What Reviewers Say

Reviewers consistently characterize TouchMath as a "breakthrough" program for students who struggle with abstract mathematical concepts. According to *Circling Through This Life* and *Pea of Sweetness*, the program’s multisensory "TouchPoint" system effectively bridges the gap between concrete counting and abstract numerals. It is frequently recommended for kinesthetic and right-brain learners; *Homestead Acres* notes it makes complex tasks like multi-digit operations much easier for visual learners. However, a significant trade-off identified in the *Well-Trained Mind Forums* is that the system can become a "crutch." While it successfully transitions students away from using their fingers, parents must be intentional about helping students move toward mental math to ensure they don't become "trapped" by the tactile method forever. Overall, it is praised as a powerful intervention tool that makes math "click" when other programs fail.

How It Works

Instruction begins with the parent teaching the child the specific locations of "TouchPoints" on numerals 1 through 9. During a typical session, the child uses their finger or a pencil to touch these points in a specific sequence while counting aloud, physically connecting the numeral's shape to its value. As the week progresses, the child moves from using large 3D manipulatives to completing blackline master worksheets that feature the points. The goal is to eventually move from "touching" the points on the paper to "touching" them in their mind's eye. Each lesson is short (roughly 20–30 minutes) and focuses on mastery of a single concept, such as addition with regrouping, before moving forward.

Switching to This?

TouchMath offers digital assessment tools through their "TouchMath Pro" platform to identify specific skill gaps. Because the program is modular and focuses on foundational "number sense," families can easily start mid-year if a child is struggling with a specific concept like subtraction or place value. A common community rule of thumb is to start at the beginning of a grade level unit even if the child seems "ahead," as the TouchPoint system must be mastered before it can be applied to complex problems.

Curriculum Details

Price

$59 - $199

Multisensory 'touchpoint' math for foundational/remedial and special-needs learners. Homeschool units ~$59.95; annual grade level ~$199.95; TouchMath Tutor software ~$99.

Grades

PRE-K - 12

Available As

Print Digital

Coverage

Single subject

Subjects

Math

---

Pacing

Some flexibility

Parent Time

30-60 min/day

Student Independence

Semi-independent

---

Academic Level

Grade level

Worldview

Neutral

Videos

Reviews We Consulted

Updated: July 2026 by Claude (v2 research)

How This Compares

Math-U-See: Both programs are heavily multisensory, but Math-U-See uses color-coded blocks for place value, while TouchMath focuses on the numerals themselves as the manipulative. * RightStart Mathematics: While both are tactile, RightStart Mathematics emphasizes the abacus and mental visualization of groups of five, whereas TouchMath relies on counting specific points on a number. * Saxon Math: Saxon Math follows a traditional, fast-paced spiral approach that often lacks the deep, concrete-to-abstract bridge that TouchMath provides for struggling learners. * Singapore Math: Singapore Math focuses heavily on mental math strategies and the "bar model," which can be too abstract for students who need the physical "TouchPoints" provided by TouchMath.

Getting Started