Summary and Synthesis

During the last few classes, we have been using manipulatives to help with the understanding of fractions. I can fully understand why we would use these in teaching fractions to our students because they still help me when I am comparing fractions. When we were doing that worksheet, it was much easier to figure the answer when we used the manipulative to work it out. I found that it was easier for me to mentally figure out the pattern blocks than it was to figure out the cuisenaire rods. That was probably so because there are less pieces in the pattern blocks and they are different shapes. I will definitely use these types of manipulatives in my class in the future.

Summary and Synthesis

I have been really impacted recently about how many different ways fractions can be taught. I think learning to add, subtract, multiply, and divide fractions can be a difficult subject as well as trying to teach it to all students. Using the fraction bars, pattern blocks, or Cuisenaire rods are all helpful methods to help students see the fractions and to do the math problems with. Also, I think it is important to not teach students about the rules we learned when dealing with fractions and allow students to form these on their own. I have been surprised with the different ways my classmates are able to do these problems because my mind thinks so narrowly about these problems. I was never taught to think outside the box about these problems, but I think it’s important I do not do this to my students. There are many methods that can help students learn about fractions and I think the models can help all students learns as they can work hands-on and see the actual product.