Ideas to Teach Fractions

For some crazy reason, I find it most difficult to teach fractions in math. It is a concept many kids have a hard time grasping. After working with whole numbers up to this point, some kids really struggle with understanding this math concept. Here are some ideas to help you teach fractions.

Use Fraction Tiles

One sure-fire way to help students wrap their head around fractions is to make use of tiles to illustrate various fractions. You can get pre-prepared fraction tiles or make one yourself using several sheets of paper, a ruler, a pair of scissors, and a marker. Finally, use this tool in your classroom to show how fractions can be added or subtracted together.

Showing Fractions in a Linear Model

A linear model is another way to illustrate fractions. Unlike fraction tiles, it makes use of drawing a line and adding dots onto it to divide it into several sections. If you show this method to your students, it can help them learn how to understand how they are understood. 

Using Beads to Illustrate Problems

Beads can also be a great idea to show students what they are. You can even use beads on a string to help them understand how fractions work. For example, to represent 3/7 using three green beads and and 4 blue beads.  You can ask them, how many of the beads are green. They will count and come up with 3, then you can explain the denominator represents all the beads, so they will tell you 7. Then you can flip it and ask, how many of the beads are blue. They can tell you 4/7. This method really helps them to see the problem and a great way to teach fractions.

Ask Them To Draw The Problem

Drawing is a math students best friend. Sometimes, slowing it down and drawing out the problem is best. Ask your students to draw the fractions mentioned in the problem. For example, you ask your students how many cups of water are left in two full cups if someone took ⅓ from each cup. Then, you can ask them to draw two cups then divide each into three and remove ⅓ from each cup. After this, ask your students to figure out how to add ⅔ and ⅔ together to reach the result 1 ⅓.

I hope this blog post gave you some ideas. When it comes to teaching fractions it really is best to help students see the fractions. As soon as they see it and can understand it visually you can move into more abstract math using fractions. Get them to see it first.