JUMP Math Program: Every Child can Learn How to do Math

by wildcherry on Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 | Business, News

John Mighton created a not-for-profit organization called JUMP (Junior Undiscovered Math Prodigies). Today, JUMP is getting spectacular results with all kinds of kids. For instance, after working with JUMP, an entire class of Grade 3 students, including so-called slow learners, scored over 90% on a Grade 6 math test. A group of British children who had been written off as too unruly responded so enthusiastically and had such impressive results that the school board adopted the program.

“Math is the easiest subject for kids to learn.”

John says this: every child can learn how to do math. Every child. And that learning in this new way opens the door to everything else.

Looking for a way to give back to his community, he decided to try to help more kids with math. One day, it occurred to him that mathematicians don’t always make the best teachers of the subject, because math comes easily to them. And here comes the second “a-ha!”. “Because I’d struggled with math myself, as a tutor I wasn’t inclined to blame the student. If the student didn’t understand, I assumed there was something wrong with my explanation.”

Frequently Asked Questions about JUMP:

What materials do I need to use the JUMP program with my child?

For all children in grade 3 or higher, the Introductory Unit Using Fractions should be the first unit taught in the JUMP Math program.

After successfully completing this unit, your child should proceed to the grade-specific workbooks that match their current level of proficiency. For example, if they are in Grade 6 but are operating at a Grade 3 level, they should start with Workbook 3. We suggest purchasing one set of workbooks (Parts 1 & 2) at the appropriate grade level.

The JUMP Math workbooks are not named by grade, in order to preserve students’ self-confidence.

How do I know which workbook to buy?

Our workbooks correspond with the grade levels in Ontario. For example, Workbook 4 (Parts 1 and 2) is for students in Grade 4. If your child is working at or a little behind grade level, we suggest that you purchase the corresponding workbooks, as they do include review material that goes back 1-2 years. If your child is behind 2 or more years, we recommend purchasing the workbooks 1 or 2 levels below the grade they are in.

Do I need to order the Teacher’s Guide?

The Teacher’s Guide contains materials designed for classroom teachers (activities, blackline masters, etc.). Some parents like to have this as well, but for working at home, the workbooks are sufficient. We do recommend that parents read the introduction to the Teacher’s Guide, however.

Which grades does JUMP Math cover?

Currently, we offer workbooks covering the math curriculum for Grades 1-8.

Does JUMP Math offer materials at the high school level?

At this point, JUMP Math covers only the elementary curriculum. However, high school students needing remedial help can benefit from our grades 7 & 8 resources, Workbook 7 and Workbook 8, as well asGetting Ready for JUMP Math: Introductory Unit Using JUMP Math.

How do I order the workbooks?

All of our print resources are available from the University of Toronto Press. For more information, please visit our Order JUMP Math page.

Do you offer training sessions for parents?

At this time, JUMP Math does not offer specialized training for parents. For an understanding of our method, we suggest reading the Introductory Unit’s accompanying Teacher’s Manual.

Who can teach JUMP Math?

No prior mathematical background is required to teach from the JUMP Math materials. Teaching requires patience and a sense of confidence in the ability of the student. Many adults who once struggled with math rediscover the subject through teaching. Those who have experienced the frustration of struggling with math can empathize with their students and often become the best teachers.

Where can I find answer keys and other support material?

Answer keys, teacher’s guides (for Workbooks 1-6), sample unit tests, curriculum reference guides and more can be downloaded from our website free of charge. Please go to Publications for details.

Does JUMP Math provide tutors?

JUMP Math does not provide private tutors. However, our materials are available to parents who want to help their children with math. Please see the Parents section for more information.