Cement Math Learning Gains This Summer (Free Printable)
Students learn math by using their senses. With TouchPoints, students see, touch, say, and hear math!
TouchMath is build on the C-R-A continuum. We start with the concrete use of our patented manipulatives, move into representational content, and help students associate abstract mathematical concepts.
TouchMath uses the numeral as a manipulative, which makes learning math a real learning experience that helps all students learn numeracy ad mathematical concepts. The number of TouchPoints on numeral corresponds with the number itself. This helps the students move from the concrete to the representational and the abstract. Each numeral has the same number of TouchPoints to help students make physical connections with the representational figures
Starting with 1 and ending with 9, each numeral has the equivalent TouchPoints to the digit’s value. Numerals 1 through 5 have single TouchPoints. Numerals 6 through 9 have double TouchPoints (two concentric circles), which means you touch and count each point twice. Numerals 7 and 9 have both double and single TouchPoints. Zero has no TouchPoints, so you never touch or count zero.
Students can learn math when they see the numerals, touch the TouchPoints, say the numbers, and hear the problem. As students learn the TouchMath Counting Patterns and the TouchPoints, they should touch and say the numbers in sequence every time. Children can learn the TouchPoints anywhere between one lesson to one week. By mastering these foundational patterns, your students will have a strong foundation in numeracy!
Student Activity
Items Needed:
- Printer or nine sheets of paper
- Crayons, markers or color pencils (purple, dark red, green, yellow, blue, orange, pink, teal, light red)
- Individual TouchPoints pages
Parents/Caregivers: Print out these pages, or trace each numeral on individual pages (nine total) and draw the TouchPoints as indicated on each numeral.
Ask students to color in the numerals – but not the TouchPoints. Start by coloring zero blue.
- Purple
- Dark Red
- Green
- Yellow
- Blue
- Orange
- Pink
- Teal
- Light Red
Introduce the Touching/Counting Pattern for each numeral. As students touch and count each numeral, ask them to fill in the corresponding color for the TouchPoints on each numeral. Remember, zero has no TouchPoints!
The one is touched at the top while counting: “One.” Color the TouchPoint orange.
The two is touched at the beginning and the end of the numeral while counting: “One, two.” Color both TouchPoints green.
The three is touched at the beginning, middle and end of the numeral while counting: “One, two, three.” Color all three TouchPoints yellow.
The four is touched and counted from top to bottom on the downstrokes while counting: “One, two, three, four.” Color all four TouchPoints red.
The five is touched and counted starting at the top right, moving left, down, right and down around to the left, while counting: “One, two, three, four, five.” To help students remember the fourth TouchPoint, it may be referred to as the “belly button” of the numeral. Color all five TouchPoints pink.
The six begins the use of double TouchPoints (two concentric circles), which are touched and counted twice. The six is touched and counted from top to bottom: “One-two, three-four, five-six.” Color all three TouchPoints purple.
The seven is touched and counted from top to bottom, counting the double TouchPoints along the right side of the numeral first: “One-two, three-four, five-six,” followed by the single TouchPoint on the top left side of the numeral: “Seven.” The single TouchPoint can be thought of like the nose. Color the four TouchPoints teal.
The eight is touched counted from left to right: “One-two, three-four, five-six, seven-eight.” Color the four TouchPoints orange.
The nine is touched and counted from top to bottom, counting the double TouchPoints first: “One-two, three-four, five-six, seven-eight,” followed by the single TouchPoint on the left: “Nine.” Color the five TouchPoints yellow.
To see the TouchPoints in action and learn how to use TouchMath for specific concepts including counting, addition, subtraction, place value, multiplication, division, time, money, fractions, story problems, shapes, sizes, and pre-algebra, view our videos and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
