Teaching Touch Math Basics

Touch Math is Easyby Michelle R. Smith

Touch Math basic principles incorporate sensory and visual learning.

Touch Math is a program that is being used within the school system to assist students, both regular education and special education students. 

Touch Math provides manipulatives to assist with teaching the basics, worksheets to practice the concept and there is even a computer program for "fun" learning of the concept.

Basic Concept

• The numbers one through 9 are used. Each number has a dot that corresponds with that number. For example:

• • The number one has one dot on it.• The number two has two dots on it.• The number three has three dots on it. • And so on up to and including the number 9.

An Example of the Numbers

These images were copied from http://www.touchmath.com/images/grid.jpg

Teaching Concept

The individual is taught the concept, through visualization and touch, that by counting the number of dots on the number that they can identify what that number is. For example:

Identify the number for the student. Demonstrate that

there is one dot on the number one. Continue with this demonstration until you get to the number five.

Concept

• The individual is taught the concept, through visualization and touch, that by counting the number of dots on the number that they can identify what that number is. For example:

• • Identify the number for the student. • Demonstrate that there is one dot on• the number one. Continue with this• demonstration until you get to the • number five.•

Concept Continued• When you get to the number • six you will have to explain that• there is not enough room on the• number to place six dots. At this• time you will need to explain the • concept of having a "double dot": • a larger dot with a smaller dot • in the center of it. Demonstrate • that you count this "dobule dot"• as two - Touch the "double dot" • twice as you count it: one, two. There will be three sets of• double dots on six. Count each dot twice.

http://screencast.com/t/YTdlNWQxM

Overview

The concept of Touch Math is AWESOME. This program benefits both the visual and tactile learners. The continual repetition of counting builds an association between numbers and manipulatives and will enable any child to learn to count