Monday, March 23, 2009

Fractions

Oh boy, when I took on this tutoring thing, I was assured no Algebra would be involved...sneaky folks, I see that coming up in the book. But before we get to that, we arrive at fractions.

I feel so badly for this young woman, she tries so hard. I know the pie slice thing, and using boxes inside of boxes. Any other games we can play to help her through this?

Her multiplication is not solid. Seems like when we start a session, she improves as we go along. I know she has some sort of learning disability, but am not sure what I can do to make things easier for her. I have her going over the multiplication and division stuff again.

Any help from you educators and bloody geniuses out there would be appreciated.
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11 comments:

kkdither said...

Fractions were always my nemisis. I just couldn't grasp the concept. What I needed was a visualization tool.

I worked at a fabric store in my teen years where I HAD to get it. What finally did it for me was seeing the clock-like dial/circle of the machine that measured the cloth. I could visualize where 3/4 took me on the dial and then if I added 1/2 more to it, where that put me on the dial. That for some reason made sense. I still sometimes visualize it that way.

After grasping that concept, the mechanics of least common denominator and all the other fraction rules were easier to learn.

March 23, 2009 at 8:12 AM
kkdither said...

Beejay, you might try the paper plate trick. Make a clock dial with a movable hand on it. Mark off 1/8, 1/4, 1/3... up to 7/8. Have her do some physical manipulation with fractions you give her. Might help.

March 23, 2009 at 8:14 AM
Beejay said...

Thanks, kk, I think I'll try that. I also am calling the head of this program and see if she wants me to proceed or leave it to them.

After thinking about it, she has only touched on fractions at school and I would hate to really confuse the poor thing.

Fractions, for some unknown reason, came easy to me. Remember, my Mom was a math teacher, so maybe I had/have some aptitude for math. But I did hate Algebra.

March 23, 2009 at 8:58 AM
hale-bopp said...

Make it visual. To multiply 1/2 X 1/3 for instance, have her cut a piece of paper in half. That half then gets cut into three equal pieces. The result is a piece of paper 1/6 of the original. Similar to the pie slice, but easier for those of us less skilled with scissors!

I have always been lousy at teaching fractions (fortunately never taught students that young). I remember sitting around figuring them out on my own when I was bored with what everyone else was doing in math.

March 23, 2009 at 2:27 PM
drewzepmeister said...

I taught a friend by using a tape measure/ruler.

March 23, 2009 at 5:46 PM
Beejay said...

I think I'm using the pie and the tape measure/ruler. I hope I don't screw up this young woman too badly.

March 23, 2009 at 7:01 PM
SER said...

I always use a ¼ pint, ½ pint, pint, a 1/5th and a quart.

If you can’t do it with a fifth you have a problem!

March 23, 2009 at 7:39 PM
Toad said...

I just had 2 beers. NOW I can't do fractions.

March 23, 2009 at 7:43 PM
Anonymous said...

I've always had a problem with fraction too. The only way I could add 1/4 to 1/5 is to put them together in a larger bottle.

March 24, 2009 at 12:32 AM
kkdither said...

After the fifth SER, who gives a rip about math or fractions? Oh, wait, I'm pleading the fifth on that one.... ;>

March 24, 2009 at 7:23 AM
Beejay said...

You guys are so baaaad.

I'll let you know how I progress on this one. The head of this program has a book for me to use with this young woman. She says use MONEY. Everyone understands money. We'll see.

March 24, 2009 at 9:40 AM

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