Build Fraction Sense & Add/Subtract with Confidence; Engage with Hands-On Models

This class will make sense of fractions and enable deep understanding of fractional relationships. Visual fractions will be featured so that students can clearly explain relative fraction size and how to add and subtract fractions with confidence.

This is a discussion based class with a lot of questions and answers coming from both the teacher and students. We will build fraction sense and learn a lot about fractions! 

TOPICS COVERED:

- We will investigate and understand equivalent fractions. 

- We will discuss relative size and how numerators and denominators describe fraction sizes and amounts. 

- We will compare fractions as greater than, less than and equal to.

- We will add fractions starting with common denominators (piece size)

- We will add fractions with uncommon denominators (piece size)

- We will subtract fractions with common denominators (piece size)

- We will subtract fractions with uncommon denominators (piece size)

- We will work with mixed numbers and learn how a mixed number is equivalent to an improper fraction. 

Students are not taught algorithms or a 'one method' approach in this class. Students are encouraged to develop their OWN algorithms (which typically align with generally taught ones).

I highly recommend purchasing fraction bars but we will provide printable pdfs so that each student has hands on manipulatives to use during class. I love to ask the 'why' and hear how students think. I also teach so that every voice is heard and shared. Sometimes great insight from one student can impress greatly upon another student.  

During a typical one hour class we spend approximately half the time actively talking about fractions and half the time independently or cooperatively working with fractions to understand and compute with them. 

For this class there are no slides or video clips. Teacher led talk time is followed by a question and answer/clarification period. This class is best suited for students who already have some understanding of fractions and how they relate to zero and one but we will review starting from the very basics for a few minutes at the beginning of the first class. 

Students and parents will be given a printable resource to use at home once the class is over.