An introduction to fractions... and beyond
Fractions are the first tricky concept learners come across in maths. Fortunately for maths teachers, most learners are familiar with fractions before they're taught in the classroom, mostly thanks to family conversations like this:
"Mum, can I have the last chocolate bar?"
"No, share it with your sister."
"Okay."
Two minutes later...
"Mum, my half of chocolate isn't as big as hers!"
And even at a very young age children have an idea of how old they are in terms of whole years and fractions:
"How old are you?"
"Three and a half."
All of this gives children the beginning of an understanding of what fractions are and how they're used in real life, which is a great start.
As children move on to learn how to do more complicated things with fractions, these helpful articles should ensure that parents are able to support kids as they learn this tricky topic.
I’m Ged, Co-founder of Komodo, ex-maths teacher and dad. If you have any questions please get in touch.
About Komodo – Komodo is a fun and effective way to boost primary maths skills. Designed for 5 to 11-year-olds to use in the home, Komodo uses a little and often approach to learning maths (15 minutes, three to five times per week) that fits into the busy routine. Komodo users develop fluency and confidence in maths – without keeping them at the screen for long.
And now we've got Komodo English too - check it out here.
