Recently, I published a series of posts describing the various strategies students can use for comparing fractions. While creating a common denominator is one of the strategies, it is often not necessary. For example, consider this pair of fractions:
I have been working with my 4th graders on this skill, and I created an anchor chart for them to use as a reference when comparing fractions. Please, PLEASE remember that students need lots of concrete and pictorial experiences with fractions to be able to reason about the relative size of fractions, which is why I included visuals on the anchor chart. You can download a copy of the anchor chart here.
I wrote a series of posts about strategies for comparing fractions. Click here for the first in the series. Each post contains a link to the next post. You’ll be able to download free activities along the way!
Thank you so much!! I read your series, and was hoping you had something to match in your tpt store. This is wonderful! You should consider making some full page posters for each comparing strategy.
This is awesome because we are having so much trouble with this concept!! THANK YOU!
This is great, Donna! Thank you.
I have a question… Do you know of any prominent articles about combining rote learning and strategy based instruction, and the importance of strategies?
Thank you,
Ali.
I’m sorry I can’t point you to one article. I have lots of books that cite a great deal of research, however.
Dear Donna,
I really appreciate your way of clarifying the concepts. Can you recommend me few of your books which I can consult to teach my students in India. I run a learning center here and I follow so much your examples and techniques and my students enjoy the same.
I highly recommend John Van de Walle’s Teaching Student Centered Mathematics. Number Talks and Math Sense are two other favorites.
Thank you so much Donna. Highly appreciate your reply. I will keep seeking your guidence from time to time.
Hi I want to join your blog, but cant seem to get past the ‘birthday’ section. I can’t figure out how to add the numbers….probably thats why I need to join your blog! Help please!
Not to worry! Just enter your two-digit month, you the tab key to move to the day, and enter your two-digit day. So if your birthday is July 8, it would be 07, press the tab key, 08. Hope that helps!
Any chance I can get a digital file of the graphic from the top, Strategies For Comparing Fractions? I would like to print a poster of it to hang in my class.
I think you can probably just right click on it and save the image.
How can I get this poster?
There is a link at the bottom of the post. Look for where it says You can download a copy of the anchor chart here. Click on the work here.
Can i get this poster please
The link to the poster is in the next-to-last paragraph. 🙂
Thank you!