Brighterly vs. Thinkster: Comparative Guide on Two Online Math Tutoring Programs
As a parent, you want the best for your child—especially when it comes to their education. Math can be chal...
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Last Updated on March 5, 2025 by user
Parents search for a tutor because they want their children to receive support so that they can improve their academic skills. It may be challenging for parents to help their kids themselves, as they have busy schedules or may not fully understand the methods and strategies currently taught in schools.
Tutoring, a $168 billion global industry, is a great way to give your child the assistance they need to understand challenging school topics, work through homework, and prepare for tests.
There’s no denying the importance of fact fluency, as computational skills are tied to logical reasoning and critical thinking problems. However, a curriculum or math learning program that only focuses on rote memorization is limiting for students when it comes to higher levels of questioning and thinking skills.
But if you’re specifically searching for a “ Kumon tutor ” or Kumon® Math on Google, this may not give you the actual math tutoring help you are looking for for your child.
When looking for a math tutor for your child, you want someone who is proactive and assists your child. A tutor will help your child understand challenging concepts they are learning in school. They will observe your child and then help them work through strategies to improve their understanding.
Tutoring sessions typically are very interactive and high-touch for 30-60 minutes, and a tutor and your child work through material and topics during a teaching session.
Based on feedback from parents who have joined us, the Kumon learning method is not known to allow for this.
Per their own statements, the Kumon method embraces self-learning through independent work. Students arrive at the center and work independently as an instructor monitors them. And as students are completing their independent work at the center, instructors, “give hints and advice only when necessary.”[1]
This style of learning may work well for students who already have strong foundations or succeed with independent learning. But students who need remedial help or guidance to make sense of math topics may struggle due to a lack of support.
There are moments when self-learning can be successful.
Think of when a child is learning to tie a shoelace. They can watch a video or receive a little guidance to learn the steps, but they only truly master tying a shoelace after they practice independently.
Self-learning for bigger moments isn’t as successful.
Think of someone trying to learn a new language. They can use an app, like Duolingo, to try and learn it on their own. But they will be nowhere near fluent unless someone works with them to practice conversational skills and correct their pronunciation and diction.
And math is a language too, as vocabulary, symbols, and syntax are consistent and used in written form by people around the world.
Students learning math benefit from working interactively with a math tutor to understand the language. If they are forced to work on their own, they may just end up feeling more frustrated as they fail to grasp the material.
Based on discussions Thinkster advisors have had with former Kumon parents, they shared that the curriculum felt rigid or fixed. Parents said that their kids had to complete worksheets in a set order. How is the work personalized to a student’s needs?
Because students follow a fixed curriculum, the material they complete in Kumon often does not match the topics they are learning in school. And often, when students need math help, it is because they need support with school-specific topics.
And former Kumon instructors found this to be one of its big limitations too.
As Debbie P., a former Kumon instructor and current Thinkster Math coach, says, “I found it terribly constricting that I was not able to help the students at their grade level school work.”
Students who need help with school material may need to find additional resources or parent assistance.
Debbie adds, “What’s the point of knowing algebra when you won’t be doing it at school for another five years?”
And because Kumon focuses on arithmetic skills, your child won’t receive help in areas they may be really struggling with, such as logical reasoning or critical thinking problems.
Many students find word problems challenging, especially when introduced to multi-step word problems or ones that include distractors. This is why it is important to find a program that will include critical thinking problems, as well as other topics, such as measurement and data and geometry.
When a math tutor provides help on challenging school topics, this usually means they are also providing help with homework and upcoming school tests.
Homework time can be highly frustrating for students who are struggling in school. Recalling strategies and problem-solving steps can be very difficult for some kids. A math tutor will provide the necessary support and guidance to help your child work through topics.
Because the Kumon curriculum is standardized and students work independently at the center, instructors are not able to help with homework or test prep.
If you are looking for a math tutor to help bring your child up to speed in these areas, it is highly unlikely you will find it at Kumon.
If you’ve been searching for a Kumon tutor on Google, maybe it’s time to look into other math tutoring solutions that will give your child the support you seek. After all, your child will benefit significantly by receiving the math help they need to work through complex school topics or homework.
Thinkster Math offers high-touch support to help improve your child’s math skills. Additionally, coaches can align the learning plan to school work and provide homework and test prep!
Thinkster Math is significantly different than learning programs like Kumon, Mathnasium, Sylvan, Huntington, and others, and provides the learning improvements you are looking for for your child.
Click here to learn why Thinkster Math is a compelling alternative to other tutoring options.
Note: Kumon® is a registered trademark of Kumon North America, Inc. Thinkster Math is in no way affiliated to the same.
Sources: [1] https://www.kumon. com/about-kumon/kumon-method/kumon-instructors/role
