TouchMath - A Multisensory Approach to Math

For the last several weeks Little Bits has been "doing school," just like his brother and sisters.  He was so excited to start his new math program, TouchMath Kindergarten. 

TouchMath is a multisenory math program developed by an elementary school teacher that saw a need to help children connect abstract and concrete ideas.  She met this need by creating numbers that have counting points or "TouchPoints" on them, one for each count to get to the number the student is working with.  Counting the "TouchPoints" in the TouchMath program is really the key to the program, and what sets this program apart from the rest. 

The TouchMath program consists of four units, each one includes 90 student activity sheets, that are to be spread out through the school year.  As you can see, TouchMath covers a wide range of topics:

   

    

While the activity sheets are heart of the curriculum, there are many other components that can be added to enhance your child's learning experience.  We were given the four units of activity sheets, TouchShapes, Kindergarten Software and the 3-D Numerals.

  

This is the first official math curriculum that Little Bits has used so far.  While he is not quite in kindergarten yet, I felt this level was a better fit for him than the preschool level.  He seems to be doing quite well with it.  He is not writing on his own yet, but he is still learning the concepts from using the 3-D numerals, TouchShapes and the computer program.  He really LOVES the Kindergarten Software program!

 

 

At first, using the 3-D Numerals and counting the TouchMath way was a little foreign to my little guy.  I think he had a hard time understanding why he had to count some of the dots on the 3-D numerals twice.  After a little practice he got it, and now enjoys using them.

We like TouchMath and plan to continue using it for his kindergarten year.  I think it is a very thorough program. TouchMath is laid out very well for the homeschool mom, I felt that it was simple for me to understand and teach.  I liked that it was very hands on for my busy little boy.  One major plus, Little Bits really enjoys it!

TouchMath has programs for grades Pre-K through 2nd grade:

• PRE-K
• KINDERGARTEN
• FIRST GRADE
• SECOND GRADE

 

Each of the TouchMath units are available for $59.95.  You can also purchase all 4 units for a discounted price of $199.95

 



There are additional components to the TouchMath program available:

• TouchShapes
• TouchMath Tutor Kindergarten Software
• Math Fans
• 3-D Numerals
• TouchPoint Posters
• Texture Cards
• Number Concept Posters

We found the Tutor Software, TouchShapes and 3-D Numerals to be extremely helpful pieces of the program!

 

Please take a peek at what other TOS Crew members have to say about TouchMath!

  

 

A little bitty update...

 

Well it has been a little while since I have posted. Life has been a bit busy. I was dealing with vertigo for a little over a week, my girls were sick and Alpha Boy was in a wedding (he was the cutest little ring bearer I have ever seen BTW).  I am thankful that we are better and that we are on break this week!

We finished our Daniel Boone unit from Trail Guide to Learning last week.  So, following the 6 weeks on and 1 week off schedule that we are trying this year, we are mostly taking it easy and just doing things around the house.  We had a field trip scheduled for today, but rescheduled because of all the snow we were supposed to get.  The kids have been busy playing with friends from the neighborhood, catching up on chores and playing games like Clue and Pick & Draw. 

This is my creation from one of our games of Pick & Draw.  It's the new me : )

 

This is the one Computer Girl made.  Hehe!  As you can see we had fun! 

I have come to really love this 6 on and 1 off schedule.  It gives my a few days to catch up on stuff that doesn't always get done when we are schooling, lesson plan and relax a bit.  Oh, and catch up on NCIS!

Name Above all Names

by Pat Sczebel, Joel Sczebel

From the brightness of His glory
Jesus, the Son of God, descends
Takes on the nature of a servant
Jesus, obedient to death
The Father willed to crush Him
As a sacrifice for sin
He satisfied God’s justice
And in victory rose again

CHORUS
You are highly exalted
Name above all names
Worthy of all praise
You are reigning in glory
Jesus, You’re the King
Over everything
Exalted to the highest place
Given the Name above all other names

The tomb is empty Christ has risen
Jesus, the Lamb once crucified
The angels never cease to worship
Jesus, in heaven glorified
To Him belongs the power
The wisdom, might, and strength
All glory and dominion
To the Lord of every age

Our knees will bow
Our tongues proclaim
That You are Lord of all

Tasty Tuesday: Creamy Chicken & Wild Rice Soup

 

 

Usually the chicken soups I make are chicken noodle or chicken tortilla, but this time I wanted to do something different.  As I was meal planning last week {whoops I think I forgot to post that one} I found a new recipe to try, Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup.  Doesn't that just sound delicious!

 

Let me start off by saying that if you are on a diet spare your self, run fast and run from away from this one! Move on from this post immediately, unless you are willing to modify the recipe {smile}. 

 

This is one of the most delicious soups I have ever had!  It is very rich and creamy, not really good for the waist line, but great for a once in a while meal.  It is a real crowd pleaser! 

 

This time I followed the directions pretty closely, but I think next time I am just going to use plain old milk and not heavy cream. 

 

Creamy Chicken & Wild Rice Soup

Serves 8

 

4 cups chicken broth 2 cups water 2 cooked, boneless chicken breast halves, shredded 1 package quick cooking long grain and wild rice with seasoning packet 1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup butter 4 carrots, chopped 4 stalks of celery, chopped 1 onion, chopped 2 cups heavy cream (or milk)

    

Directions

1.	In a large pot over medium heat, combine broth, water and chicken. Bring just to boiling, then stir in rice, reserving seasoning packet. Cover and remove from heat.
2.	In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper and flour. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter and saute carrots, celery and onion.  Next, stir in contents of seasoning packet until mixture is bubbly. Reduce heat to low, then stir in flour mixture by tablespoons, to form a roux. Whisk in cream or milk, a little at a time, until fully incorporated and smooth. Cook until thickened, 5 minutes.
3.	Stir cream mixture into broth and rice. Cook over medium heat until heated through, 10 to 15 minutes.  ENJOY!

Flowering Baby Review

 

 

 

My youngest child is 4 years old.  Many times I have wonderful intentions of doing this and doing that with him. Sadly, many times these ideas continue tobe just ideas.  We read together and do a few letter crafts here and there, but for the most part that is about it. 

When we got the opportunity to review a fun and interactive preschool curriculum called Flowering Baby I was pretty excited.  After I looking over the sample activities, I knew that they would be a good fit for Little Bits, and simple enough for me to implement.  You may also have read that I am contemplating/ taking classes to open a home daycare.  I also thought that Flowering Baby would be a great fit for a home daycare curriculum. 

  

 

 

Flowering Baby is a simple, yet effective, curriculum that helps children to develop cognitive, language, gross and fine motor skills, emotional, social skills and independence. 

We were given Volume 4: Three to Four Years & Volume 5: Four to Five Years in CD form to review.  While we used Volume 5: Four to Five, I did look over Volume 4: Three to Four Years.  I felt that they were similar in nature, just a younger level.

The Flowering Baby curriculum is laid out by calendar month, and includes 10 -15 days of activities, each taking about 30-45 minutes per day.  During the month of January you learn about the color blue, ears, healthy foods, and cold days, while reading books like Blueberries for Sal, Owl Moon and The Berenstain Bears: Too Much Junk Food. 

The suggested activities focused on the areas of language, math, music, science and foreign language.  More specifically you do things like:

• practice writing and counting numbers
• focus on a new letter each day by practicing to write that letter and looking for things that start with that letter
• when learning about shapes you do activites like reading a book about shapes and then making some of your own from paper
• reading and then having children retell (narrate) back to you what they just heard
• learn about holidays and make various crafts to go along with that particular holiday
• learn about body parts, colors, weather, firestations, magnets, etc..
• learn Spanish words for colors, shapes, numbers, etc..

The second part of the curriculum is the theme or mini-unit study part.  Each month gives 2-3 suggested themes.  For instance, the themes that they suggest for January are Aquarium, Arctic Life & Dinosaurs.  The activities in this section include books, crafts, field trips and fun ideas to cement what you are currently learning from the reading. 

What I liked about Flowering Baby:

Just as I suspected!  It is fun, creative and SIMPLE, SIMPLE, SIMPLE!  This curriculum allows me to focus my time on my son and teaching him, not on planning.  The curriculum guide is easy to understand and very detailed, giving you a list of supplies needed, suggested books to read and specific activities to do with your child.

I liked the different themes, I think they offer the perfect amount of activities.  They study a topic long enough to learn about it, but then they get to move on to something new and exciting the following week.  I feel that the activities included are enjoyable, engaging and challenging for my little guy.

If you know me, then you know I have a love for books.  I think Flowering Baby did a superb job with their literature selections!  And I LOVE that she has these little guys narrating back!  Never had I thought to do that with my little one.

I also did not feel bogged down by this curriculum, you type A mommys now what I mean!  Things were simple enough to accomplish in a short period of time, it was just enough. It was freeing to me that there where not scheduled activites to do every s.i.n.g.l.e day, especially at this age.

What I would change:

As far as the curriculum itself, I think they did a fine job and I really would not change anything. They have letters and number concepts down. And they include LOTS of great books and activities!

Purchasing Info:

Flowering Baby is currently available in CD and PDF form, which is great for keeping costs down. I actually received the CD for this review.  They are currently working on a printed option.

The CD and PDF files are available for each age level.  Birth to One, One to Two, and Two to Three are $30 and Three to Four and Four to Five cost $38 each.  You may also purchase all five year plans for $132.  This is a very reasonable price for all that is included.  The Flowering Baby curriculum is available for ages:

 

Would I recommend this?

I would indeed! If you are interested, but kind of on the fence, try out a months worth Flowering Baby for FREEEE!  You can do this by clicking on one of the links above and scrolling to the bottom.

Birth to One
One to Two
Two to Three
Three to Four
Four to Five

 

 When you order PLEASE take advantage of a 10% discount by using the CODE: Blog10
(good only at www.floweringbaby.com)

 

Please check out what other TOS Crew members have to say about Flowering Baby!

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.