Young children often explore partitioning as the idea of fair sharing in contexts where equal parts are created and distributed based on spatial constructs of the objects, rather than enumerating parts or collections. However, the presence of spatial reasoning in children's early fraction experiences is implicit within much of the literature and…

This paper reports on a key representation, a triple number line, designed as part of the first author's doctoral study. The study sought ways to represent multiple constructs of fractions in the context of merging music and mathematics to support learners' understanding of fractions. A problem scenario was designed guided by Realistic Mathematics…

Fractions are among the most problematic concepts that children encounter in their primary school years because of the many different conceptions of fractions. Textbook analyses have tried to provide insights into how fractions are introduced, focusing on the different concepts and representations of fractions. In this paper, we contribute to…

Determining the most effective ways to support student-to-student talk requires some negotiating from a responsive teacher. This paper reports on a case study of two emergent multilingual students in Grade 3 (seven to eight-year-olds) who explained their strategies to each other. The transcript of their conversation was analysed using Chan and…

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…

Fractions remains a difficult topic for primary preservice teachers (PST). This paper analyses a PST teaching episode using the "Refined Consensus Model" (RCM) of Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) to explore challenges faced by PST in acquiring specialised knowledge for effective fractions teaching. Data include semi-structured…

This case study aims to describe the learning characteristics of a child and evaluate his preferences for using physical manipulatives (PM) and virtual manipulatives (VM) to solve fraction problems. The participant in this study was a fourth-grade child. The child was given similar problems to solve using PM and VM. Data sources were observations…

This paper describes the authors' journey in designing a linear representation that aligns mathematics and music to support fractional reasoning. The three authors, guided by the theoretical framing of realistic mathematics education, engaged in a task design process over a 12-month period to develop integrated resources. Data were collected in…

Young children are capable of engaging with ratio, measurement and operator meanings of fractions earlier than many national curriculum standards indicate, yet current trends in children's understanding of fractions in Australia, remain weak. Research suggests that spatial reasoning can positively influence mathematical knowledge; however, the…

We draw on our work with designed instructional sequence on Fractions as Measures across three international contexts and explore the functions of the design features related to the stories embedded within the sequence. We discuss functions that relate to how stories support students' meaningful engagement in classroom mathematical activities,…

There is a large body of research that suggests a sound understanding of rational number is vital for success in all areas of mathematics, at school and beyond. In the Australian Curriculum, fractions are formally introduced from Year 1, yet there is evidence to suggest that current approaches are not leading to deep understanding in later years.…

To succeed in mathematics middle-years' students must move from additive to multiplicative thinking and from arithmetic calculations to generalised algebraic strategies. If we ask the right questions this progression can be monitored and prompted through fraction tasks. Students' solution strategies for fraction tasks vary from a dependence on…

This study investigated how six Year Four (9-10 years old) students interacted with a dynamic (zoomable) digital number line to demonstrate knowledge and understandings of decimal fractions. Results from a task-based interview indicated that the zoomable number line is able to assist students in developing conceptual understandings of decimal…

The concept of fractions is perceived as one of the most difficult areas in school mathematics to learn and teach. The most frequently mentioned factors contributing to the complexity is fractions having five interrelated constructs: part-whole, ratio, operator, quotient, and measure. In this study, we used this framework to investigate the…

In this paper, I report on doctoral research in which I studied the changes in mathematical knowledge and beliefs of two Year 5/6 teachers as they implemented a four-week innovative curriculum unit. Such immersion experiences have the potential to develop teachers' understanding of mathematics in the context of the classroom. Year 6 case study…