Fractions

Explore resources designed to improve fractions instruction in elementary and middle school.

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.

  • Items 1 - 12 of 62

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Making Sense of Computational Procedures
Video

Making Sense of Computational Procedures

Fractions > Fractions Operations > Overview & Tools

Watch this multimedia overview to learn about the importance of focusing on conceptual understanding and procedural fluency with fractions operations and how they connect. The overview describes...

Resource Type

Overview

3415 views
Recognizing Fractions as Numbers
Video

Recognizing Fractions as Numbers

Fractions > Fractions as Numbers > Overview & Tools

Watch this multimedia overview explaining why number lines are recommended as a central representational tool to teach students about fractions and how teachers can help students understand...

Resource Type

Overview

3306 views
Developing Proportional Reasoning
Video

Developing Proportional Reasoning

Fractions > Ratio, Rate, Proportion > Overview & Tools

This multimedia overview offers an introduction to students’ development of proportional thinking and its relationship to cross-multiplication. It describes recommended instructional strategies for...

Resource Type

Overview

3176 views
The Conceptual Basis for Fractions
Video

The Conceptual Basis for Fractions

Fractions > Fractions Concepts > Overview & Tools

This multimedia overview introduces how children’s intuitive understandings of sharing and proportion can serve as a foundation on which to build formal instruction of fraction concepts. This...

Resource Type

Overview

3583 views
Developing Effective Fractions Instruction for K-8
Video

Developing Effective Fractions Instruction for K-8

Fractions > Overview & Tools

The National Mathematics Advisory Panel and the Common Core State Standards emphasize the importance of rational numbers. Watch this multimedia overview to learn why and to receive an introduction...

Resource Type

Overview

7543 views
The Concepts Behind Operations
Video

The Concepts Behind Operations

Fractions > Fractions Operations > Learn What Works

Dr. David C. Geary describes how to build students’ understanding of the concepts underlying operations with fractions, common misconceptions that children have, and what can be learned from their...

Resource Type

Expert Interview

3086 views
Learning to Think Proportionally
Video

Learning to Think Proportionally

Fractions > Ratio, Rate, Proportion > Learn What Works

Dr. James Lewis discusses what it means to think proportionally and offers examples from everyday contexts. He describes the conceptual progression toward working with cross-multiplication and...

Resource Type

Expert Interview

2220 views
Ratio, Rate, Proportion Problems
Video

Ratio, Rate, Proportion Problems

Fractions > Ratio, Rate, Proportion > Learn What Works

Dr. Lewis demonstrates how to work through two examples of problems involving ratios. Related Files: Ratio, Rate, and Proportion Problems (Sample Material)

Resource Type

Expert Interview

2511 views
Supporting Teachers' Conceptual Understanding
Audio

Supporting Teachers' Conceptual Understanding

Fractions > Fractions Operations > Learn What Works

Listen to this interview with instructional facilitator Jonathan Wray as he describes how his district uses walk-throughs as one element of a multifaceted professional development plan for...

Resource Type

Expert Interview

2194 views
A Teacher’s Perspective: How to Use the Practice Guide
Audio

A Teacher’s Perspective: How to Use the Practice Guide

Fractions > Fractions as Numbers > Learn What Works

Laurie Thompson served as a practitioner representative on the IES panel for teaching fractions. In this interview she describes how she first became aware of the importance of using a number line...

Resource Type

Expert Interview

2273 views
Number Lines: A Key Representational Tool
Video

Number Lines: A Key Representational Tool

Fractions > Fractions as Numbers > Learn What Works

Dr. Yukari Okamoto describes the misconceptions that students have about fractions and how to help them understand fractions’ place in the number system. She demonstrates instructional approaches...

Resource Type

Expert Interview

3293 views
Building on Intuitive Understanding
Video

Building on Intuitive Understanding

Fractions > Fractions Concepts > Learn What Works

Dr. Thomas P. Carpenter discusses the importance of building children’s conceptual understanding of fractions based on intuitive ideas about sharing and apportioning objects. He demonstrates...

Resource Type

Expert Interview

3143 views
  • Items 1 - 12 of 62

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Developing Effective Fractions Instruction for K-8

Developing Effective Fractions Instruction for K-8

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Ratio: Warm Up Activity

Fraction Strip Game: Cover Up

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Visual Diagram: Fractions Instruction

Visual Diagram: Fractions Instruction

The Importance of Fractions Instruction

The Importance of Fractions Instruction

Fractions on a Number Line

Fractions on a Number Line