Employing Computational Thinking when teaching multiplication and division of fractions. There are a few statements from primary school mathematics that seem to be universally imprinted in the minds of adults. Two of these relate to multiplying and dividing fractions. For multiplication, adults usually recall the rule, “Multiply the top numbers and multiply the bottom numbers.” […]
READ MOREFocus on Fractions: The Necessary Prerequisite for Addition and Subtraction of Fractions
It’s not always “apples to apples” for the addition and subtraction of fractions. There are only a few things this writer remembers from his early primary school days. Mrs. Weeks, my Year 1 teacher, often repeated the statement, “You can only add apples to apples.” At the time, it really wasn’t clear what the “apples […]
READ MOREWebinar Recording / Fractions in the Real World: Time and Money
Check out our recorded webinar from January 29, 2019 on Fractions in the Real World: Time and Money. Explore how the language of fractions are part of our everyday lives and the learning opportunities they provide. Webinar recording for Fractions in the Real World: Time and Money.
READ MOREFocus on Fractions: Linking Fractions and Decimals (Using the Number Line)
Decimal fractions used in history and the use of the number line in teaching fractions. In this post, I’ll explain how fractions came into being and how today’s number line is an invaluable tool for making the link between fractions and decimals. My first post in this series described the elusiveness of fractions to previous […]
READ MOREFocus on Fractions: Visual Images That Help Teach Fractions
Children benefit greatly from the use of concrete materials and visual images when learning fractions. Over the past 50-plus years, various learning theorists have advocated the use of concrete materials and visual images to help children develop full understanding of mathematical ideas, but three stand out in particular. The most noted was Jean Piaget, who […]
READ MOREFocus on Fractions: Are Fractions Key to a Child’s Future Success in Mathematics?
Research suggests fractions are essential for a student’s future success in mathematics. Since 2012, there have been a range of published research studies (Bailey et al., 2012; Booth & Newton, 2012; Torbeyns etal., 2014; Siegler etal., 2012)1, suggesting that fractions are essential for a student’s future success in mathematics. While it is overly simplistic […]
READ MOREFocus on Fractions: How Do Children See and Use Fractions from the Ancient World?
Some initial timely thoughts to use fractions. When fractions are mentioned in relation to the mathematics curriculum, most adults think that these mysterious numbers are the responsibility of teachers in upper primary years (about Year 4 onward). But, if we step back and think about the idea to use fractions rather than the symbolic manipulation, […]
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