TouchMath is a multisensory program that uses its signature TouchPoints to engage students of all abilities and learning styles.
We gave the Preschool Program a try, and can I say I LOVE it!!?? Let me tell you why. The Preschool Program (pictured above) is available as a download and costs $59.95.
I am a strong supporter of manipulatives in Early Education Math, Touch Math has several very UNIQUE manipulatives. In addition to their unique manipulatives, instructions for adding your own manipulatives are included with the guide; making this a very versatile program. This is the ULTIMATE math curriculum for TACTILE learners!
I was able to adapt it easily with the unit studies we already had planned, incorporating the topic into the daily math lessons!
We received the following OPTIONAL, but RECOMMENDED manipulatives for our review: (descriptions from the website)
6” 3-D Numerals are made of brightly-colored, durable plastic — a perfect multisensory manipulative for young children or children with learning differences. Students can touch and count the raised TouchPoints as they learn the correct Touching/Counting Patterns and begin to understand numeral/quantity association. Activity Booklet with reproducible masters and lots of ideas included. Cost $79.00
TouchShapes" src="http://www.touchmath.com/storeworks/images/TouchShapes_300x256.jpg">
The TouchShapes can be used independently or in concert with TouchMath Pre-K and Kindergarten programs to introduce students to a number of geometric principles, including: shape identification, smaller/ larger, classifying, patterning, and higher level shape construction.
This 108-piece set features six different multi-size/multi-color shapes (circle, square, rectangle, triangle, rhombus, and hexagon). Your students are sure to enjoy experimenting with different shape combinations and placing the colorful translucent 2-D shapes on their worksheets as they learn important geometric concepts. Cost $30.00
Math Fans" src="http://www.touchmath.com/storeworks/images/mathfans_large.jpg">
Math has never been so tangible
The Math Fans were developed to help regular and special education elementary students and older special education students improve their basic math skills. With the Math Fans, basic math concepts are presented using manipulatives with highly visual graphics, words, and numbers. Included with this groundbreaking product are lesson plans covering nine units, each sequenced for pre-k–K; 1st and 2nd grade; and 3rd grade and up. The tangible and graphically-appealing Math Fans help reinforce topics such as: one-to-one correspondence, counting and number order, greater than/less than, money, shapes, fractions, place value, addition, and subtraction.
The Math Fan set is a multi-faceted teaching tool that contains the following components:
Two sets of 1–10 Fans
Ten 10 Blocks
One 100 Block
A comprehensive CD containing an 80-page PDF with Teaching Strategies, Lesson Plans, and Student Worksheets
Cost $239.00
TouchPoint Posters" src="http://www.touchmath.com/storeworks/images/TouchPointMiniPoster.jpg">
Ten eye-catching 8 1/2” x 11” posters are designed for smaller classrooms or more restricted display areas. These award-winning mini-posters will help you present the numerals 0–9 with TouchPoints, reinforce quantity/numeral association and review the Touching/Counting Patterns. Includes suggestions for activities. Cost $43.00
Texture Cards" src="http://www.touchmath.com/storeworks/images/Texture2Learn.jpg">
This groundbreaking learning tool contains five sets of cards (45 cards), each with its own texture and theme — Shapes, Fruit, Forest Animals, Sea Life and TouchPoints. Each set has cards for the numerals 1–9 and is designed to help you teach number recognition, numeral/quantity association, counting and vocabulary. The back of the cards show the numeral with TouchPoints and Touching/Counting Patterns. Perfect for tactile/kinesthetic learning! Cost $99.00
Number Concept Posters" src="http://www.touchmath.com/storeworks/images/NumberConceptsposter.jpg">
Ten high-intensity 11” x 17” posters help students connect a numeral with the quantity it represents. Each poster illustrates one numeral from 0–9 with the correct Touching/Counting Pattern in three formats — with balloon TouchPoints, with standard TouchPoints and without any visual cues on the numeral. Cuddly CritterCrew characters are pictured holding the corresponding number of balloons. This interactive set contains instructional strategies for classroom activities and reproducible desktop masters. Cost $53.00
I already said it, but I really LOVE this program! I’m sure many of you are looking at the prices and are taken back a bit. This is definitely more than I would spend on a single subject curriculum, and I’m sure I’m not the only one that feels this way. Keep in mind the manipulatives are NOT REQUIRED for this program; however, I do feel that they make up a big part of what makes this program so great. With that said, of the recommended manipulatives, I would say the 3D numerals and the Touch Shapes are MUST HAVES; the Math Fans and Texture Cards as NICE TO HAVES; and the Posters are extras. These recommendations are based SOLELY on the PREK program. The Math Fans appear to be even more useful when mastering concepts in higher grades.
As previously mentioned the text also has recommendations for hands on lessons using your own manipulatives of choice – toys, rocks, cotton balls, etc… as pictured below.
(L)Counting frogs with number cards (R)Identifying heavy and light using a rock and a cotton ball.
Each lesson has introductory hands on lessons, the worksheets are designed to show mastery of the concept, and are last in the lesson progression.
Completing a worksheet demonstrating equal, more and less
Using Touch Fans for counting one-to-one correspondence, to show how many circles are on his worksheet
Using the Touch Shapes to show one-to-one correspondence (the Touch Shapes would also be great to use on a light table!)
Touch Point Posters, laminated and on display
Identifying Shapes and Numerals with Texture Cards
Identifying sizes – Tall and Short
Using 3D Numerals to identify the number of animals on his worksheet
Using Touch Shapes to identify Large and Small
We are definitely continuing with this program, and will be considering it for future grades as well for my middle son! I highly recommend it for tactile learners, particularly early elementary grades, or those with learning disabilities. You can’t really put a price tag on successful programs!
My 4yo was having trouble with numeral recognition, this program helped him! He has done very well with the lessons, he enjoys them, and wants to do them!