CTGE 5227 Personal Learning Path

 This week was February Break so we did not have school. I took this time to look into some math games involving fractions! The students have been working really hard with their fractions and I've noticed most of the work my cooperating teacher has been assigning them has been worksheets or pages in their workbooks. I wanted to see if I could find some online fractions games that would not only be fun, but helpful and relevant to what they are learning.  The website Splash Learning has tons of games for many mathematical concepts for all grade levels. For 4th grade, I enjoyed the game where students have to match the fraction to the model shown. A pie chart or square model will be shown that illustrates a certain fraction. Students must then click on a jellyfish that shows the corresponding fraction. Although this may be a simple task, I still think it is important for students to get practice visualizing fractions. You can check out this game here: https://www.splashlear...

 This week, my class started learning how to multiply fractions with like denominators and write equations using unit fractions. We had a whole discussion about how multiplication is just repeated addition which I found to be a nice tie-in to what we talked about in this class!  First, we showed the students a fraction like 4/5. Then we told them to break it down into an addition problem with unit fractions. Unit fractions are just fractions with 1 as the numerator. So their equitation should look like 1/5 + 1/5 + 1/5 +1/5 = 4/5. Because multiplication is just repeated addition, we asked them how many times is 1/5 being added? (4 times) So to make it into a multiplication equation, we can just say 1/5 x 4 = 4/5 It is important to stress how you must only multiply the numerator; never multiply the denominator! Once they understood this concept, it was time to start multiplying fractions with like denominators. We would give them a problem like 2/8 x 3/8 = ? Knowing that you onl...

 This past week, my class started to learn how to add and subtract mixed numbers with common denominators. We spent tons of time showing them the steps needed to take and went over how to borrow whole numbers when subtracting. The students did really well on all their assignments, class worksheets, and homework with this unit. My cooperating teacher and I felt that they were ready to take their exam so they took it Friday. Much to our surprise, many of the students failed! Looking back at their work, we found that so many of them made careless mistakes in their math and didn't read directions or word problems carefully. We decided to let a few of them retake the test with guided help from myself. I gave them a refresher lesson on adding and subtracting mixed numbers, borrowing whole numbers, and even converting mixed numbers and improper fractions. Even with guidance, it still was a struggle for some of the students. How could they do so well in class and on their homework but so p...

 As my class continues to learn about fractions, I continue to learn as well. This past week, the class has been learning how to convert improper fractions into mixed numbers and vice versa. When I first saw this, I panicked a little, knowing that I would most likely continue working in small groups with students to review some questions together. I don't even remember learning how to do this.  After watching my cooperating teacher's lesson I felt more confident once again. Still, though, it felt like I was learning this for the first time.  To get an improper fraction into a mixed number, you divide the numerator by the denominator to get the whole number and whatever your remainder is will become your new numerator to go over your original denominator. For example; 11/9. You would divide the numerator (11) by the denominator (9). 9 goes into 11 once so 1 would be your whole number. We then subtract 11-9 and get a remainder of 2 or 2/9. So our answer is 1 and 2/9  T...