tdeveson Posted October 10, 2009 Share Posted October 10, 2009 We're behind on fractions. While ds continues with his regular TT curriculum, I'd like to help him achieve mastery of fractions on the side. He shies away from cramped pages in black and white. (Come to think of it, I do too.) I'd like to find a colorful, engaging book, or an online game, or something visually engaging to help him attain mastery. A combination of resources would work. Any suggestions or advise would be most appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted October 10, 2009 Share Posted October 10, 2009 It's not colourful, but I highly recommend Life of Fred: Fractions. It's fun, the math is good, and the author encourages students to colour the book themselves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted October 10, 2009 Share Posted October 10, 2009 It's not colourful, but I highly recommend Life of Fred: Fractions. It's fun, the math is good, and the author encourages students to colour the book themselves. :iagree::iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen in CO Posted October 10, 2009 Share Posted October 10, 2009 Have you looked at the Key to Fractions books? In general, the Key to ... books are black and white but with plenty of room and lots of white space on each page. They have incremental steps and clear explanations. Life of Fred also has a Fractions book that has excellent explanations although I have only read it myself and not used it with a student yet - it is a very different approach to math and my ds loved the higher level books. Sorry, that I don't have any colorful recommendations for you, but I haven't had to look for that type of resource yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdeveson Posted October 10, 2009 Author Share Posted October 10, 2009 Thanks! These are both good suggestions and I'll look into them both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RanchGirl Posted October 10, 2009 Share Posted October 10, 2009 Sorry I can't add anything original to this thread but I will say that my son loved Life of Fred Fractions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corraleno Posted October 10, 2009 Share Posted October 10, 2009 The Math Mammoth workbooks on Fractions could be just what you're looking for: they're colorful (without being too busy) and the explanations are very clear, concise, and well-illustrated. Plus they're inexpensive and you can download them instantly! There are plenty of samples on the website: http://www.mathmammoth.com/fractions.php Jackie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted October 10, 2009 Share Posted October 10, 2009 I taught all my children fractions by baking. doubling recipes, halving recipes, cutting cakes and pies, chopping up fruit ( like there are 3 oranges, and 5 people cut them up so everyone gets the same)etc until they are really good at it. then when they are doing fractions in their book and are having trouble, I remind them that fractions are just like a cake, and then they get it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sara Mac Posted October 10, 2009 Share Posted October 10, 2009 I'd 2nd (or 3rd) Life of Fred. For online practice I liked the Homework Rules website - it explains fractions and then gives practice problems. Enchanted learning also has some printable worksheets as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IsabelC Posted October 10, 2009 Share Posted October 10, 2009 Do you do fraction based games with your child? We have a pizza one, but there are heaps on the market. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pamela H in Texas Posted October 10, 2009 Share Posted October 10, 2009 Also not colorful but WAY not cramped, MUS Epsilon is fractions. The blocks are colorful too :) Short easy lessons, do as many days of each lesson as you need for mastery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen500 Posted October 10, 2009 Share Posted October 10, 2009 This website has some online games using fractions- http://www.mathplayground.com/index.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverMoon Posted October 10, 2009 Share Posted October 10, 2009 It's not colourful, but I highly recommend Life of Fred: Fractions. It's fun, the math is good, and the author encourages students to colour the book themselves. Another vote for Life of Fred. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inactive Posted October 10, 2009 Share Posted October 10, 2009 Also not colorful but WAY not cramped, MUS Epsilon is fractions. The blocks are colorful too :) Short easy lessons, do as many days of each lesson as you need for mastery. :iagree: Especially since they redesigned their books -- the pages are spaced nicely so that the work can be shown right under the problem. I *LOVE* the Fraction Manipulatives and I believe they were the key to my daughter's understanding of fractions...not just the *HOW* but the *WHY*... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgia Posted October 10, 2009 Share Posted October 10, 2009 Yes, we used a set of fraction tiles/squares to "see" the way they work - especially the concept of equivalent fractions. My favorite way to reinforce is with pizza and brownies (YUM!) having the child cut the brownies up to satisfy a series of situations/combinations of people who want to eat them. (For example, If there are twelve brownies, and four people want to eat half of the brownies, how many brownies does each one get? - you have to cut some of them into 4ths, since you're dividing among 4 people - this even can include simplifying.) You can do this many different ways, and the child will sometimes start to make up his own combinations. And chocolate fuels the brain, right?;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyNellen Posted October 10, 2009 Share Posted October 10, 2009 Another vote! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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