Schoolhouse Crew review - TouchMath

We received the First Grade package for TouchMath.

 

This review included:

- the 4-part pdf download  which sells for  $199.95,
-Touch Numerals which are $99 for the set,
-12 boxes of FlipCards at $19 each (a total of $228),
-software which sells for $99, and
-Student Number Cards which are $28.

The manipulatives are optional but I would recommend them as they incorporate visual and tactile aspects to the program that in my opinion really enhance it. The game software is just plain fun!

The parcel with the manipulatives arrived at lunchtime. I accepted it from the delivery guy, but left it in the sun porch while I went to finish making the meal. When I turned around, my 5 year old son had pulled this large box all the way into the dining room and had it open. He was bent over it, pulling out box after box as he made each discovery.  I had to promise him we could start it right after we ate just to get him to the table for lunch! If you read my blog regularly, you know that this child lives to eat, so this is really saying something.

At first glance, it doesn't look all that different from some other math programs we've tried over the years. It has appealing and uncluttered worksheets,

 and a teacher's guide that gives you the idea to be learned, specific dialogue, and instructions for each page.

Sounds familiar, right? Wrong. This program is absolutely incredible. It is based around teaching the child to count specific points for each number as they look at them or write them (so the number three, for example, has three touch points).

Why is this important? Because when you get to the point where they begin calculations, such as adding or subtracting, your child simply counts the number of touch points on the numbers that are there!

The worksheets that we received review the touch points and the ideas without using the same thing over and over again. I had, if you can believe it, zero complaints about doing the worksheets and you could see the concepts solidify with each page.

An example: 3 + 5. You child counts the 1, 2, 3 points on the number 3, then continues with the 5 points on the number 5 to reach the answer 8. Easy as pie and so straightforward! This early learning of the points carries through for all grade levels and makes even complicated calculations much simpler. It takes the frustrations out of the math. See the picture below to make my explanation clearer:

Another worksheet below, so you can see how well they reinforce it (most of these pics were taken before my sidekick filled them out so they are easier to see):

With the addition of big, easy to handle flashcards, and the great big foam numerals where my sidekick placed his TouchPoints dots to help remember them for each number, this program is far and above any other grade 1 programs we have tried over the years.

 I am planning on switching from our current planned program to Touch Math all the way to the upper levels of Touch Math (with multiplication, division, and fractions), because I am seeing how simple it's become for D to calculate math problems in his head. I might even buy the upper levels for this summer and go over them with my 12 year old as review to help her speed and accuracy. They even offer a free teaching DVD, which I have requested to make sure that all three adults who rotate teaching the math with D are getting the most out of it.

I have really liked other math programs we have tested, but with this one I saw glimpses of how we could get through math for years without the arguing, pouting, and "I can't" that we've all experienced with kids as they hit new concepts. I am convinced it could work for every kind of learner because of the simplicity of concept and the incredible manipulatives.

I wish there was a higher ranking than 10 out of 10. It's really and truly that good.