ildefonso, Ilocos Sur, I noticed a general pattern among the students as well as the parents. I would say 90% of the students belong to above average families. Both parents were all there, their children, and even their cousins. Only few arrived who took the bus. I got the chance to talk to a number of them and the common scenario is that their parents or their family exerts more effort helping each other, cope up with the child’s schoolwork, projects, assignments and even financials (‘igagapang nila’) just to make sure their child can move forward in school; Case Point #2 My parents are from the Visayas, and I studied here at Saint Louis University. I was a Dean’s Lister, but by accident. It involved two persons on top of my parents supporting me. The first person was my roommate who was very rich, and had everything he needed to study - books, computer, money. But something was unique with him - his father would call him from IRAQ almost every other day. His mother would visit him every week. It was an inspiration and an advantage. I got the chance to borrow his books and facilities that no other students had. He graduated Magna Cum Laude; I was a Dean’s Lister. The other person was my instructor who treated me like a son. She would bring me to her home in Bakakeng during weekends and live with a family. That way, I was ushered to a life full of meaning and to move forward.
But what is the pattern? It is that if we, the parents, would put more focus on the needs of our children’s schooling, and provide them the best support, then we can always expect that they will do well. But parents who know that there could be something better and venture into it, easily have children performing well in school. The KUMON Methods is one way and I am a very proud husband because my wife has more time for me now. Before KUMON, my children had difficulty coping with their school activities and constantly called on Mommy! But now my four children are helping each other complete their assignments, and we just guide them. Be we are careful - giving more love doesn’t mean we give them a new IPOD or a Nokia N95 in exchange for their performance … parenting is knowing what is needed over what is wanted.
So we remember what the founder has said, “There is never good enough... There is always something better”.
Name of Childre: NIKKA, CARLO, MARCO and ANGELA APOSTOL
Name of Parent: ENGR. FRANCIS APOSTOL
Center: BAGUIO CENTER
Kumon: More than Academics
By Mrs. Jane Najarilla
When Teacher Arlene (center assistant) called me up to ask me to talk to you today, she didn’t have a hard time for 2 reasons: I really wanted to do this…it’s just that I was not able to muster enough strength to volunteer…. Second, I feel that I am on a personal crusade to let other people know how KUMON has changed the lives of my three precious daughters.
Our partnership with KUMON started when my eldest daughter, Vashti, was in Grade 3…where she got 79 in her Math. Upon seeing her grade, I cried…I cried a lot, not because I am a grade-conscious mom, but because of the realization that I am not being a good teacher to my daughter. Together with my husband, we continued helping her with her Math work but it was not successful, often times, our sessions together would end up with fights, sarcastic comments and a scalded ego.
Since I teach in a university, we have Math teacher friends. Two of them agreed to be Vashti’s tutors with Math…But I know how busy they could be, plus the fact that they wouldn’t accept payments, made the situation very uncomfortable for all of us...Then one day…one of my students gave me a brochure of KUMON. His name is Melvin Perez. I still don’t know up to now whether he was aware of my problems with my daughter, or if he was just trying to help his mom who happens to be Teacher Marilou in promoting the center, but he invited me to attend the Parent Orientation. I shared the brochure with my husband and both of us attended a Wednesday Orientation. That same day, a commitment to help a child between me, my husband and KUMON started.
The fulfillment of that commitment was not without trials. At first, it was very painful seeing your elementary level daughter doing basic addition, as in 1-digit to 1-digit addition. But she managed to move on; she managed in fact to be in Level H (Linear Equations, Functions & Graphs). Her 2 other sisters, Oani and Ada also enrolled in KUMON. We enrolled them early so as to avoid any problems when they reach Grade 3 Math where multiplication would be a very good issue. And since they started young, they were able to be silver medalists the first time we attended the same rites we have now.
But then again, challenges continued to test us. A family problem (brought about by the meningo scare that hit Baguio) affected our finances…And together with that we had to let go of KUMON with a very heavy heart. From then on, our daughters would always ask us when they were going back to the center. They would have comments such as, “Kung hindi siguro kami nag-stop, gold medalists na kami.”…and a lot more.
Then Ate enrolled in high school, again with challenges in her Math subjects, and once again, I couldn’t help her…She was able to enroll once again, and after a month, her sisters followed. And today, they are once more in the list of our awardees.
It is not only in academics that KUMON helped my daughters. They are now more persevering, patient and dedicated. They help around the house, assist in the preparation of food/snacks we have to sell the following day, and they even help in marketing by bringing goods to sell to their classmates….to make ends meet so as not to stop going to KUMON again. They are also more determined to finish the program and are more focused in what they want to achieve later on in their lives.
Name of Children: VASHTI , CINA LEOANI and DEINA IWADA NAJARILLA
Name of Parent: JANE NAJARILLA
Center: BAGUIO CENTER (Philippines)
When Teacher Arlene (center assistant) called me up to ask me to talk to you today, she didn’t have a hard time for 2 reasons: I really wanted to do this…it’s just that I was not able to muster enough strength to volunteer…. Second, I feel that I am on a personal crusade to let other people know how KUMON has changed the lives of my three precious daughters.
Our partnership with KUMON started when my eldest daughter, Vashti, was in Grade 3…where she got 79 in her Math. Upon seeing her grade, I cried…I cried a lot, not because I am a grade-conscious mom, but because of the realization that I am not being a good teacher to my daughter. Together with my husband, we continued helping her with her Math work but it was not successful, often times, our sessions together would end up with fights, sarcastic comments and a scalded ego.
Since I teach in a university, we have Math teacher friends. Two of them agreed to be Vashti’s tutors with Math…But I know how busy they could be, plus the fact that they wouldn’t accept payments, made the situation very uncomfortable for all of us...Then one day…one of my students gave me a brochure of KUMON. His name is Melvin Perez. I still don’t know up to now whether he was aware of my problems with my daughter, or if he was just trying to help his mom who happens to be Teacher Marilou in promoting the center, but he invited me to attend the Parent Orientation. I shared the brochure with my husband and both of us attended a Wednesday Orientation. That same day, a commitment to help a child between me, my husband and KUMON started.
The fulfillment of that commitment was not without trials. At first, it was very painful seeing your elementary level daughter doing basic addition, as in 1-digit to 1-digit addition. But she managed to move on; she managed in fact to be in Level H (Linear Equations, Functions & Graphs). Her 2 other sisters, Oani and Ada also enrolled in KUMON. We enrolled them early so as to avoid any problems when they reach Grade 3 Math where multiplication would be a very good issue. And since they started young, they were able to be silver medalists the first time we attended the same rites we have now.
But then again, challenges continued to test us. A family problem (brought about by the meningo scare that hit Baguio) affected our finances…And together with that we had to let go of KUMON with a very heavy heart. From then on, our daughters would always ask us when they were going back to the center. They would have comments such as, “Kung hindi siguro kami nag-stop, gold medalists na kami.”…and a lot more.
Then Ate enrolled in high school, again with challenges in her Math subjects, and once again, I couldn’t help her…She was able to enroll once again, and after a month, her sisters followed. And today, they are once more in the list of our awardees.
It is not only in academics that KUMON helped my daughters. They are now more persevering, patient and dedicated. They help around the house, assist in the preparation of food/snacks we have to sell the following day, and they even help in marketing by bringing goods to sell to their classmates….to make ends meet so as not to stop going to KUMON again. They are also more determined to finish the program and are more focused in what they want to achieve later on in their lives.
Name of Children: VASHTI , CINA LEOANI and DEINA IWADA NAJARILLA
Name of Parent: JANE NAJARILLA
Center: BAGUIO CENTER (Philippines)
100% Scholar - Thanks God and Kumon!
By Mrs. Coraliza Manuyag
Last October 7, I attended the ASHR Awarding for the North and Central Area (of KUMON) at Supreme Hotel. During the first part of the event, some parents were given the chance to share their experiences with their children and with KUMON. For some of you who were there to listen to their testimonies, I know that until now you still carry with you their very heartwarming and very inspiring stories. It was very touching and little did I know that after 62 days, I’d be here doing the same thing they did. I just hope that our story will touch you and inspire you the same way their stories did to me.
I learned about KUMON one day while I was watching TV. It was featuring a story about a nine year old who was doing calculus and it really amazed me. After long talks and deliberations with my then not-so-impressed husband, we finally decided to enroll Denise in the KUMON Math program. Her first encounter with KUMON was in January 2006. It was quite a blast for Denise is a child who’s really into new things. However, she started Math at Level 7A because she didn’t know anything about Math except counting from 1-20, colors and shapes. But thanks to God and KUMON, in less than a year, in exactly 4 months, Denise received her bronze medal last May 2006.
But just like most of the other students in KUMON, it wasn’t all a bed of roses; I myself know it because I imagined enrolling myself in the program as well. Think about the mind-draining, never ending corrections and repetitions of our children. When helping Denise with her corrections; out of nowhere, I would suddenly realize that if it’s tiring for me, how much more would it be for my daughter. And if I were impatient with Denise, who will then do the encouraging? She’s now in Level D doing divisions and fractions in Pre-school. Sometimes, I have to admit that I get tired and use a calculator to check her work. The worksheets are really starting to get harder and I would just have to be more patient, supportive, and more encouraging. Math has always been a problem to me, a problem which started in grade school and continued on until college. In college, I found myself enrolled in Mining Engineering, so everywhere I turned, there was Math to hate, nakakahiya man po sabihin pero I failed Calculus the first time. The second time, I passed pero talagang pahirapan. But all those hate days are gone now. Ironic as it may sound, the subject I hated and scared me most is now making me so-so happy.
Denise completed Kinder 1 on top of her class at Mary Immaculate school. She a 100% scholar with the help of God and KUMON. KUMON has taught Denise patience and perseverance, and more and more, she has become hungrier to learn more new things. It’s not true that KUMON is all work and no play - Denise is currently enrolled in piano lessons and will be taking violin lessons as well.
Name of Child: DENISE ROYCE MANUYAG
Name of Parent: MRS. CORALIZA MANUYAG
Center: BAGUIO CENTER (Philippines)
Last October 7, I attended the ASHR Awarding for the North and Central Area (of KUMON) at Supreme Hotel. During the first part of the event, some parents were given the chance to share their experiences with their children and with KUMON. For some of you who were there to listen to their testimonies, I know that until now you still carry with you their very heartwarming and very inspiring stories. It was very touching and little did I know that after 62 days, I’d be here doing the same thing they did. I just hope that our story will touch you and inspire you the same way their stories did to me.
I learned about KUMON one day while I was watching TV. It was featuring a story about a nine year old who was doing calculus and it really amazed me. After long talks and deliberations with my then not-so-impressed husband, we finally decided to enroll Denise in the KUMON Math program. Her first encounter with KUMON was in January 2006. It was quite a blast for Denise is a child who’s really into new things. However, she started Math at Level 7A because she didn’t know anything about Math except counting from 1-20, colors and shapes. But thanks to God and KUMON, in less than a year, in exactly 4 months, Denise received her bronze medal last May 2006.
But just like most of the other students in KUMON, it wasn’t all a bed of roses; I myself know it because I imagined enrolling myself in the program as well. Think about the mind-draining, never ending corrections and repetitions of our children. When helping Denise with her corrections; out of nowhere, I would suddenly realize that if it’s tiring for me, how much more would it be for my daughter. And if I were impatient with Denise, who will then do the encouraging? She’s now in Level D doing divisions and fractions in Pre-school. Sometimes, I have to admit that I get tired and use a calculator to check her work. The worksheets are really starting to get harder and I would just have to be more patient, supportive, and more encouraging. Math has always been a problem to me, a problem which started in grade school and continued on until college. In college, I found myself enrolled in Mining Engineering, so everywhere I turned, there was Math to hate, nakakahiya man po sabihin pero I failed Calculus the first time. The second time, I passed pero talagang pahirapan. But all those hate days are gone now. Ironic as it may sound, the subject I hated and scared me most is now making me so-so happy.
Denise completed Kinder 1 on top of her class at Mary Immaculate school. She a 100% scholar with the help of God and KUMON. KUMON has taught Denise patience and perseverance, and more and more, she has become hungrier to learn more new things. It’s not true that KUMON is all work and no play - Denise is currently enrolled in piano lessons and will be taking violin lessons as well.
Name of Child: DENISE ROYCE MANUYAG
Name of Parent: MRS. CORALIZA MANUYAG
Center: BAGUIO CENTER (Philippines)
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