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Introduction to fractions

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  • Introduction to fractions
  • Espresso
  • 50: Covariational reasoning
  • 49: Teaching and learning equivalence
  • 48: Early development of functional thinking
  • 47: Developing concepts of pattern
  • 46: Building and breaking 2D and 3D shapes
  • 45: Teaching logical reasoning
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29 November 2019

Infographic showing how fractions are a set of intertwined constructs

What does research suggest about effective ways to introduce fractions?

  • Seeing fractions as a set of interrelated concepts encompassing both dividing and measuring may help students to understand them
  • Considering fractions as abstract and composite ideas can help extend students’ understanding from natural numbers to real numbers
  • Early understanding of fractions is supported by work in equipartitioning (fair sharing) which forms part of the idea of division and may help support counting development
  • It is important to focus on one half as a key mathematical idea and to recognise that sharing in even quantities is usually found to be easier; circle models are particularly difficult
  • The number line is a key representation for developing understanding of fractions, but multiple representations are important
  • Exploring ideas of unitising (grouping) and norming (naming the reference unit) is an important part of understanding fractions
  • Students should have opportunities to see fractions as relative amounts and as abstract ideas manifesting in different but equivalent ways

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