Pre-service teachers (PSTs) often encounter challenges grasping the conceptual understanding of fractions, which can affect their readiness to teach this topic. This study investigates a novel approach to enhancing PSTs' comprehension of fractions by focusing on the fraction-as-a-measure meaning within a measurement context. Through a modified…

Fractions are core content of elementary school mathematics, and conceptual knowledge of fractions is essential when developing a comprehensive understanding of fractions. Previous research, however, has indicated limitations in student teachers' fraction knowledge. This study investigated 57 Swedish elementary school student teachers' conceptions…

Understanding fractions, especially their magnitude, is essential for success in mathematics. Unfortunately, fractions are one of the most challenging mathematics concepts to teach and learn. Several studies have examined preservice teacher (PST) knowledge of fractions, but very few studies have looked for ways to improve this knowledge. This…

Researchers from multiple disciplines have found that fractions and algebra knowledge are linked. One major strand of research has identified children's "units coordination" structures as crucial for success with fractions and algebra via multiplicative reasoning, whereas a second strand of research points to "magnitude…

Researchers from multiple disciplines have found that fractions and algebra knowledge are linked. One major strand of research has identified children's "units coordination" structures as crucial for success with fractions and algebra via multiplicative reasoning, whereas a second strand of research points to "magnitude…

Fractions are challenging for both typically achieving children and adults. Although some prior research has focused on fraction difficulties of children with mathematics difficulties (MD), persistent difficulties encountered by adults with MD remain unknown. It is possible that these adults may be able to compensate for some deficits. In this…

With the changes in Common Core State Standards, it was essential to explore how elementary pre-service teachers' sense of fractions is developing and their thoughts about how to teach fractions. A gap in practice exists because it is unknown how pre-service elementary teachers, after student-teaching, perceive their level of in-practice knowledge…

When learning about fractions, teaching usually follows certain topics -- e.g. part of the whole, fraction equivalence, and size comparison. Not yet answered is whether students' conceptual and procedural knowledge of fractions is coherent between those topics. To answer this question, we performed a latent profile analysis of data from N = 1005…

The intention of the study was to examine the effects of a fraction intervention in a whole-class environment. The intervention aimed to enhance students' conceptual fraction knowledge, with a major focus on fraction magnitude understanding. This study included 120 fifth-grade students in standard classroom settings. Utilizing a cluster randomized…

Background/Context: The U.S has experienced years of lost progress in math because of the COVID-19 pandemic (NAEP, n.d.a). Fraction understanding is widely characterized as the gatekeeper to algebra (Booth et al., 2012; National Mathematics Advisory Panel, 2008) and can support success in middle and high school math (Bailey et al., 2012; Booth et…

Background: Providing students with worked out problem solutions is a beneficial instructional technique in STEM disciplines, and studying examples that have been worked out incorrectly may be especially helpful for reducing misconceptions in students with low prior content knowledge. However, past results are inconclusive and the effects of…