“At Kumon, we believe that practice makes possibilities,” says Pamela Banson, the owner and instructor of Kumon Math and Reading Center of Hopkinton. “My goal is to help each child develop strong academic skills and a love of learning, and gain the confidence to excel beyond the classroom.” Banson, who also runs a Kumon center in Westborough, has been operating in Hopkinton for 20 years and has been a Kumon Method instructor since 2001.

Kumon is an after-school program with a curriculum designed for both enrichment and remedial education for preschoolers through high schoolers. “We really prepare kids to be self-learners,” Banson explains. “We help children develop study skills and critical thinking skills so they can advance independently through Kumon’s materials.”

After a placement test, Banson prepares individualized lesson plans for her students, and they also learn how to focus and follow instructions before proceeding with the curriculum. “The work skills of a child are very important,” Banson says. “When they become self-learners and their fundamental skills are solid, they are much more likely to succeed as they grow up and work toward their potential.”

Academic advancement is the focus, but Banson also stresses that Kumon’s impact reaches beyond school. “Life is hard, right? With Kumon, students learn to recognize challenges, just like in life,” Banson says, “and then they can accept and deal with challenges rather than procrastinating or giving up.”

Banson finds it especially exciting to watch a student enter the center with little confidence and then see how they are able to reach grade level in a year’s time and even progress beyond their grade. “It’s very fulfilling,” she says. “I’m not here to become a millionaire — it’s about education. It’s about how much I can reach the students and be able to bring the kids to the right path so they can take care of themselves and pursue their goals.”

The Kumon Center of Hopkinton is located at 77 Main Street. Visit kumon.com/hopkinton or call 508-435-0273 to learn more.

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