Fraction and decimal teaching strategies
Here are links on different ways to teach fractions and decimals in your classroom! Please click!
Strategy 1: Showing how to convert a decimal to a fraction using place value. Teach the place value of tenths, hundreths, thousandths, and so on. Also teach place value going the opposite direction, tenths, hundreds, thousands, and so on. By doing this you will be able to convert decimals to fractions and fractions into decimals. If using a calculator, students may also be able to divide the numerator by the denominator to get the decimal equivalent to the fraction. Here is a link that shows the effectiveness of this strategy. http://search.proquest.com/docview/304356207?accountid=26813
Strategy 2: Ordering Fractions on a Number Line This tool can be used to provide a visual representation of fraction and decimal equivalency similar to the double number line activities found in the book.
- Set up the number line by clicking on the show decimal, button on the right of the number line. This shows both the decimal and the fraction when the fraction is placed. Select the show fraction while dragging button. This show the decimal above the number line while the student is moving the fraction into place and may assist the student in placing the fraction.
- Create and lock fraction so they can be placed by the students
- Begin by having students drag fractions onto the number line (as shown below)
- Click the unlock button to create more fractions or to switch to decimals.
Strategy 3: There are a number of ways in which the teacher can set up this tool. In the first example, the number line contains 3 fractions and students dragging decimal grids to the number line to match fractions. In the second example, the "show decimal" and "show decimal while dragging" buttons are selected, but the number line does not contain the fractions. Both the fractions and the number appear when the model is placed. Here is a link to a study that was done that shows the effectiveness. https://math.berkeley.edu/~wu/NMPfractions.pdf