Testimonials and Experience

" Never think that a small group of committed people can't change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
--Margaret Mead

Imagine the excitement and jubilation a child must feel when they pass their first math test. Many of our tutors talk about the happiness they feel when their students realize they are anything but “dumb in math”.

Over the years, countless testimonies have been collect from volunteers speaking about their own experience as a JUMP Math volunteer tutor. While you read the testimonies remember that JUMP tutors are dedicated, committed and caring people; they're proud of their efforts because they're efforts are making a real difference.

"I started volunteering with JUMP when I first moved to Toronto after calling around to a number of different non-profit organizations.  JUMP was the only place that showed a real commitment to volunteers from the start - called back right away, had a training session ready for me to attend, and I haven't looked back.  Every week with the students I have tutored for the past three years has been a fabulous adventure.  There is nothing like seeing the joy of learning first hand.  When you least expect it, your student tells you about doing well on a test, teaching someone at home a math trick, or smiles broadly after completing a page of problems on their own. I've met wonderful people - students, parents, teachers, other tutors and more.  I never thought I'd be back in a school after I graduated from university.  Now I am in a grade three classroom every week, in the tiny little chairs at tiny tables, surrounded by the alphabet and measurements on bulletin boards, doing fractions, multiplication, long division and more.  It even makes my husband happy.  He is a math major and has noticed my math has improved!"

Debbi
JUMP tutor

 
"I have been a JUMP volunteer for almost three years. I have enjoyed the experience greatly. I have helped a number of students improve their math comprehension and skills in a big way through the exercises in the excellent (workbooks) provided by JUMP. I have watched a passion for learning flower in the students' eyes and that's been amazing. I have had students ask for homework and feel excited about doing it. It's been a great time working with the school and has reinforced my appreciation of dedicated teachers."

 Thanks JUMP it's been a pleasure to give and to receive so much more back....

 -Christina
Ontario Public Service
JUMP tutor

"I was a JUMP volunteer for 4 years. It was the best volunteer experience I have had.  The other volunteers were quite personable and it was great way to meet new people [...] The few hours a month that I dedicated to JUMP helped me grow as a person and when I get back from Australia I want to volunteer again!"

-Nicole
JUMP tutor

"I like the JUMP programme as it provides a common vocabulary as well as teaching strategies that allow the tutor to link the one-on-one work to the class work.  Tutors can find an explanation that works for a child (eg. "corners") then use the JUMP books to link back to the words used for that concept by the teacher/tests/math community (eg. "angles").

And that's when I'm really glad that JUMP Math exists.

It is vital that JUMP tutors continue to help reach every child, for no teacher or parent can do it all alone.

Good tutors help children catch up when life happens!

I thank John Mighton for not just recognizing the need but for making it possible for us to be in the schools where we are needed.  I look forward to starting again in September 07."

-I. E.
JUMP tutor

 
          "Psst.  Want a good time?

How about leaving home 90 minutes early and re-learning long division to explain it to a skeptical 10-year-old?  As a JUMP tutor you might confront issues like this, but they are trivial when compared to the moments of discovery you will share with a student who says, "Hey, I did it and I did it myself!"

Over six years I had the privilege to guide five JUMP students.  It is a challenge that I relished and the rewards are well worth the hassles.

Beyond the more obvious challenge to think through lessons and arrange logistics, I found the most interesting and meaningful challenge to be helping my student discover his or her own untapped potential to excel.

JUMP showed me that everyone loves to learn, but few of us like to be taught.  I think it's the joy of discovery that makes the magic, but sharing the experience of discovery makes it better, and sharing the joy of discovery with a student who formerly believed math to be impenetrable is a joy unlike any other.

When I first started tutoring with JUMP, we had no workbooks.  So I've seen clearly how the workbooks redirected the tutor's work from lecturing and creating examples to commenting, guiding and praise.  The workbooks are really well written - methodical, clear and interesting - and they allow students to advance independently, building confidence while they systematically cover the prescribed curriculum.  Tutors can trust the workbooks, never needing to wonder how the pieces are meant to fit together.

You never know where your gift of time and attention might end up. I have no doubt that our JUMP students will become community leaders, champions for the underprivileged and misunderstood, and brilliant creators of the previously unimaginable.  What greater reward can we ask?"

-Kirk
JUMP tutor