Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Asking the Experts
Ok, my students are really struggling with mixed numbers and improper fractions. So I'm asking the experts--you guys! I'm working with LOW 4th graders and they've been doing pretty well with understanding fractions, but this is really stumping them. We've worked with pattern blocks, fraction bars, and real-life situations. They can understand that numbers like this exist, but they as soon as they see a picture of 2 whole circles and half of another, they label it 5/6. Does anyone have any good manipulatives or lessons that would help with this?
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Liz,
ReplyDeleteThe one activity that I have used for a lot of years is a game from SRA math. It is called "Fringo Factory". Students roll number cubes and create improper fractions that have to be converted to mixed number or whole numbers to be placed on a playing board to get 4 in a row. It works like connect 4. I googled "fringo factory" and didn't have any luck getting the game. Maybe someone in your corporation has some game boards you can borrow. I piloted the program several years ago and still have the game box which has been great!
I have had very disappointing results with using manipulatives to teach this concept to my remedial 6th graders also. I seem to use the fraction factory program and then resort to just making sure they can change mixed numbers to imporoper fractions and vice versa. Fringo factory helps some of them to remember the process.