Fractions and decimals - gonna need help....

[Michelle T]

We are not there yet, but getting close. DS is 11.5, and he really, really struggles with math. We are slowly working through division, and next will be fractions and decimals.

I know this is going to be VERY tough for DS, so I would like to find the best supplement or program to help him with these concepts. We are using a special ed math curriculum as our basic program, but it does not give very much practice, and not enough guidance for me to explain these more difficult (for DS, anyway) topics.

Suggestions?
Michelle T

[Lori D.]

Very gentle and incremental -- you can also skip pages as needed. Easy enough to do just 1 page a day several days a week without it adding more than 5-10 minutes to your math time. Each math topic usually has anywhere from 4-8 workbooks which build slowly, incrementally. Each has an interesting -- and often visual (i.e., with a picture) -- description of the math topic and how to "do" that math concept.

Is a gentle workbook series what you're thinking -- or something more hands-on, or video lesson, or...?

For great, visual explanations, my Visual-Spatial Learner really connected well with both Math-U-See Epsilon (fractions) and Zetz (Percents and Decimals). Perhaps consider getting the teaching DVDs for a really visual way to see and understand the concepts, but continue to use your current math as your spine math?

Warm regards, Lori D.

[Heather in VA]

If you are looking for something hands-on, which can be very helpful with fractions, I highly recommend Shiller Math's fractions book. It's a whole math program but you can buy the fractions book separately and you just need a few manipulatives.

[Lorna]

I second the 'Key To...' books for fractions and decimals.
I also like these 'sums' books (http://www.nezertbooks.net/) for gentle but interesting practice with long division and long multiplication. They are made for home educators by home educators and have lovely cartoons on each page. Our two loved them.

[cajun.classical]

Another recommendation for the Key to... books. When ds was 10 he went through the fractions book almost entirely independent. He really liked it and learned a lot. He'll start up the decimal book soon.

[Athena]

Life of Fred has a book on Fractions and one on Decimals & Percents. Short chapters, excellent explanations, 10 questions or less at the end of each chapter. They are harder word problems but if you want to know why we do things with fraction like we do, its in there. I know a number of people use Fred for the story and then add in a traditional text for extra practice.

Just another thought!

Christy

[Jenny in Atl]

I like both Key to and Life of Fred... as I have one of those kids who needs things explained to her a number of ways. :eek:

[Kathy in MD]

We are not there yet, but getting close. DS is 11.5, and he really, really struggles with math. We are slowly working through division, and next will be fractions and decimals.

I know this is going to be VERY tough for DS, so I would like to find the best supplement or program to help him with these concepts. We are using a special ed math curriculum as our basic program, but it does not give very much practice, and not enough guidance for me to explain these more difficult (for DS, anyway) topics.

Suggestions?
Michelle T

by combining the manipulatives with paper and pencil for a long time. My ds did Montessori and as a result I would lean toward the Montessori-based programs -- Shiller and Right Start. However I have no experience with either. If you still felt more worksheet practice was needed, there are web sites that offer free worksheets in fractions and decimals.

I wouldn't go with either the Key to .... series or Life of Fred to introduce the topic with this type of learner. The Key to ..... series doesn't have enough practice for starters. Second, though the drawings are excellent, they aren't manipulatives the student can explore with and use for other problems. Finally, my ds has the ability to work through the Key to ..... series, do well on the assignments and totally NOT have any idea what the lesson was about. He's just talented, I guess :rolleyes: Life of Fred doesn't have the manipulatives I feel a struggling student requires and it doesn't have a lot problems to work.

What's been helping my ds, besides a good program, is requiring that he memorize the algorithms after he understands them. I have my ds recite the algorithm and work 1 problem using it daily for 5 days, then once a week for 3 weeks and finally once a month for 3 months. If he messes up on either the algorithm or working the problem, it goes back to day 1. I've found that working a problem is just as important for my ds as remembering the algorithm.

HTH

[susie in tx]

I haven't seen them in a while, but you might want to check out the fractions book from Math Mammoth (http://www.mathmammoth.com).

[Sandra in FL]

as reinforcement and to solidify the concepts (not to initially teach them). I recommend Key to Fractions, Decimals and then Percents (in that order).

HTH,
Sandra

[Carol in Cal.]

They have sets of heavy plastic rods that are color coded.

I have one set for fractions, one for decimals, and one for percentages.

Each set has the same size blocks and color coding as the others, so it is very easy to see, for instance, that 25% is the same as .25 which is the same as 1/4.

When I introduced fractions, decimals, and percents to DD, I first gave her the fractions and asked her to play with them and notice relationships among them for 10 minutes per day (in addition to her normal math lessons). Then I added the decimal blocks, and much later the percent blocks.

I still pull them out from time to time, so that she can cement these relationships in a non-pressured way.

I also review the basics with her in question and answer format pretty often when we are in the car. Here are the q and a's roughly:

What is a fraction, fundamentally?
A A fraction is fundamentally a division problem.
Can you tell me how you would make the fraction 1/2 into a division problem?
A I would put the 1 under the division thing and the 2 outside.
How can you fit 2's into 1's?
A I would add a decimal point under the division thing and then add zeros.

How do you change a fraction into a decimal?
A Divide the bottom number into the top number.

What is the one thing to remember about adding decimals?
A Line them up first.
What is the one thing to remember about subtracting decimals?
A Line them up first.
What is the one thing to remember about multiplying decimals?
A Multiply them and then add up how many digits are to the right of the decimal points, and then move over that number of digits to the left with your decimal point in the answer.
What is the one thing to remember about dividing decimals?
A Before you divide them, move the decimal point in the outside number over just enough spaces to the right to make this a whole number. Then move the decimal point in the inside number over the same number of spaces to the right.

What is the one thing to remember about adding or subtracting fractions?
A Make the bottoms match by finding the least common denominator, and then add or subtract just the tops.
What is the one thing to remember about multiplying fractions?
A Multiply the tops across and the bottoms across. Then reduce to simplest form.
What is the one thing to remember about dividing fractions?
A Multiply the first number by the reciprocal of the second number, and then reduce to simplest form.

Give me one example of a decimal and its matching per cent:
A.....
Now tell me what decimal equals 4%?
A 0.04
And what percent equals 0.3?
A 30%

------------

You can imagine that it was a while before we got to the point where this litany was fast and easy, but once we got there, this has really helped to keep the information fresh in DD's head.

DD hates math, but is starting to feel a little proficient at it, thanks to our switch to Saxon.

[Cindyg]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned MUS yet. (Or maybe I missed it.) Epsilon covers fractions; so I guess Zeta is the one after that, and it covers decimals. The DVD lessons are short and sweet. He shows manipulatives on the screen; you can follow along at home or just watch. I think it's a terrific supplement.

[Elinor Everywhere]

Life of Fred has a book on Fractions and one on Decimals & Percents. Short chapters, excellent explanations, 10 questions or less at the end of each chapter. They are harder word problems but if you want to know why we do things with fraction like we do, its in there. I know a number of people use Fred for the story and then add in a traditional text for extra practice.

Just another thought!

Christy

My dd can't wait to get started, although we don't start our new year until April. But she's already halfway through chapter 2 and loving it. I'll be interested in seeing how much she retains from the story format.

[Sue in St Pete]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned MUS yet. (Or maybe I missed it.) Epsilon covers fractions; so I guess Zeta is the one after that, and it covers decimals. The DVD lessons are short and sweet. He shows manipulatives on the screen; you can follow along at home or just watch. I think it's a terrific supplement.

We've used MUS from K through Pre-Algebra, so I'm not sure what it would be like to jump in at the Epsilon level, but I have to say that the fraction overlays are incredible.

Here's an excerpt from my review:
Epsilon (5th grade) works with fractions. They have fraction overlays that really help the kids SEE fractions. They are a little difficult to describe, but I'll try. On the bottom, there is a white background piece. On the top there is a clear plastic piece with lines dividing the white background piece into halves or thirds or fourths or fifths ... In the middle is a colored piece that represents 1/2 or 2/2 or 1/3 or 2/3 or 3/3 or 1/4 or 2/4 or ... When you add 2/3 + 1/4, you set up the 2/3, set up the 1/4, then take the extra clear plastic piece divided into 4 and place it crosswise over the 2/3, SEEing that 2/3 is the same as 8/12. You take the extra clear plastic piece divided into 3 and place it crosswise over the 1/4, SEEing that 1/4 is the same as 3/12. Adding, 8/12 + 3/12 is easy then.

Good luck!