Fractions
Explore resources designed to improve fractions instruction in elementary and middle school. 
- View a visual diagram of all four practices
- Watch a topic overview and download planning templates
- Listen to an expert
Explore the subtopics below to learn more about the recommended practices:
To learn more about the research underlying these practices, view the IES Practice Guide, Developing Effective Fractions Instruction for Kindergarten Through 8th Grade.
The Importance of Fractions Instruction
Fractions > Overview & Tools
Dr. Siegler discusses why competence with fractions is critical for more advanced math and why U.S. students have difficulty grasping fractions. He also describes the developmental sequence that...
Resource Type
Expert Interview
Planning for Real-World Problems for Ratio, Rate, Proportion
Fractions > Ratio, Rate, Proportion > Overview & Tools
This planning tool helps middle-grade teachers develop practice problems based in real-world contexts that require students to work with ratios, rates, and proportions. Related Media and...
Resource Type
Tool
Analyzing Student Work: Ratios
Fractions > Ratio, Rate, Proportion > Overview & Tools
Math coaches can use this analysis tool to help teachers review student work with ratios and determine what concepts and procedures students have grasped and where they may be struggling. Related...
Resource Type
Tool
Learning Together About Teaching Rations and Proportional Reasoning
Fractions > Ratio, Rate, Proportion > Overview & Tools
This workshop allows math coaches to provide teachers with information on instructional strategies related to ratios, rates, and proportions. Related Media and Files: Focus on Ratios (Sample...
Resource Type
Tool
Ratio, Rate, and Proportion Problems
Fractions > Ratio, Rate, Proportion > See How It Works
This collection of twelve ratio, rate, and proportion problems was contributed by expert Dr. Jim Lewis and includes his comments on solutions and notes about the potential difficulties students may...
Resource Type
Sample Material
Ratio Problems
Fractions > Ratio, Rate, Proportion > See How It Works
Participants in the Understanding Ratios development session worked with this set of problems to strengthen their conceptual understandings. See Focus on Ratios for additional background. Related...
Resource Type
Sample Material
Focus on Ratios
Fractions > Ratio, Rate, Proportion > See How It Works
This PowerPoint outlines the content of a development session for math coaches and teachers on teaching ratios, rates, and proportions. Understanding Ratios shows a portion of the workshop in which...
Resource Type
Sample Material
Build a Cafe: PowerPoint and Report
Fractions > Ratio, Rate, Proportion > See How It Works
As seen in Cross-Multiply? Not So Fast, this PowerPoint presents a series of real-world problems that students need to solve using their knowledge of ratios. Related Media and...
Resource Type
Sample Material
Build-Up Strategies Worksheet
Fractions > Ratio, Rate, Proportion > See How It Works
This worksheet provides practice problems that encourage students to use build-up strategies when working on ratio problems as shown in Cross-Multiply? Not So Fast. Related Media and...
Resource Type
Sample Material
Ratio: Warm Up Activity
Fractions > Ratio, Rate, Proportion > See How It Works
Students use counters or blocks to work out their responses to three problems and then represent their answers as shown in Cross-Multiply? Not So Fast. Related Media and Files: Cross-Multiply?...
Resource Type
Sample Material
Understanding Ratios
Fractions > Ratio, Rate, Proportion > See How It Works
This development session for teachers and coaches demonstrates strategies for teaching ratio, rate, and proportion concepts. Follow the full session through the PowerPoint, Focus on Ratios, and the...
Resource Type
School Example
Cross-Multiply? Not So Fast
Fractions > Ratio, Rate, Proportion > See How It Works
Eighth-grade co-teachers lead a class through activities involving ratios. Students use concrete materials, build-up strategies, and cross-multiplication to solve the real-world problems found in...
Resource Type
School Example
