Fractions are an important concept used throughout advanced mathematical ideas and everyday life. Students need a solid understanding of fraction concepts, such as magnitude, equivalence, and operations. However, many students, including students with learning disabilities (LD) in mathematics, struggle with fractions. In this article, the use of…

This qualitative, multiple case study provided comprehensive descriptions of the conceptual difficulties and learning experiences of in-service teachers as they improved their ability to effectively model fraction division with pictorial diagrams. Video data were collected on eight teachers as they individually progressed through a professional…

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a number line intervention with supported self-explanation on student understanding of fraction magnitude and quality of explanation. Participants were three U.S. middle school students with significant behavior problems. Participants were given eight lessons containing explicit instruction…

Decimals and the related areas of ratio and proportion are recognised as one of the most challenging and complex areas of mathematics for young children to learn. In this study, four dynamic digital representations were used by Year 4 (9-10 years old) students in a set of video-recorded, individual task-based interviews to explore key concepts of…

In mathematics, learners often spontaneously draw on prior knowledge when learning new ideas. In this study, we examined whether the specific diagrams used to represent more familiar (i.e., whole number division) and less familiar ideas (i.e., fraction division) shape successful transfer. Undergraduates (N = 177) were randomly assigned to…

Fostering conceptual understanding in mathematics classrooms is an important goal in mathematics education. To support this goal, we need to be able to diagnose and assess the extent to which students have conceptual understanding. In this study we employed a problem-posing task and a problem-solving task in order to diagnose and assess preservice…

In this research, a new test for understanding simple fractions has been developed for students at the beginning of lower secondary education. In many countries, mathematics education in Grade 5 builds on elementary students' developing concepts of fractions. Understanding fractions causes many difficulties for students, and research on mental…

This study used traditional and holographic video, along with eye-tracking technology, to examine how preservice teachers' physical act of looking is associated with how they attend to and assess students' fraction reasoning. Findings revealed that, although viewing of holograms may have influenced more focus on students' work area, there was…

Number lines and area models are both used pervasively in teaching fractions. Prior studies found that second and third graders demonstrated better magnitude knowledge of proper fractions after a 15-minute training using the number line as compared to using the area model. The current study aimed to extend these findings to improper fractions. We…

Analogy is a powerful learning mechanism for children to learn novel, abstract concepts from only limited input, yet also requires cognitive supports. My dissertation sought to propose and examine number lines as a mathematical schema of the number system to facilitate both the development of rational number understanding and analogical reasoning.…

Learning trajectories are built upon progressions of mathematical understandings that are typical of the general population of students. As such, they are useful frameworks for exploring how understandings of diverse learners may be similar or different from their peers, which has implications for tailoring instruction. The purpose of this…

In mathematics, there is conceptual and procedural knowledge. Conceptual knowledge is about ideas or mathematics understanding but procedural knowledge is about procedure to solve mathematics problems. Multisensory approach involve many senses like kinaesthetic, visual and auditory to gain knowledge. This research aims to find information about…

Find out how to use photographic images to support the conceptual development of proportional thinking. This paper provides insight into a sequenced activity that promotes student engagement and makes links to familiar and unfamiliar contexts.

Examines the use of a ratio table for developing students' conceptual understanding of rational number. The ratio table is an alternative to cross-multiplication and can utilize both additive and multiplicative strategies. It organizes numbers and keeps track of operations and results, which aids the teacher in assessment. (MLB)