Fractions Archives - MARILYN BURNS MATH

Decimals Fractions General Interest Interviews One-on-One Number and Operations Numerical Reasoning

How Was Amber Reasoning?

The fifth-grade class I’m working with this year is studying addition and subtraction of fractions, and I asked to “borrow” the class to see how they would view Amber’s solution. I describe how I structured the lesson and have also included students’ writing.

Marilyn BurnsDecember 14, 2024

Fractions General Interest Number and Operations Numerical Reasoning

Representing 4/5 and 5/4: A Fraction Lesson

I took the photo of the board at the end of a fraction lesson I taught to fourth graders. The lesson engaged the students with representations of 4/5 and 5/4, using drawings the students had made. Read about how the lesson unfolded and what I learned about the students.

Marilyn BurnsJune 20, 2023

Fractions General Interest Interviews One-on-One Listening to Learn Numerical Reasoning Videos

What Was Adrian Thinking?

When asked in a Listening to Learn interview which fraction was greater, it was clear to Adrian that 5/6 was greater than 1/4. His explanation, however, was anything but clear. Listen to Adrian reason and learn how I used this video in a class lesson.

Marilyn BurnsFebruary 19, 2023

Fractions General Interest Problem Solving Real-World Problems

What Is 5 Divided by 4? So Many Answers!

Fourth graders solve the problem 5 ÷ 4 in the context of sharing cookies, figuring out how to share five cookies equally with four people. The students came up with six different solutions―all of them correct! (Try and think of what they might be before continuing to read.)

Marilyn BurnsFebruary 27, 2019

Fractions General Interest Number and Operations Numerical Reasoning

An Important Teacher Decision: When and When Not to Give the Answer?

When should a teacher resolve a question for students and when is it OK, or even a better instructional decision, to let confusion ride? I recently was confronted with this situation with fourth graders. Read about what happened and what I did.

Marilyn BurnsMay 16, 2016

Fractions General Interest Numerical Reasoning

Fractions on a Number Line

The fourth graders I’m working with on a regular basis are learning about fractions. During a class conversation, one student declared, “Fractions aren’t numbers.” Most of the others in the class agreed. I tried to help with the misunderstanding by teaching a lesson about placing fractions on a number line.

Marilyn BurnsMarch 16, 2016

Fractions Games General Interest Numerical Reasoning Problem Solving

Fix It: An Activity for Ordering Fractions

At a math workshop, the presenter suggested that students have opportunities to be producers as well as consumers of their learning in the classroom. I put this advice into action with fifth graders, using the activity of Fix It to provide students additional experience with comparing and ordering fractions.

Marilyn BurnsDecember 11, 2015

Fractions

How Was Amber Reasoning?

Representing 4/5 and 5/4: A Fraction Lesson

What Was Adrian Thinking?

What Is 5 Divided by 4? So Many Answers!

An Important Teacher Decision: When and When Not to Give the Answer?

Fractions on a Number Line

Fix It: An Activity for Ordering Fractions

Categories

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Marilyn Burns Math

Fractions

How Was Amber Reasoning?

Representing 4/5 and 5/4: A Fraction Lesson

What Was Adrian Thinking?

What Is 5 Divided by 4? So Many Answers!

An Important Teacher Decision: When and When Not to Give the Answer?

Fractions on a Number Line

Fix It: An Activity for Ordering Fractions

Categories

Subscribe to Marilyn Burns Math

Subscribe to
Marilyn Burns Math