Early Intervention Program
Mrs. Russell's Monthly Update: February 2014
5th Grade Uses Number Talks to Improve Understanding of Fractions
Fifth grade students have been using their daily number talk time to improve their mental math strategies and their understanding of fractions. For the past few weeks, students have lengthened their list of strategies they can use to convert an improper fraction to a mixed number, as well as add two fractions with unlike denominators. Take a look at this newsletter to explore the various strategies they have developed.
Strategy: Use Proportional Reasoning
The numerator and denominator of the new fraction must stay in proportion to the numerator and denominator of the original fraction. In other words, whatever you do to the numerator, you must do to the denominator.
Strategy: Determining How Many Wholes
Both multiplication and division can be used to convert an improper fraction to a mixed number. In this case, multiplication was used to determine how many groups of 12 were in 31.
Strategy: Determining the Least Common Multiple
Examine the two denominators. Ask yourself what multiple they have in common.