Fractions
Fractions are the first sustained encounter with numbers that do not behave like counting numbers. You will learn the Fraction Math Learning Profile and the developmental understandings beneath fraction concepts and operations. The shift is from making fractions memorable to making them learnable.
- Insight PDF, free The research overview. About 5 pages, with references. (opens in a new tab)
- Newsletter PDF, free Start here 2 pages for teachers and families: one classroom example, the central idea, and things to try. (opens in a new tab)
- Companion PDF, free For coaches and study groups: questions to ask, student work to analyze, and teacher moves to plan for. (opens in a new tab)
Questions for your classroom
- A student names a fraction correctly but struggles to represent its size. Which underlying understanding should we examine?
- When your students compare two fractions, what do they look at first?
- Which fraction errors do you see every year, and what do they have in common?
More in Fractions & Decimals
Ready to teach this?
Math Success has the classroom materials behind this Insight.
Core materials
- Grade 3 · Unit 3 · Fraction Understanding: Part 1
- Grade 4 · Unit 3 · Equivalence and Unit Fractions
- Grade 5 · Unit 1 · Number: Fraction Sense
- Grade 6 · Unit 2 · Fraction Division
Intervention materials
- Fractions & Decimals, grades 3-5
PD video
- Fraction Definitions
- Fraction Warm Up: Counting 0 to 4 by 2/3's
- Fraction Multiplication: Fractions as Scalar Operators
The Insights explain the mathematics. Math Success gives you the materials to teach it.
One subscription opens everything, for kindergarten through grade 8. You can start today.
Schools can enroll a whole building for $2,000 a year. See school plans
$21 a month per educator
- All core materials
- All intervention materials
- Diagnostics
- Games
- Prep materials: online video professional development
Who writes DMT Insights
Jonathan Brendefur, PhD
Jonathan founded the Developing Mathematical Thinking Institute. He spent 20 years as a Professor of Mathematics Education at Boise State University, working with teachers in their classrooms every week.
Get each new Insight by email
A new Insight comes out every other week. Free, and you can leave any time.
Keep developing mathematical thinkers.