Skip to Content

A Focus on Fractions

Bringing Research to the Classroom

By Marjorie M. Petit, Robert E. Laird, Edwin L. Marsden

Published May 10th 2010 by Routledge – 194 pages

Series: Studies in Mathematical Thinking and Learning Series

Purchasing Options:

Description

A Focus on Fractions is the first book to make cognitive research on how students develop their understanding of fraction concepts readily accessible and understandable to pre- and in-service K– 8 mathematics educators. This important resource assists teachers in translating research findings into their classroom practice by conveying detailed information about how students develop fraction understandings as well as common student misconceptions, errors, preconceptions, and partial understandings that may interfere with students learning. Using extensive annotated samples of student work, as well as vignettes characteristic of classroom teachers’ experiences, this book equips educators with knowledge and tools to reveal students’ thinking so that they can modify their teaching to improve student learning of fractions concepts.

Special Features:

  • End of Chapter Questions provide teachers the opportunity to analyze student thinking and consider instructional strategies for their own students.
  • Instructional Links help teachers relate concepts from the chapter to their own instructional materials and programs.
  • Big Ideas and Research Reviews frame the chapters and provide a platform for meaningful exploration of the teaching of fractions.
  • Answer Key posted online offers extensive explanations of in-chapter questions.

A Focus on Fractions bridges the gap between what mathematics education researchers have discovered about the learning of fraction concepts and what teachers need to know to make effective instructional decisions.

Reviews

"…Readers will find children's work presented in the book to be interesting and sometimes intriguing. The work provides insights into difficulties understanding fractions and ways to help children develop a better understanding of concepts. Primarily because of extensive samples of student work, this is a valuable book for mathematics educators involved in K-8 classrooms….Recommended."--CHOICE

"To watch teachers interact with the research and practical suggestions in this book is exhilarating. The real joy, however, is seeing them use this learned knowledge as they instruct their students. This is a book for all of us who have struggled to help students make sense of fractions."--Mary Montgomery Lindquist, Fuller E. Callaway Professor of Mathematics Education, Emeritus, Past President of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

"A Focus on Fractions draws on research from mathematics education to produce a classroom-friendly system of formative assessment. Classroom teachers, mathematics educators, teacher education students, and researchers in the field will find what is in this book useful and interesting."-- Judith Zawojewski, Associate Professor, Illinois Institute of Technology

"This book is a tour de force in relating research and practice in mathematics education, and as such it should also be of great interest to researchers and graduate students in the field."--Edward A. Silver, William A. Brownell Professor of Education, University of Michigan

Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1 – Modeling and Developing Understanding of Fractions

Chapter 2 – Inappropriate Use of Whole Number Reasoning

Chapter 3 – What is the Whole?

Chapter 4 – Partitioning

Chapter 5 – Comparing and Ordering Fractions

Chapter 6 – Number Lines

Chapter 7 – Density of Fractions

Chapter 8 – Equivalence

Chapter 9 – Addition and Subtraction of Fractions

Chapter 10 – Multiplication and Division of Fractions

Author Bio

Marjorie M. Petit is an educational consultant in mathematics curriculum, instruction, and assessment.

Robert E. Laird works with the Vermont Mathematics Initiative and is a Lecturer in Mathematics at the University of Vermont.

Edwin L. Marsden is Professor of Mathematics and former chair of the Department of Mathematics at Norwich University.

Download

Download Support Materials here:

Available on the Apple iBookstore

Name: A Focus on Fractions: Bringing Research to the Classroom (Paperback) – Routledge 
Description: By Marjorie M. Petit, Robert E. Laird, Edwin L. Marsden. A Focus on Fractions is the first book to make cognitive research on how students develop their understanding of fraction concepts readily accessible and understandable to pre- and in-service K– 8 mathematics educators. This important resource...
Categories: Mathematics & Numeracy, Mathematics, Continuing Professional Development, Mathematics