I have been looking for a math curriculum for my 6-year-old to help me avoid making the same mistakes I made with my oldest. When I started homeschooling my oldest child I lost a lot of ground as I searched for a program that fit his learning style. My oldest is now in 4th grade and I still feel like I am playing “catch up”.
In Touch Math First Grade I have found a program that will work for ALL of my kids!
Touch Math is a math program designed to fit the learning style and level of ANY child. It’s multisensory approach that engages all five senses and immerses the child in the world of math! The curriculum is available for children grades K-2 and builds the foundation that is necessary to build confidence and mastery. Most importantly, because the program is for children of all learning styles, it makes learning math an enjoyable experience!
Touch Math’s award-winning programs is based on the “TouchPoints”. Each numeral (1-9) has “TouchPoints” corresponding to its value. Learning the “TouchPoints” has helped my child connect the concrete (number 9) to the abstract (the quantity 9 represents). The TouchPoints are used later in the program to teach addition/subtraction and multiplication/division.
What We Received
We were chosen to use and review Touch Math First Grade!
We first received the PDF downloads of all 4 units:
- Unit A – Adding and Subtracting Within 5
- Unit B – Adding and Subtracting Within 20
- Unit C – Adding and Subtracting Within 100
- Unit D – Measuring, Time, Data and Geometry
In the past few weeks we completed Module 1A and started Module 2A in Unit A. In Module 1A we learned/reviewed “Counting to 120”. Now in Module 2A my son in “Mastering TouchPoints”. As he moves further into Unit A he will learn how to add and subtract numbers within 9. Unit A is over 212 pages of educational material.
Each unit includes a teacher’s guide with thorough explanation of the concepts included in the unit and how to use it. They also include student worksheets. Each student worksheet has a corresponding page with Instructional Strategies for the parent/teacher to use during lessons (click below to see worksheets). Ea
The units can be purchased separately for $59.95 or all at the same time for $199.95.
The year’s lessons can be enhanced with any of the recommended material, all of which are optional. Of these, we received:
FlipCards (3 sets for each 1st grade unit, each one is $19.00)
TouchMath Tutor First Grade Software ($99.00)
Math Fans ($239.00)
3-D Numerals ($79.00)
TouchPoints Posters ($43.00)
TouchNumerals ($99.00)
Desktop TouchLines ($19.00)
Student Number Cards ($24.00)
How We Used It
The recommended daily lessons are 2 to 2.5 times the age of the child. My son and I had daily lessons (for at least 4 times a week) for 12-15 minutes log. I printed the student worksheets and the teacher’s guide and had both available during the lesson. These being the core of the program took up most of the time alloted for the lesson.
My son complete 2-3 pages during this time. I used the Teacher’s Guide provided in the PDF files to guide our lesson. There were times when my son struggled to understand a concept and as suggested in the program, we reviewed before moving forward. At these times I used the manipulatives to assist in my explanations. My son found this part of module (ordering) most challenging. I liked it because it stretched him and his memorization of numbers and counting.
As we moved further in the first module each number was covered from different angles. It provided activities for:
- my son to learn the “TouchPoints” for number 5
- how to write/spell it
- see and count 5 items and even compare it to another number (i.e. 4 or 6)
I LOVED these! It gave him a wholistic understanding of each number and the activities made the lesson diverse and not monotonous! I found myself using the Math Fans to complement the lesson. IT WORKED GREAT!
I would use the Flip Cards to help him in ordering numbers. Though he can count to more than 100, when he had to complete exercises in the worksheet that involved writing what number comes before/after a given number, he struggled a bit. We would pause the class and do one of the activities with the Flip Cards. I would give him cards with the number 30-40 and ask him to put them in order on the floor. We repeated similar activities, and then go back to completing the assignment on the worksheets. I found the Flip Cards to complement the lessons very well.
One thing that I found most helpful is that in the Teacher’s Guide it let you know what manipulatives go with the module. I preferred to use the manipulatives in the afternoon, during our time of informal activities. This made it easier to use with my 3-year-old, and/or have my older children participate and help teach. The activities were enjoyed not just by my 6-year-old, but also my 3 and 8-year-old. This made it much easier to add to our already set homeschool program, and made it much more user-friendly for our family. I love it when learning is more of a family venture than an individual task. TouchMath made this a reality for us!
One of my favorite of the manipulatives we received were the Math Fans. There were 10 fans, each representing a single digit. With the Math Fans you also receive lesson plans and worksheets. Each fan includes fractions and polygons. (the one for number 5 has 5/5 = 1 and a pentagon divided up into 5 parts). This manipulative that will go with my child for all the years he will be using Touch Math. I found this manipulative to be the most engaging. I also found the lesson plans and suggested activities very helpful and was able to use them with a clear plan. We used these with its lesson plans and practiced mostly “one-to-one correspondence” and “number order”. This was very useful to use with my 6-year-old, who counted past 100 before we started this program. With the Math Fan he was better able to understand the meaning of each number and its relation to other numbers. This assures me that he not only “memorizes” how to count but understands number, before we move forward to operations (addition/subtraction).
We also spent a lot of time using the 3-D numerals. Just like the other manipulatives, these can with suggested games and activities. These were easy to use with all my kids and was a nice break from seat work, yet just as educational, even for my preschooler! The boys enjoyed most playing “Mother May I” with the 3-D numerals. They would line up on one side of the room and one of them (across them) would tell the to do something a certain amount of times (i.e. jump 5 times, march 3 times). When he would do this he would hold up the specified 3-D number and his brothers would ask: “Mother May I” before doing the act. I LOVED this game! My boys would ask to play it over and over. Though we have played this before, using the 3-D Numeral incorporated the visual. It was especially helful for my 3 and 6-year-old to be able to touch the number and its “TouchPoints”.
These are just a few examples why TouchMath was perfect, not just for my 1st grader, but also for his younger siblings (i.e. preschoolers). These activities we did also shows how Touch Math builds a solid foundation in a child’s understanding of math concepts.
My Thoughts
Touch Math is used in both classrooms and homeschools. The prices can seem high for some families. Based on my experience, because it targets children of all learning-levels (including and especially students with special-needs) and learning-style it is a program that can be easily passed down and reused with all the children in the family. This is also true of the worksheets (which are PDF files that can be printed multiple times) and all the additions that are purchased. After using and experiencing this, I now see Touch Math as a program that ADDS VALUE TO ANY FAMILY’S MATH PROGRAM!
This is a program I would highly recommend for younger children. I am always hesitant to start my children on a formal math program too soon. This is a program I would not think twice to use with my preschooler. Younger children are tactile-learners, learning more by doing and playing. Touch Math is a great tool that can be used to maximize a preschoolers learning experience and potential at this age.
TouchMath is a proven program that can be used to build confidence and a strong foundation that will have lasting affects in my children’s academic experience. Though I wish I would have known about it when I started educating my children, I am blessed to use it with my first grader and his 2 younger siblings! TouchMath is a curriculum I will be recommending to all my friends!
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Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this product through the Schoolhouse Review Crew in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.
Hi Janelle. We are thrilled that you and your family enjoyed the program, and are always happy to hear and see ways in which TouchMath positively impacts students! Thank you for the informative write-up and wonderful photos of the program in use in your home. Please let us know if we can be of assistance in the future.
All the best,
The TouchMath Team
Thank you so much for such a great program! TouchMath is now part of our homeschool experience. As I continue to use it with my son and later with his 2 younger siblings…I will continue to share posts, pics and our experience with my friends and readers! Thank you for your offer of support!