In my opinion, fractions are the hardest concept for elementary and middle school students to truly understand – and many students agree with me! Each year, I have middle schoolers who can’t tell me what a numerator really means or try to add or subtract denominators within a problem, so fraction review is something I am very familiar with! Here are my favorite ways to review and practice fraction skills throughout the year!
Multi-Strategy Packets
Solving abstract fraction problems requires a deep conceptual understanding that many students aren’t prepared for. I love using multiple strategies to solve each problem to help build student understanding and flexibility. Using number lines, pictures, and the numeric strategy, students make connections between the different strategies, increasing their understanding of the numeric methods! Sound time-consuming to create? Don’t worry – I’ve done the hard work for you with my multi-strategy packets! They are perfect for small group instruction, intervention, math centers, and more! Check out my multi-strategy packets here!
Daily Fraction Warm-Ups
After your students learn strategies for fraction operations, they should be using them daily! An easy way to ensure this in your classroom routine is to use a daily math warm-up. I like to include at least one addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problem for students to solve as they are waiting for class to start. I may also add in one or two problems from the current unit as students gain proficiency with fractions. While these problems may seem easy, they are strengthening the connections in your students’ brains that will help them recall how to solve fraction problems more easily next time!
Use Alternate Strategies
For some students, the “typical” strategies for adding or subtracting unlike fractions don’t really make sense – and for good reason! Using multiplication to rewrite fractions with common denominators before adding or subtracting can include up to 12 steps, which is more than most students can hold in their working memory. Instead, I teach other strategies in addition for students to practice and build understanding. Learn about my favorite alternative strategy, the fraction list strategy, here!
Fraction Escape Room Review
Students frequently need a review of fraction skills in order to keep them fresh. I love using this fraction escape room to help review and remind students of fraction strategies. It’s easy enough for a substitute teacher to use, so it’s one of my go-to sub-plan activities! It’s also a nice independent activity for most students, which gives me time to catch up on my never-ending to-do list! The unique challenges require students to solve fraction problems to get a code, and it’s easily used in low-tech or only-tech classrooms! Grab this escape room activity here!
Start with the Basics!
I teach middle schoolers, and each year, I need to start my fraction instruction with a review of what numerators and denominators represent, representing fractions, equivalent fractions, and more! Starting with an overall review is a great way to make sure all students are on the same page at the start of your fraction unit, no matter what their previous experiences are.
Engaging Practice with Pixel Art!
Pixel art activities are one of my favorite digital review activities! They are super engaging and really easy to assign! Students solve problems on a preprogrammed Google Sheet. If they are right, the answer box turns green and part of a mystery picture is revealed. It’s so easy as a teacher to see if students are getting answers right or wrong, and this no-prep activity is a great last-minute sub plan! My students love this adorable winter-themed activity that you can snag by clicking here!
What are your favorite strategies or tips for making fraction operations stick? Let me know in the comments below!
