Trina and family
Hello and welcome to the Haptic Math family! I am the founder and lead teacher of Haptic Math and I look forward to working with each one of your children. Haptic Math is a concept that began more than 10 years ago when I started my teaching career. Within the first few months of teaching middle school math, I realized that many of my students were missing the mathematics foundations necessary to be successful in middle and high school math courses. While researching elementary school math instruction, I met many wonderful teachers. I found that many of these teachers were frustrated with the prescribed time and resources that were being allocated toward math instruction. Often, teachers were allowed only 20-30 minutes per day for mathematics instruction directed at 18-20 students. Money and space for math manipulatives was scare. Workbooks and computer programs seemed to be the standard.
As I worked toward two Masters Degrees in Education (School Counseling and Educational Leadership), I studied the various developmental learning stages in children, the theory of multiple intelligences, and brain-based learning. I found that the abstract concepts presented in workbooks will not reach many of our children—especially children aged 4-9. Children at this young age need concrete experiences with mathematics before attempting to work with abstract symbols and concepts. Our entire brain structure is intimately connected to and grown by the movement mechanisms within our body. Children need to move to learn! In addition, I found that difficulty mastering abstract concepts without concrete experiences is compounded in children with sensory sensitivities, gifted children, kinesthetic learners, children with attention challenges, and creative “right-brained” children.
Haptic Math was designed to provide the concrete experiences that students need in order to be successful in the primarily abstract-based math classes in school. Often, families find Haptic Math while in search for a math “tutor”. While the goals of Haptic Math align with the goals of math tutoring, the approach is very different. You will not find worksheets, workbooks, tests, computer programs, or other abstract instructional methods at Haptic Math. We feel strongly that students receive enough of this type of instruction in a traditional school environment.
Additional abstract instruction (tutoring) is not likely to help the student and might cause added frustration. Instead of tutoring the student, we engage the student in mathematics experiences that involve the whole body. We supplement (rather than repeat) the abstract instruction students receive at school. The result is mathematics mastery through movement!
As you can see, I am passionate about helping students gain the mathematics foundations they need to be successful in math classes and in life. If your child is struggling with math, I invite you to give Haptic Math a try. A strong foundation in mathematics is a gift to your child that will truly last a lifetime.
~Trina
Founder and Lead Teacher
Haptic Math
Related Credentials
B.S. Industrial Engineering
M.Ed. Educational Leadership
M.Ed. School Counseling
Doctoral level elective coursework in Mathematics Education
Florida Professional Educator Certifications
Eight years Mathematics teaching experience
Three years School Counseling
As I worked toward two Masters Degrees in Education (School Counseling and Educational Leadership), I studied the various developmental learning stages in children, the theory of multiple intelligences, and brain-based learning. I found that the abstract concepts presented in workbooks will not reach many of our children—especially children aged 4-9. Children at this young age need concrete experiences with mathematics before attempting to work with abstract symbols and concepts. Our entire brain structure is intimately connected to and grown by the movement mechanisms within our body. Children need to move to learn! In addition, I found that difficulty mastering abstract concepts without concrete experiences is compounded in children with sensory sensitivities, gifted children, kinesthetic learners, children with attention challenges, and creative “right-brained” children.
Haptic Math was designed to provide the concrete experiences that students need in order to be successful in the primarily abstract-based math classes in school. Often, families find Haptic Math while in search for a math “tutor”. While the goals of Haptic Math align with the goals of math tutoring, the approach is very different. You will not find worksheets, workbooks, tests, computer programs, or other abstract instructional methods at Haptic Math. We feel strongly that students receive enough of this type of instruction in a traditional school environment.
Additional abstract instruction (tutoring) is not likely to help the student and might cause added frustration. Instead of tutoring the student, we engage the student in mathematics experiences that involve the whole body. We supplement (rather than repeat) the abstract instruction students receive at school. The result is mathematics mastery through movement!
As you can see, I am passionate about helping students gain the mathematics foundations they need to be successful in math classes and in life. If your child is struggling with math, I invite you to give Haptic Math a try. A strong foundation in mathematics is a gift to your child that will truly last a lifetime.
~Trina
Founder and Lead Teacher
Haptic Math
Related Credentials
B.S. Industrial Engineering
M.Ed. Educational Leadership
M.Ed. School Counseling
Doctoral level elective coursework in Mathematics Education
Florida Professional Educator Certifications
- Elementary Education (grades K-6)
- Mathematics (grades 5-9)
- Mathematics (grades 6-12)
- Educational Leadership (PK-12)
- Guidance and Counseling (PK-12)
- Middle Grades Integrated Curriculum (grades 5-9)
Eight years Mathematics teaching experience
- Gifted, ESE, ESOL, 504, on-level, below-level, high-achieving
- International Baccalaureate Mathematics teacher
- Mathematics Department Head
- Common Core training
Three years School Counseling