AN ENGINEER'S PERSPECTIVE ON THE ULTIMATE PROBLEM: Solving Method for Kids
By Jila Hatam, Center Director, Kumon Math and Reading Center of Long Beach – Stearns
If a child falls behind in math by the third grade, they have less than a 1-in-3 chance of catching up without targeted support. On the flip side, gifted students who are left on autopilot can lose up to two years of academic momentum by the time they hit middle school.
They seem like opposite problems, but they stem from the exact same root cause: children are rarely taught at the pace they actually need.
As an engineer, I look at education through the lens of systems and processes. When a system produces these kinds of gaps, it means the process needs to be redesigned. Closing that gap for local families is exactly what Kumon is trying to do.
A Method Rooted in Proof
The concept is beautifully simple. At the Kumon Math and Reading Center of Long Beach – Stearns, we use individualized, self-paced worksheets that meet your child exactly where they are today—whether they are struggling to keep up or craving a bigger challenge. There are no lectures, no pressure, and absolutely no comparison to classmates. Instead, we focus on daily practice, systematic steps, and unlocking the next challenge the moment the current one is mastered.
I’ve seen this problem-solving framework work from two very different perspectives: as an instructor who values hard evidence over guesswork, and as a proud parent.
Years ago, my own two children went through this exact program. Today, they are grown and thriving in the engineering field, after attending some of the top-ranked universities in the country. I don’t share this to boast. I share it because it is the exact data-driven proof that led me to run the Kumon Math and Reading Center rather than just recommend it from the sidelines. I know firsthand that the system works.
Accessible to Every Learner
In Kumon, we deeply believe that every single child deserves the chance to build this kind of logic and confidence, regardless of their circumstances. To make our programs as accessible as possible, the Kumon Math and Reading Center of Long Beach – Stearns is a proud approved vendor for all charter schools, major community institutes and state programs that support children on the autism spectrum. We actively partner with these organizations to help families navigate and utilize funding so their children can receive the foundational support they deserve.
Every child is capable of shifting from "I can't" to "Give me a harder one." They just need the right framework to engineer their own success, and we are here to provide that right in our community.
5555 Stearns Street, Suite #208
Long Beach, CA 90815
(562) 999-2852
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