Over the past several years fractions, as a topic in school mathematics, have received a great deal of attention. Growing research evidence indicates that the majority of students enter middle school with a limited understanding of fractions and, as a result, struggle with much of the mathematics content in middle school and beyond. There is a strong positive correlation between students' understanding of fractions and their overall success in mathematics. According to the final report of the National Mathematics Advisory Panel, understanding fractions is a "foundation skill essential to success in algebra." In this session, we will investigate the essential understandings of fractions as numbers - partitioning, comparing, ordering, equivalence. Because understanding fractions as numbers are central to help students calculate with accuracy, efficiency, and understanding, we will also investigate flexible and meaningful strategies for fraction computation.
