Toru Kumon
Encyclopedia
was a Japan
ese mathematics
educator, born in Kōchi Prefecture
, Japan. He graduated from the College of Science at Osaka University
with a degree in mathematics
and taught high school mathematics in his home town of Osaka. In 1954, Kumon began to teach his oldest son, who was doing poorly in mathematics in primary school, and developed what later became known as the Kumon method
.
This method involves repetition of key mathematics skills, such as addition
, subtraction
, multiplication
, and division
, until mastery is reached. Students then progress to studying the next mathematical topic. Kumon defined mastery as being able to get an excellent score on the material in the time given, which is intended to benefit students in all their studies. Kumon strongly emphasised the concepts of time and accuracy.
As a result of the method, other parents became interested in Kumon's ideas, and in 1956, the first Kumon Center was opened in Osaka
, Japan
. In 1958, Toru Kumon founded the Kumon Institute of Education, which set the standards for the Kumon Centers that began to open around the world. The Institute continues today to focus on individual study to help each student reach his or her full potential. The underlying belief behind the Kumon Method is that, given the right kind of materials and the right support, any child is capable of learning anything. At any time, there are more than 4 million Kumon students worldwide, and since 1956, more than 19 million students have enrolled in Kumon Centers worldwide. Toru Kumon died in Osaka on July 25, 1995 at the age of 81, owing to pneumonia
.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
educator, born in Kōchi Prefecture
Kochi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the south coast of Shikoku. The capital is the city of Kōchi.- History :Prior to the Meiji Restoration, Kōchi was known as Tosa Province and was controlled by the Chosokabe clan in the Sengoku period and the Yamauchi family during the Edo period.- Geography...
, Japan. He graduated from the College of Science at Osaka University
Osaka University
, or , is a major national university located in Osaka, Japan. It is the sixth oldest university in Japan as the Osaka Prefectural Medical College, and formerly one of the Imperial Universities of Japan...
with a degree in mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
and taught high school mathematics in his home town of Osaka. In 1954, Kumon began to teach his oldest son, who was doing poorly in mathematics in primary school, and developed what later became known as the Kumon method
Kumon method
The Kumon method, developed by educator Toru Kumon, is a math and reading educational method that is practiced in Kumon's learning centers.-History:...
.
This method involves repetition of key mathematics skills, such as addition
Addition
Addition is a mathematical operation that represents combining collections of objects together into a larger collection. It is signified by the plus sign . For example, in the picture on the right, there are 3 + 2 apples—meaning three apples and two other apples—which is the same as five apples....
, subtraction
Subtraction
In arithmetic, subtraction is one of the four basic binary operations; it is the inverse of addition, meaning that if we start with any number and add any number and then subtract the same number we added, we return to the number we started with...
, multiplication
Multiplication
Multiplication is the mathematical operation of scaling one number by another. It is one of the four basic operations in elementary arithmetic ....
, and division
Division (mathematics)
right|thumb|200px|20 \div 4=5In mathematics, especially in elementary arithmetic, division is an arithmetic operation.Specifically, if c times b equals a, written:c \times b = a\,...
, until mastery is reached. Students then progress to studying the next mathematical topic. Kumon defined mastery as being able to get an excellent score on the material in the time given, which is intended to benefit students in all their studies. Kumon strongly emphasised the concepts of time and accuracy.
As a result of the method, other parents became interested in Kumon's ideas, and in 1956, the first Kumon Center was opened in Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. In 1958, Toru Kumon founded the Kumon Institute of Education, which set the standards for the Kumon Centers that began to open around the world. The Institute continues today to focus on individual study to help each student reach his or her full potential. The underlying belief behind the Kumon Method is that, given the right kind of materials and the right support, any child is capable of learning anything. At any time, there are more than 4 million Kumon students worldwide, and since 1956, more than 19 million students have enrolled in Kumon Centers worldwide. Toru Kumon died in Osaka on July 25, 1995 at the age of 81, owing to pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
.