Long before homework becomes a nightly struggle, some children are already building the habits that make learning second nature. At Kumon of Rogers, students as young as 3 begin a quick but powerful routine—daily practice in educational concepts that emphasize self-learning and resilience over quick results.
Kumon is a discipline-based program offering two core subjects: math and reading. It typically involves 15 to 30 minutes of daily practice, depending on a child’s age. Through consistent, independent work, students build strong study habits and problem-solving skills that will guide them through their learning of additional subjects in school and through their educational journey.
Students enrolled in the program attend an in-person class twice a week at Kumon’s Rogers location at 2603 W. Pleasant Grove Road, and complete assignments at home the rest of the week. The provided worksheets are designed so that children can learn on their own through daily practice.
Just as every child is different, Kumon’s programs are customized to each student’s individual learning pace and needs.
“Learning is a messy process,” says Srividya Venkatasubramanya, instructor and owner of Kumon of Rogers. “There's no straight way to learn — nobody learns in a straight line. We keep falling off the track here and there, and then you have to be brought back again and again. That's my job as an instructor, to see what is different in each child and respond to that.”
Since its inception, Kumon of Rogers has seen more than 1,000 students from ages 2 and up, and has had more than 75 students complete the math and reading programs. Srividya says that on average it takes around six to eight months in the Kumon curriculum for children to reach and surpass their grade level, and in less than a year, most students are studying above their current grade level.
She emphasizes the importance of tailoring the programs to fit each student’s unique needs, allowing them to progress at their own pace. She notes the experiences of her own children: her daughter, who consistently ranked in the 99th percentile in school and advanced quickly through Kumon’s material, and her son, who faced attention challenges and required a different approach. Despite their contrasting learning styles, both successfully completed the programs.
“The goal is not the point, the journey is. It’s how you get there, the hard work that you put in,” Srividya says.
The programs are for ages 3 and up, although Srividya says starting at a younger age is beneficial to teach healthy study habits early.
“Too often, people wait until the problem shows up,” she says. “The point of Kumon is to stay ahead of the curve. If you start early, this becomes muscle memory, this becomes a habit in your life.”
Her oldest students are typically in high school, although she does see adults learning English as a second language in the reading program, or college students taking the math track.
Originally from India, Srividya and her husband moved to the U.S. in 2001. She has a 20-year background in education with three master’s degrees from three different continents. Srividya decided to open her own Kumon location in Northwest Arkansas 15 years ago after her family relocated to the area for her husband’s job.
Srividya says she loves the concept of Kumon, giving children the tools to think for themselves, practice, make mistakes, and practice more. It continually encourages them to learn more, and emphasizes discipline over instant gratification.
“The joy of learning is that it's hard work,” she says. “Everybody thinks that for you to enjoy learning, everything has to be easy. It's actually the opposite. When you struggle and you learn and you achieve, you are so satisfied with your success.”