Fraction Visuals that Build Understanding of Fraction Concepts
When I surveyed over two thousand math teachers asking about their students’ understanding of fractions, over 75% reported that their students either really struggled or had lots of gaps in understanding. If your students struggle with fractions, you are not alone! Fraction topics are often taught in upper elementary through 6th grade, but fraction concepts continue to affect students’ success with math through high school and beyond.
I have gathered a couple of my favorite visuals that help students really grasp the meaning of fractions and how to operate with them. These are visuals you can use whether you are teaching fractions to your students for the first time or if you are helping correct misunderstandings. Visuals help students gain a conceptual understanding of math so that it makes sense.
Math Without Tricks: Making Sense of the Division of Fractions
The "Keep-Change-Flip" (KCF) method is a common math trick used to teach students how to divide fractions. The instructions are simple: keep the first number, change the division sign to multiplication, and flip the second fraction. This method works and provides the correct answer, but there is a significant downside.
If our only focus is on getting the answer, KCF can seem very appealing. However, students often end up with no clue how they arrived at that answer or if it even makes sense. Additionally, tricks without meaning are frequently applied incorrectly in later problems, leading to confusion and errors.
I am a strong advocate of helping students understand that math makes sense. I'll show you a way to approach fraction division that gets students thinking critically and making sense of their answers.