Review: TouchMath Grade 2

Earlier this spring we were sent materials to use and review TouchMath Grade 2.

What comes with the program/what did we receive?

The heart of TouchMath is the four units that comprise a grade level.  PreK, K, 1st, and 2nd grade levels are available.  The program works well with the 4-8 years crowd, but is also very successful with a wider age range in the special needs community.  You can purchase the units within a grade separately for $59.95 a piece, or as a bundle to save $40 for $199.95.  The units are downloadable.  They are big downloads!  Hundreds of pages!  To go with this core material you can purchase several different manipulatives.  We received flip cards which are a type of flash card.  They are $19 per set, and each unit in Grade 2 utilizes 3 different flip card sets.  We also received student number cards, for $24, which serve as a great visualize to help kids with the touch points.  A software package (which works with Mac & Windows!), for $99, which is a great supplement and provides some extra "fun" for the kids.    Lastly (but not least) the Touch Numerals set, which sells for $99.  It includes large foam numbers 0-9 (2 sets), operation signs, 205 Touch Points (round dots that go on the numbers) and 10 base ten trays (that the dots go in).  There are some other fun supplements we didn't try, but that look cool:

Skip Counting Posters and CDs ($79):

and I find this math fan intriguing:

It, unfortunately for me, is $239 so it is probably not a part of my future!  

Back to the program!  I was excited to try it out, as it seems to be particularly well suited for visual and kinesthetic learners.  I figured it might be a natural fit for Genevieve.  TouchMath is designed around numbers and touch points.  You say the number and tap the touch points, creating a concrete connection between numbers and what they represent.  You use this physical method to learn all four of your basic math operations and to provides a more intuitive grasp on WHAT the different operations mean, and how numbers *work*.

How do you use the program?  It's simple to explain, but a bit more complex to implement in the beginning!  This is one of those programs that takes a bit of time to wrap your ahead around, but isn't too hard once you put the time in to understand it.  The creator recommends spending two to two and half times your child's age, in minutes, on math daily.  So for Genevieve this meant 10-12 minutes.  Not too hard!  You start with an activity sheet and a guided lesson, then move on to a practice sheet (or 2) which you complete with the help of the manipulative.  If desired you add in practice with the flip cards and the tutor CD!

Thoughts:

• I like how detailed the lesson plans are.  I'm a fan of scripted material for the teachers, that allows me to pick up the lesson and "go" without a lot of prep time in advance.
• I love the philosophy behind the program.  Math should be simple to understand, and the creators of this program have found an elegant way to convey that simplicity to kids.  I wish they had material beyond the 2nd grade level, but once you have a solid grasp on all the basic operations I suppose you don't NEED further Touch Point help?
• I like that the program repeatedly emphasizes a focus on fact mastery.  The Touch Points are used to explain concepts like whole versus parts, and how those apply to addition and subtraction, and you use the Touch Points to internalize the facts.  But the focus is still on getting to a point where basic math facts are memorized (which is something I believe strongly in).
• The units include progress monitoring charts/core standard tracking.  These are useful to help keep track of where you are/compared to where you want to be, and if you live in an area where reporting is required might be helpful to you.
• We didn't use the tutoring CD software as much as I hoped to during this short review period.  It is well put together and looks very professional though and I am looking forward to playing with it more.  The kids are naturally drawn to anything they can do on a computer so it's never a hard sell to spend some time in that area!
• I liked the brief sessions approach.  It wasn't too much for Viva (or for me, for that matter).
• I like the worksheets.  They aren't too long, and they aren't too short.  Every so often there's an activity sheet that includes coloring too to "keep it fun".
• We enjoyed all the manipulatives.  The big colorful foam numbers and dots to practice your touch counting were popular not only with Genevieve but with her brothers too.  We pulled them out whenever we wanted to add a hands on focusing component to the lessons.  The touch number cards, which are the numbers with touch points on them in cards about the size of a baseball card, were an easy way to remember the touch patterns.  After memorizing those patterns we didn't use those cards as much!  Lastly, the flip cards.  The flip cards are not colorful and "flashy", but I liked the easy ability to pull out and drill topics already covered.
• This happens to be one of the more expensive math curriculums among those that I have tried.  The base units themselves are comparably priced to other offerings but the manipulative can start to add up.  If you're interested in the program I'd recommend first checking out their sample pages, and then deciding from there what to add on based on your budget! 

I like TouchMath.  I think it's a great approach to thinking about math and helping young kids to better understand how numbers work together.  It's definitely worth considering if you're not happy with your current program, or in the market for one to start out with.

Want to see what other members of the TOS Review Crew thought about TouchMath?  Other reviewers looked over the PreK, K, 1st, and 2nd grade offerings!

**** 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.