Shelby Morge

Family Connections: Helping Children Understand Fraction Concepts Using Various Contexts and Interpretations

T h e topic of fractions can be intimidating and difficult for children, even into the middle grades. Elementary schoolchildren spend a lot of time learning about whole numbers and then attempt to apply those ideas when working with fractions. Although i t is important for children to apply their prior knowledge, problems may arise if they apply the knowledge incorrectly. For example, 10 is larger than 5, but not when comparing 1/10 to 1/5. Beyond establishing the rules and procedures for working with fractions, teachers often do not have a lot of time for developing students’ understanding of the meaning for fractions.