Fractions can be one of the most challenging topics to teach, especially when you’re guiding your child through them at home. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed or tempted to lean on shortcuts just to get through a lesson. If you want your child to build confidence and truly understand how fractions work, my Fractions: From Foundations to Operations program is here to help. With step-by-step lessons for you and hands-on strategies you can teach your kids, it’s designed to make fractions clear, engaging, and approachable for both you and your child. Today, I’m sharing how to teach fraction operations through different resources!

Homeschool Parents: You’re Not Alone

If you’re a homeschooling parent trying to teach fraction operations, I know how daunting it can feel. Fractions are tricky. It’s no wonder so many kids (and adults!) struggle with them. Here’s the good news. You don’t have to do it alone, and you don’t have to rely on shortcuts or “tricks” that might leave your child confused later on. My program teaches you the ins and outs of teaching fractions so that you can teach your child. It will help you both feel more confident and capable with fractions.

The truth is that fractions don’t have to be a source of frustration. When kids understand the “why” behind the operations, they approach them with curiosity instead of dread. That’s the beauty of this program. I designed this course to give you all the tools and resources you need. You’ll get to walk your child through each concept, from the basics of simplifying and comparing fractions to more advanced operations like multiplication and division. Everything is laid out for you, so there’s no need to piece things together on your own.

Firm Up Your Understanding of Fractions First

I get it. It can be difficult to teach your child when you don’t feel particularly confident in the skill or concept yourself. That’s where my fractions program comes in. Instead of teaching a quick trick or rule just to get through a lesson, I’ll help you understand the concept so you can help your child do the same.

Math tricks and shortcuts often leave gaps in understanding, making it harder for kids to tackle more complex problems down the road. My program takes a different approach. It helps your child build a deep, lasting understanding of fractions by using tools like fraction strips, number lines, and relatable word problems. These strategies make the math more concrete and help your child see how fractions fit into everyday life.

What’s Included in This Program to Teach Fraction Operations?

This program has everything you need to teach fraction operations in a way that truly clicks. It’s divided into six easy-to-follow modules. Each one is carefully designed to help you build a solid understanding of fraction concepts, from 4th grade ‘basics’ to advanced operations like multiplication and division. Once you understand fractions, it will be so much easier to teach them to your child.

See what’s inside the complete toolkit that makes teaching fraction operations a rewarding and stress-free experience.

• Quick Video Lessons: These bite-sized, 10-15 minute videos are perfect for busy days. They fit easily into your schedule, giving you clear, step-by-step guidance without feeling overwhelmed.
• Downloadable Resources: With over 90 pages of notes, practice problems, and hands-on tools, you’ll have everything you need to help your child confidently tackle tricky fraction concepts.
• Lifetime Access: Fractions tend to pop up repeatedly, so this program lets you revisit lessons whenever you need a refresher. Whether it’s a quick review or returning to a specific topic, you’ll always have the resources at your fingertips.
• Bonus Materials: To keep your child engaged, you’ll get an extra $75 worth of interactive fraction activities, games, and visuals. These tools make learning fractions not only effective but also fun!

Why This Program Works to Teach Fraction Operations

Parents who’ve used this program can’t stop raving about how it makes fractions so much clearer for both them and their kids! You’ll even find yourself having those “aha!” moments as you learn new ways to teach fraction operations. What sets this program apart is its focus on helping kids truly understand fractions, both conceptually and algorithmically. This means your child doesn’t just learn the steps, they actually grasp the reasoning behind them. With these tools and strategies, you’re setting your child up for success in math now and for the future!

Benefits Of Using the Fraction Operations Program

When it comes to teaching fractions, the benefits of this course go far beyond just mastering the material. Whether you’re a homeschooling parent guiding your child or a teacher looking for ways to elevate fraction lessons, this program delivers tools and strategies that make learning fractions an enjoyable, confidence-boosting experience.

Benefits for Parents (and Teachers!)

As a parent, you wear many hats. Being your child’s math guide can feel overwhelming. This program is designed to ease that burden by giving you:

• Confidence in Teaching: No more second-guessing how to explain fractions. The video lessons and resources break everything down so you feel prepared and capable.
• Time Savings: Forget endless internet searches for activities or explanations. Everything you need, from videos, printable materials, practice activities, and hands-on tools, is right here.
• Flexibility: The self-paced format lets you revisit lessons whenever fractions come up, whether in your homeschool schedule or your child’s everyday math challenges.

Benefits for Kids

Your child deserves to feel successful and confident in math. With this program, they’ll get:

• A Clear Understanding: Instead of memorizing steps and rules, your child will understand what fractions mean and how they work. This foundational knowledge is a game-changer for future math success.
• Engaging Activities: From fraction strips to word problems, the program makes learning interactive and fun. This helps your child stay motivated.
• Flexible Thinking: Learning multiple strategies for fraction operations encourages critical thinking and problem-solving. These are skills they’ll use in math and beyond.
• Confidence Boosts: Imagine the pride on your child’s face when fractions finally click! The program ensures plenty of “aha!” moments along the way.

Other Fraction Resources for Homeschooling Parents

In addition to the course, you might love some of my other fraction resources that work great for at-home learning.

Fraction Doodle Notes to Teach Fraction Operations and Fraction-Related Concepts

Math Doodle Wheels are a fun and engaging way to teach math skills, including fractions and decimals. They help kids visualize the concepts and take notes in an organized manner! Each wheel is designed with the focused concept right in the center. The surrounding sections break down the math steps in an easy-to-follow way. Important vocabulary is highlighted and explained simply so kids feel confident tackling new ideas. As they work through each section, they can apply what they’ve learned with quick examples and practice even more with problems around the wheel. What makes these wheels extra special is their creativity. Kids can color and add doodles as they go, which not only makes learning enjoyable but also helps them retain the information longer.

Fraction Games

Fraction games are an amazing way to turn practice time into playtime! Whether it’s paper games with dice, printable card games, or interactive digital activities, these games help reinforce key fraction concepts in a way that feels approachable and fun. Setting up Scoot games or using Truth or Dare-style challenges adds some excitement to fraction review. While color-by-number activities sneak in extra practice without feeling like a worksheet. These games can be done with you or independently, allowing kids to learn while working at their own pace. They also work well as small group games for a homeschool co-op or learning pod. It’s all about making fractions fun, more engaging, and less intimidating!

Interactive Number Lines

Interactive number lines are an amazing tool for hands-on learners! They make it so much easier to explain concepts like equivalence and operations in a way that sticks. By placing common decimals on the number line, showing their equivalent fractions in the lowest terms, and highlighting the matching percentages, kids can visually connect these ideas. It’s a clear, effective way to help your child see the relationships between fractions, decimals, and percentages while making the learning process engaging and interactive! If you have a visual learner, or if your child is struggling with these concepts, these printable number lines are a must!

A Note for Homeschooling Parents

While many of the posts on my site are directed to teachers, they are certainly applicable to you too! My goal is to help all educators, and that includes you, make math more approachable and enjoyable for kids. Somewhere along the way, math got a bad rap, but it doesn’t have to be that way. We can teach our kids in a way that they truly understand math concepts and love exploring them.

If you ever have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Save for Later

Remember to save this post to your favorite math or homeschooling Pinterest board for quick access to these resources to teach fraction operations!

The post Math Help for Homeschooling Parents: How to Teach Fraction Operations appeared first on Cognitive Cardio Math.

Let’s face it, fractions show up every year at every grade level. Gathering all the right information and materials for teaching fraction operations can feel endless. We all start with the best intentions by reading books and scrolling through sites. We try to piece together strategies, methods, and resources that will work. Finding this much quality content takes serious time. We often end up scrambling for last-minute solutions.

If you’re like most teachers, you want to head into a unit confident with the information, skills, and concepts AND have a well-stocked teacher toolbox at your fingertips. That’s where the Teaching Fraction Operations Program comes in. The Teaching Fractions program is part course and part teacher toolbox – helping you with all.the.things you need and want to teach fractions like the rockstar that you are.

With six structured modules, over 30 instructional videos, 45 pages of student practice materials, and 90 pages of workbook resources, this program gives you everything you need to master how you teach fraction operations. It’s a comprehensive, all-in-one solution that eliminates the need for endless searching. You’ll even earn a 12-hour PD certificate for completing it! Ready to make fraction teaching easier and more effective? Let’s dive into this amazing program to help you teach fractions better.

What is the Teaching Fraction Operations Program?

The program is a comprehensive, ready-to-use program designed to help teachers confidently guide students through every essential fraction operation—addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Built on research and tested strategies, this program offers a step-by-step approach to mastering fraction operations in an engaging and manageable way. You will learn how to teach fraction operations in a way that your students understand!

This program is packed with resources tailored to help you meet the needs of every student in your class. You will learn how to teach fraction operations using interactive lessons, visual aids, and practice exercises to make complex fraction concepts accessible and enjoyable to all of your students.

But this program is more than just another professional development course. It not only trains you in how to teach fraction operations, but also provides you with the resources you will need to implement the training in your classroom.

Imagine walking into your next fractions unit confident and with lesson plans filled with activities to help your students master fraction operations. This can be you after completing the Teaching Fraction Operations program.

Why This Program Works for Teachers

Teaching fractions can feel overwhelming, especially when you aren’t 100% confident in your own understanding. Say goodbye to piecing together curriculum and supplemental activities. Instead, let the Teaching Fraction Operations course teach you the best way to teach fraction operations to your students and then equip you with all the activities you need to put the teaching strategies into action. This program is designed to save you time while offering everything needed for clear, structured lessons.

Here are just a few of the reasons teachers love the program:

• Teach Fractions Conceptually: This approach to teaching fractions helps your students understand fractions from the ground up. They will master fraction operations not because they memorized rules but because they get fractions.
• Build Your Own Confidence: As you work through the course you will build your own confidence and understanding. This will make you a better teacher and guide for your students.
• Time-Saving Resources: Each fraction operation module—addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division—includes ready-to-use notes and activities, reducing prep time and keeping lessons consistent and effective.
• Learn the Power of Visual Aids: This program includes visuals like fraction bars and number lines that help students better understand fraction operations. Learn what they are and how to use them in your lessons so your students can get the most out of them.
• Flexible and Easy to Use: When you enroll in the program you get instant access to the entire course. Watch it all in a day or break it down and watch it in small chunks.

What’s Included in the Program

The Teaching Fraction Operations Program goes above and beyond with a wide range of resources crafted to help you and your students succeed. Here’s what sets this program apart:

• Comprehensive Module-Based Learning: With six detailed modules, including over 30 video lessons, you’ll have access to short, focused lessons that walk you through strategies for teaching fraction operations conceptually and procedurally.
• Student Resources and Practice Materials: The program includes 45 pages of student example problems and over $75 worth of additional fraction resources. This offers plenty of practice opportunities to reinforce understanding.
• Notes and Workbook Pages: To help you jot down notes and key takeaways so you can apply them directly in the classroom.
• Professional Development Certificate: Upon completing the program, you’ll earn a 12-hour PD certificate. It recognizes your enhanced skills and readiness to teach fraction operations with confidence.
• Lifetime Access for Ongoing Review: Once enrolled, you get lifetime access to all materials and video lessons. This makes it easy to revisit any fraction concept whenever you need a refresher.

With the Teaching Fraction Operations Program, you’re not just accessing resources. You’re equipping yourself with the skills to make fractions an enjoyable, comprehensible part of math for every student.

Master Teaching Fractions With Confidence

With the Teaching Fraction Operations Program, you’ll have everything you need to make teaching fraction operations straightforward and impactful. This program offers a full spectrum of resources, from instructional videos and student practice materials to visual aids and workbook pages. They are all designed to support both you and your students every step of the way. No more piecing together materials or feeling unprepared. It is just a well-rounded, effective approach that makes fraction operations accessible and enjoyable. If you’re ready to simplify your teaching and empower your students in their fraction journey, this program is the perfect solution to master fraction operations with confidence!

More Tips for Teaching Fractions

Check out these blog posts for more tips and ideas when teaching fractions.

• Teaching Fractions with the Ultimate Fraction Toolkit
• Fun Middle School Fraction Activity: Fraction Krypto
• 3 Fraction Shortcuts to Avoid

Save for Later

Remember to save this post to your favorite math Pinterest board for quick access to this program for teaching fractions!

The post The Most Effective Way to Teach Fraction Operations appeared first on Cognitive Cardio Math.

“When are we ever going to use this in real life?” Don’t we all love this inevitable question during math class? Basically, it’s the math version of “Are we there yet?”

Fractions are a great example of a math skill we use daily, especially when pizza is involved! Placing our delicious food to the side, fractions can be tricky for some of our students to learn!

Using my Fraction Toolkit, you will receive various classroom activities and tools to help with teaching fractions.

Continue reading to learn about each of the resources in the Fraction Toolkit!

 

Doodling to Help with Teaching Fractions

The Fraction Terms Doodle page is a huge hit in my classroom! We all know that kids love to doodle, so why not use that to engage them in math?

The Doodle Page adds fun to regular, old note-taking by providing students space to write the vocabulary definitions and bring them to life with some color!

I start the unit by introducing the key vocabulary words we will be using in our fractions unit – denominator, numerator, proper, improper, and reciprocal. Each vocabulary term has space underneath or next to it for the students to write down the definition. Additionally, examples of fractions are placed throughout the page.

I recommend that my students color code the vocabulary word, definition, and example to see which ones go together.

I have my students place the finished page in their math notebooks. We will reference this page throughout our whole fractions unit as a quick and easy way to review the vocabulary. If you do not use notebooks, binders or folders also work. I always stress to my class the importance of keeping it in their binders for safekeeping.

The Fractions Terms Doodle Page PDF includes the student doodle page, a completed sample page that you can use as an example, and an answer key.

 

Equivalent Fraction Notes and Practice

Year after year, equivalent fractions is always a topic that seems to confuse some students. Having go-to resources to help them review and practice is very helpful when you are teaching fractions. Whether your students need a quick refresher on equivalent fractions or more in-depth teaching, these Fraction Toolkit pages will help.

There are three notes and practice pages included:

• • Equivalent Fractions – “What are They?” notes page

• • Equivalent Fractions – “Finding Common Denominators” notes page

• • Equivalent Fractions – “Simplifying Fractions” notes page

• • Answer Key for all the pages

Altogether, these practice pages are so versatile! I use them in my whole class and small group instruction.

Students can work on them independently, in stations, or as homework. Plus, they can be additional references for students to help with fractions.

 

Teaching Fractions Using a Fraction Operations Wheel

Another amazing reference tool to help with teaching fractions is a Fraction Operations Wheel! Similar to the doodle notes page, this page makes a great reference tool for students. The Fractions Operations Wheel is divided into four different sections; one for each operation. Inside each section, students can document the steps for adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing fractions along with completing an example problem.

The Fraction Operations Wheel comes in handy to help students who need a few reminders or need a little more practice with the operations.

• You can use this operations wheel by completing one section at a time as you introduce them in your lessons.

• Or, you can complete the entire wheel later in your unit as a review of how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide fractions.
• When finished, this makes a great addition to the math notebook so students can refer back any time they need a reminder.

To best meet the needs of our diverse learners, there are three different versions included of the Fractions Operations Wheel.

• The first version has models in the Addition and Subtraction sections. This is to help reinforce equivalent fractions.
• The second version has the steps for completing the problems written out for each section.
• The third version allows you more flexibility and you can choose what to include in the sections. No models or written steps are included in this one.

Surrounding the wheel are 10 additional problems that have the students practicing all the operations. These can be used in guided whole group, small group instruction, or completed independently.

And don’t worry, answer keys and sample pages are included as well.

 

Make One Fraction Addition Game

Now that your students have a library of reference pages they can use to help with fractions, let’s shake things up with a fraction game. My students enjoy center activities that are hands-on and social so the Make One Fraction Addition game is great! Games like this can always be added to a center as a fun way to practice and review. In addition to working on adding fractions, students will also be practicing equivalent fractions.

To play, organize your class into groups of 3 or 4.

• Each group will receive one set of 36 fraction cards.
• The goal of the game is to make combinations of fractions from your cards that equal 1.
• For each set of fractions that equal 1, the player scores one point.

In fashion with the game Go Fish, students may ask the other players for a specific card they need. If they have the card, they must give it to the student. If they don’t have the card, the student will draw from the pile.

The game continues until someone runs out of cards. Whoever has the most points wins the game!

The Fraction Addition Game resource includes a list of possible combinations that equal 1. This allows students to play independently and self-check as needed.

 

Fractions for Classroom Management?

Ready to retire the counting-off method for partners? Looking for an interactive way to assign small groups? Why not use partnering or grouping cards?

This method allows students to review different fraction concepts while also getting into the group needed to complete their next activity. And. . . you can use these any time of the day! You don’t have to be in math class to get this quick review.

They are also great to use for review all year long.

Equivalent Fraction Partnering Cards

Whenever you want to create random partners, these Equivalent Fraction Partnering Cards are fantastic.

This partnering card set has 16 pairs of 2 cards. Quickly grab the number of cards you need so that each student receives one card. Pass out the cards and then give students a couple of minutes to find the card that matches with an equivalent fraction.

• For example, one student may have the fraction 3/4, and their partner will have 12/16.

The more you use this method of pairing students, the faster they will become. When I first started using these in my classroom, I timed them the first few times to give myself an idea. Then I started giving them challenges to beat their previous time. The students enjoy the quick “race” between directions and the activity.

 

Equivalent Models Grouping Cards

As with the equivalent fraction cards, you can use these Equivalent Models Grouping Cards to help with fractions by grouping students into groups of 3 or 4.

These cards use fraction strips, number lines, fractions in shapes, and fractions as numbers to help students practice using the different representations.

There are 10 sets of 4 cards in this resource. One set of 4 cards will represent the same fraction in different ways.

• One card will have the fraction in number from.
• Another card will have the same fraction shown with colored parts of a shape.
• A third card will have a number line to represent the fraction.
• The fourth card is the fraction using a fraction strip.

If you are making groups of three, just remove one of these cards from each set.

Before finding their partners, students will need to identify the fraction on their cards. Once they identify their fraction, they can start searching for their partners with the same fraction. I will tell them beforehand if they are looking for 2 or 3 other people.

 

Mixed Numbers / Improper Fractions Grouping Cards

Do your students need extra review regarding mixed numbers and improper fractions? If so, grab the Mixed Numbers and Improper Fractions Grouping Cards. I love to use this set of grouping cards because of how flexible it is. I can use these cards to create partnerships, small groups of 3 and small groups of 4.

Each set includes an improper fraction and three equivalent mixed numbers to help students understand that it’s possible to rename an improper fraction in multiple ways. Just use the number of cards from each set that equals the number of people you would like in your groups. Works great for groups of 2, 3, or 4.

 

Visual Fraction Tools

When teaching fractions, it is important to have different tools available to help with all the different learning styles. Some of our students learn best by listening to catchy songs or making motions for movement. A lot of other learners, when it comes to fractions, learn by visuals.

Fraction Strips

An essential visual tool from the Fraction Toolkit is the Fraction Strips!

The Fraction Strips help students to see the visual representation of fractions. This tool is so helpful when it comes to comparing fractions, finding equivalent fractions, and modeling the different fraction operations. It allows students to “see” the fractions that are otherwise difficult to visualize.

The Fraction Toolkit includes a variety of fraction strip options. This helps make teaching fractions easier for you and learning them easier for your students. The Fraction Strips you will receive include:

• • Colored strips version (halves, thirds, fourths, fifths, sixths, eighths, ninths, and tenths).

• • Colored strips version not labeled on strips.

• • Black and white strips (halves, thirds, fourths, fifths, sixths, eights, ninths, tenths)

• • A black-and-white version from above with unit fractions labeled

• • Page with 1/2 strips, 1/4 strips, and 1/8 strips (colored and black and white)

• • Page with 1/3 strips, 1/6 strips, and 1/9 strips (colored and black and white)

• • Page with 1/2 strips, 1/5 strips, and 1/10 strips (colored and black and white)

There are multiple ways to use the Fraction Strips to help with fractions in your classroom:

• • Print out a black-and-white copy of the strips you want to use with your students. I have my students label the different sections, color them in themselves, and glue them into their math notebooks.

• • I like to print and laminate the colored versions and keep them on hand as a reference tool. Students know that they can grab one any time they need the visual help with fractions.

In my classroom, we use these quite often. They are an essential visual tool when we are working on understanding fraction concepts, comparing fractions, and identifying equivalent fractions.

 

Fraction Number Lines

Just like Fraction Strips, Fraction Number Lines are fantastic visual tool to help students see fractions and deepen their understanding of fractions as numbers. There are three different number lines included in the Fraction Toolkit:

1. 1. The Unlabeled Number Line allows you the freedom to label it your preferred way or have your students label it the way they need.
   2. The Number Line with Whole Numbers includes 6 number lines, each sectioned off in different increments. It includes thirds, fourths, fifths, sixths, eighths, and tenths.
   3. The Number Line with Fraction Strips includes a number line that is labeled with fractions up to the tenths. For additional assistance, fraction strips are underneath the number line.

Students can practice labeling fractions on a number line, they can use the number line as a visual tool to help with comparing fractions, and they can use them when working on improper fractions or mixed numbers. The number lines can also help as students learn to add, subtract, multiply, and divide fractions.

 

Avoid 3 Common Fraction Shortcuts

In addition to the printable resources already discussed, the Fraction Toolkit also includes a resource just for you, the teacher. In this popular training, you’ll learn about:

• • Three common fraction shortcuts to avoid when teaching fractions

• • How to help your students develop a deeper understanding of fraction concepts.

• • Methods to teach fractions (without shortcuts) that ACTUALLY WORK!

• • Some activities and ideas for using the Fraction Toolkit resources in your classroom

Grab the Fraction Toolkit

Make teaching fractions even easier with The Fraction Toolkit. This resource includes a variety of activities to help you and your students become rock stars with fractions! Grab it for FREE by clicking the image below!

Save these Teaching Fraction Ideas and Activities

Save these ideas and activities for teaching fractions with the Free Fraction Toolkit to your favorite math Pinterest board so you can come back any time you need ideas to use in your classroom.

The post Teaching Fractions with the Ultimate Fraction Toolkit appeared first on Cognitive Cardio Math.

Ready for some engaging fraction games and activities to help upper elementary and middle school math students master those fraction concepts?

In my last fraction post, I summed up the different fraction content posts I’ve written over the years. These included a series about fraction basics, as well as a few posts about fraction operations.
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Today’s post is a collection of the fraction games and activities posts, to again give you a type of index of the fraction activities here on the blog.
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Just select the links to head to the posts you’re interested in!

Fraction Games with Card Activities

Fraction Krypto

If you’re looking for an easy, low-prep game, then Fraction Kryptoa is the perfect choice. Just put 5 fraction cards up (or even write 5 fractions on the board) and students use the fraction operations to hit the target number of 1. Examples and detailed explanations are in the post.

Playing Fraction ‘War’

Fraction War is a great game to practice comparing and ordering fractions, as well as identifying equivalent fractions. Students can play in groups of 2 or 3.

Playing Go Fish with Fraction Cards

Just like the traditional Go Fish card game, students play this fraction version by asking other players for fractions equivalent to their own. Then they ‘go fish’ if they don’t get the card they ask for. This is fantastic equivalent fraction practice! Directions and examples are in the post.

Quick and Easy Game for Adding Fractions: Make One

Make One is another fraction card game where students must ask players for certain fraction cards (or cards equivalent to the fraction card). In this game, they’re asking for cards that will help them to ‘make one’ when added to a card(s) in their hand. You can access these cards through the post.

Fraction Games Using Dice

Playing ‘Decimal Dice”~ Converting Fractions to Decimals

Decimal Dice is such a popular and challenging game! This fraction game is kind of like Yahtzee. It requires students to convert fractions to decimals in order to get their scores. It’s full of examples, and students need several, but it provides EXCELLENT practice. Students can play with a partner or with a larger group.

Fraction Games with Partnering Cards

Reviewing Fractions Throughout the School Year: A Quick Way to Practice Fraction Concepts Any Time of Year

This fraction post explains how to use fraction partnering cards or grouping cards when you want to randomly group students. This fraction activity can be used ANY time of year, especially when you’re NOT teaching fractions, as a way to bring fractions into math class in a different way. Using fraction cards that focus on different concepts helps students keep fractions fresh all year:-)

A few of the posts described here include a free fraction game or activity download (or two), which can be accessed by registering for the free Fraction Review Toolkit.

Want even more fraction and fraction operation content and materials all in one place?
Check out the program, Fractions: From Foundations to Operations.

The post Engaging Fraction Games and Activities Your Students Will Love appeared first on Cognitive Cardio Math.

Students often need extra practice with adding fractions, especially when they aren’t technically learning about it anymore. Those fractions pop up in so many situations! A card game for adding fractions can help.’Teaching 6th grade math always seems to come with the need to review much of what students learned about in previous years. This includes:

• identifying fractions
• equivalent fraction
• improper fractions and mixed numbers
• adding fractions
• subtracting fractions
• multiplying fractions

Have you found this as well? Do students need to review these things at the grade level you teach?

Quick Teacher Survey About Fractions

Just to be sure I wasn’t the only one thinking students always need some fraction review, I put a quick poll on Instagram:

• “Math teachers, do you feel like your students always need SOME kind of review?”
• 100% of responders chose “Yes, always.”

So, with the idea of review and practice in mind, I have a quick, easy-prep card game for adding fractions for you! You can use this during your fraction addition unit. OR you can use it as a center activity to keep reviewing fraction addition any time during the school year.

What is This Card Game for Adding Fractions?

This card game for adding fractions is “Make One.” 

Students use fraction cards, which you can access for free below, and their goal during the game is to find as many sets of fraction cards that add together to equal one as possible.

Preparing for the Card Game for Adding Fractions

As I said, the prep is quick. The PDF with the cards includes 36 fraction cards, which should be good for one group of 3-4 players.

• For 5 or more players, you may want to make 2 copies of each page to give you a deck of 72 cards.

To prep for the game:

• print 1-2 sets of cards per group
• laminate, if you have time; if you don’t have time, card stock would work well too
• cut the cards out

Playing the Card Game for Adding Fractions

1) Deal 5 cards to each player.
2) Put the remaining cards face down in a pile in the middle of the game area.
3) To begin playing, Player One puts down any combination of cards from their hand that total 1 when added. Players may use as many cards as they’d like to reach 1.

• The cards should be placed face up so other players can see what has been played.

4) Player One may then ask any other player for a specific card to ‘make one’ when added to a card in his/her hand.

• If the player has the requested card or one equivalent to it in their hand, he/she gives it to Player One, and Player One puts down their ‘one’; if not, Player One draws the top card from the pile.
• If the card drawn is the card Player One was asking for, he/she uses it to put down the cards that equal one. Player One can continue asking players for cards/drawing cards until she/he can’t ‘make one.’
• If the card is NOT the one that was being asked for, Player One’s turn is over, and the player to the left takes her/his turn.
• Players will need to think about equivalent fractions when being asked for a card. For example, a player may ask for 4/20. Players need to remember that if they have a fraction equivalent to 4/20 (1/5), they DO give that card to the requesting player.

**Players may want to phrase their question as “Do you have ____, or any fractions equivalent to _____?”

5) The game continues with each player taking their turns until a player ‘goes out’ by playing his/her last card or until the cards in the middle pile are gone.

Additional Example of How Cards Can be Used

Looking at the set of cards in the picture, we can see this player’s hand of cards has 5/10, 1/4, 1/4, 4/8, and 1/20.

• This player could choose to use 5/10, 1/4, and 1/4 to make 1, using up more of the cards in their hand.
• They could also choose 4/8, 1/4, and 1/4, or 5/10 and 4/8.

After playing the ‘1’ of their choice this player can then ask other players for another card to make one, like 1/2 or 19/20.

Keeping Score

Once a player ‘goes out’, players tally their scores:

• Players receive 1 point for each set of cards that equal 1
• The player who ‘goes out’ adds 2 extra points to their score

The player with the most points wins.

Accessing the Make One Game Cards

You can access these Make One cards, as well as other fraction activities, by selecting the button below.
I hope you can use this card game for some fraction addition practice and review!

Interested in more fraction and fraction operation content?
Check out the program, Fractions: From Foundations to Operations

The post Quick and Easy Card Game for Adding Fractions appeared first on Cognitive Cardio Math.

Teaching Fractions, Week 3: Fraction Benchmarks and Estimation

Using Fraction Benchmarks

Fraction Benchmarks to Estimate Fraction Addition

Include Models for Fraction Estimation

Include Models for Fraction Estimation: Example 2

How will you use Fraction Benchmarks?

Do you need a few tools, like the fraction strips, to help your students master the fraction basics? I’ve got a ‘Fraction Toolkit’ for you!

You can grab the Fraction Toolkit here and learn how to use it in this post!

The post Teaching Fractions Using Fraction Benchmarks and Estimation appeared first on Cognitive Cardio Math.

Teaching Fraction Division in Middle School

Have you ever spent time teaching fraction division to your 5th or 6th grade math students (or even to older middle school students), only to find them “flipping” the wrong number? You, or a previous teacher, may have taught students to “skip, flip, flip,” “invert and multiply,” or “multiply by the reciprocal.” Students may have learned the steps to divide fractions or learned a fun fraction division song to help them remember.

But somehow they still flip the wrong fraction. OR students change a mixed number into an improper fraction and seem to subconsciously think that since they did something to that mixed number, the flipping had already occurred…and then they don’t flip anything.

Why does this happen? I’m going to say that it happens because students don’t understand why they’re flipping anything – it doesn’t mean anything to them.

Teaching Fraction Division Using Common Denominators

Because of these fraction division issues, I started using another way to teach fraction division. Perhaps you’ve heard of it, or you already use it.

• I never learned this method when I was a student (and didn’t see it for many years of my teaching career), but I like it, and it makes more sense to some students.
• I was fortunate to learn this method when I had a student teacher a few years back. She was teaching the fraction unit, and when her supervisor came in to observe and discuss, she asked if I had ever taught fraction division using common denominators. Having only learned (and then taught) to multiply by the reciprocal, of course I said no.

The next time she visited, she brought me a page from a textbook that explained dividing fractions using common denominators.

These are the steps:

• Step 1: Find common denominators, just as when adding and subtracting and then make equivalent fractions (students are already used to finding common denominators).
• Step 2: Create a new fraction with the numerator of the first fraction over the numerator of the second fraction…this is your answer.
• Done (unless you need to simplify)!

I was shocked – it seemed SO simple!

Fraction Division Example

Check out this example – it’s a simple one, for starters:
5/6 divided by 2/3.

1) Find the common denominator of 6 and 3, which is 6.

• This gives you 5/6 divided by 4/6.

2) The first numerator (5) becomes the numerator in the answer.

• The second numerator (4) becomes the denominator.

3) Simplify

Fraction Division Example 2

Let’s look at another one, with mixed numbers:
1_4/7 divided by 1_3/4.

1) Convert the mixed numbers to improper fractions, which gives you 11/7 divided by 7/4.

2) Find the common denominator of 28 and make equivalent fractions.

• This gives you 44/28 divided by 49/28.

3) The first numerator (44) becomes the numerator in the answer.

• The second numerator (49) becomes the denominator.

4) No simplifying, in this case.

Why Does Using Common Denominators Work?

Once the denominators are the same, we’re dealing with fraction pieces that are the same size.

When we look at 5/6 ÷ 4/6, there are 5 pieces and 4 pieces that are the same size (our numerators).

• So, we’re really looking at 5 ÷ 4, or how many times 4 fits into 5, which is 1 and 1/4 times.

Student Response to Dividing Fractions Using Common Denominators

I teach both methods to my sixth-graders. Some really like it…it makes sense to them.
Others stick to the flipping method, but I don’t know if this is because they like it better or because it was the first way they learned it.

Most of them have been taught something about fraction division in 5th grade so they have the reciprocal background.

Fraction Division Using the Reciprocal

Multiplying by the reciprocal: if students are going to use it, I think it’s important that they understand WHY it works.
It may be tough for them to understand in 5th or 6th grade, but if they learn the common denominator method first, the proof may then make more sense to them. I found a great article on the NCTM website that uses the common denominator method to prove why multiplying by the reciprocal works – check it out, if you have time:-)

Fraction Division Math Wheels for Taking Notes

Not too long ago, I made two math wheels, to use to teach both methods of dividing fractions – taking notes with the wheel will be more fun!
Students can save their wheel to use as a reference throughout the year.

Resources to Teach and Practice Fraction Division

Select the images to see the resources on TPT.

If you need some extra tools to help teach or review fraction concepts, check out the Fraction Review Toolkit!

Save to Pinterest!

Not teaching fraction division yet? Save this post to your favorite fraction Pinterest board so you can come back to it when you need it!

The post How to Teach Fraction Division….Another Way appeared first on Cognitive Cardio Math.

The “butterfly method” for comparing, adding, and subtracting fractions – WHY are teachers teaching this?

Although it seems like a fun, easy way to add fractions that works every time, the “butterfly method” is NOT helpful to students. 

If we want students to understand the meaning of adding and subtracting fractions, we need to stop using shortcuts like this one.

I don’t understand why the “butterfly method” is being used….

I understand that it works and that it can make finding an answer easier for students (for simple fractions). 

However, I’ve found definite drawbacks to this method, so I don’t like to see students adding and subtracting fractions this way at all.

In this post, I’ll share what I’ve seen in 6th grade math with students who learned the butterfly method in previous grades.

Butterfly Method for Comparing Fractions

In past years, students would come to 6th grade having learned the butterfly method for comparing fractions. Here are a few observations I’ve made about using the butterfly method for comparing fractions:

1. Students often had no idea why it worked
2. They knew the trick better than they knew how to find a common denominator
3. Students didn’t seem to understand that the products from the cross-multiplying were the actual numerators. They would get the numberators if they made certain equivalent fractions (shown in Figure 1 below)

They just knew it worked. This bothered me because I believe students should understand why things work. So, I always made sure to explain why the method worked.

Butterfly Method for Adding and Subtracting Fractions

This year, I had 6th grade math students tell me they learned how to use the butterfly method to add and subtract fractions! This means they learned how to cross multiply and add/subtract those products. Then, they multiply the denominators together, as shown in figures 1 and 2 below.

In this process, students got a correct answer if they followed the steps correctly. They didn’t have any conceptual understanding of WHY the method works or what adding fractions means.

It seems that many students are being taught this “trick”, to make learning fraction operations “easier and fun.”

In reality, students aren’t learning what it means to add or subtract fractions. 

• And I have to ask, why wouldn’t we want them to understand that 6 is the LCD in the problem in Figure 2? 
• Why would we want them to use a larger denominator and then have to do more simplifying to the lowest terms?
• Why wouldn’t we want students to understand what it means to add or subtract fractions?

Using the Butterfly Method When Adding Larger Fractions

Let’s take a look at what can happen when students don’t understand the concepts and depend on shortcuts like this one.

I recently gave students problem-solving that required them to use all fraction operations. It was during this problem solving time that I learned students had been taught the butterfly method for adding fractions.

• Since adding and subtracting is in the 5th grade math curriculum (and I teach 6th). We did a very brief review of adding and subtracting fractions before students worked on these problems. The butterfly method didn’t come up during this time. 
• It was during their work period that those who had learned it decided it was easier to use the butterfly method than to find common denominators. 

In the problem-solving, students had to add 5/6, 2/3, 7/12, and 7/10.

How Butterfly Method Failed the Students

Not only because they didn’t understand why it works but also because it became so cumbersome!
They couldn’t use the butterfly method to add 3 or 4 fractions at a time, so they started by adding two fractions. 

• They took that answer and added a third fraction, again using the butterfly method. 
• And then took that answer and added the 4th fraction, again using the butterfly method.

Here’s what that actually looked like:

• Students added 5/6 and 2/3, getting a denominator of 18 and an answer of 27/18, as in Figure 2.

Then they added 27/18 and 7/12, as in Figure 3 below,  getting a denominator of 216 and an answer of 450/216.

From there, students added 450/216 and 7/10, shown in Figure 4 below. They ended up with a HUGE denominator that they then had to work really hard to simplify!

(AND, we weren’t using calculators, so there were greater chances for errors).

It might seem surprising that they continued this process to get such huge numbers, but some of them did, because:

• This was the method they learned and depended on
• They had been taught that this was the ‘easy’ way
• They didn’t understand what fraction addition meant and couldn’t find common denominators

I was so shocked to see this….and this is the first year I saw this method in this way.

Needless to say, we’ve spent quite a bit of time working on understanding and ‘unlearning’ the butterfly method.

3 Reasons the Butterfly Method Shortcut Is Not Helpful

1) While this method may seem helpful for students who struggle, teaching students to depend on this method leads to greater struggles for them as they progress in math.

• When we as teachers (or parents) find certain tricks that work for simple math problems, we need to look ahead to what our students will experience in future years rather than going for a quick fix for the current year.
• We need to try these methods with more complicated problems to see if they will still be effective. And if we are to teach shortcuts, they should ONLY be taught AFTER students have mastered the concepts.

2) The butterfly method skips conceptual understanding. Students don’t understand what is actually happening when we add and subtract fractions in this way. 

• We need to think about whether “tricks” like the butterfly method teach them math concepts, number sense, or number connections….or do they just teach shortcuts. 
• If we as teachers don’t understand the meaning ourselves, we need to learn more in order to help our students.

3) The butterfly method avoids the use of common denominators.

• Even if students DO understand the concepts of adding and subtracting fractions, using the shortcut means they aren’t practicing how to find LCD, which is a skill they’ll need in middle and high school. 

Students are capable of understanding the concepts, and we need to have faith that they can “get it” without the tricks. Yes, some students will need more reinforcement and will need to revisit the concepts more frequently (spiral review is helpful here!), but they can get it.

Would you like a reference document that includes the Butterfly Method details in this post, PLUS an explanation of why the method works AND a couple strategies to teach comparing, adding, and subtracting fractions conceptually? If so, use the button below to head to TPT and download a FREE resource.

Resources for Teaching Adding and Subtracting Fractions & Related Fraction Concepts

The math wheels guide students through the process of finding equivalent fractions, comparing fractions, and adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators. The Equivalent Fractions and Comparing Fractions wheels uses models to help make the concepts more concrete for students.

After taking notes inside the wheels, students complete practice problems that are in the pattern around the wheel. Students can then color if they’d like. They can keep the wheels in their binders or interactive math notebooks to refer to throughout the year.

Interested in more about fractions?

Listen to the podcast episode here, OR

Check out the Fraction Review Toolkit: grab it here and learn how to use it in this post.

The post Why Not to Use the Butterfly Method With Fractions appeared first on Cognitive Cardio Math.