Students are indeed weak when it comes to understanding fractions and decimals. In line with the national curriculum, whole numbers and fractions are taught first before students start to learn decimals. By the time the students approach decimals, they should have acquired sufficient knowledge of whole numbers but limited knowledge of fractions.…

What does it look like to "understand" operations with fractions? The Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM) uses the term "understand" when describing expectations for students' knowledge related to each of the fraction operations within grades 4 through 6 (CCSSI 2010). Furthermore, CCSSM elaborates that…

This study investigated the effect on teachers of observing or implementing an alternative form of instruction in a primary-grade arithmetic class. Under consideration were the relationships between the beliefs teachers held about mathematics and about teaching mathematics, and their recognition and internalization of the principles of the…