Have you noticed your middle school math students struggling with basic concepts like number sense and converting fractions, decimals, and percentages? Let's explore how you can help students overcome this problem and set them up for success in secondary math classes.
Struggles with Fractions, Decimals, and Percents
Many students struggle with number sense when it comes to fractions. Perhaps they were absent when basic concepts were taught or maybe their previous teacher didn't use a strategy that stuck with them.
But many students have so much trouble with fractions. They are even scared of them.
You've heard the joke "5 out of 4 people struggle with fractions," right?
If it could be true, it would be.... but you can't have 5 people when the "whole" or denominator is only 4 people.
3 reasons to practice fractions every day in middle school math
Every day? Yes, every day. Here's why:
1. Repetition will make a difference in what students understand about fractions and what they mean.
2. Consistency will help build routines for your students. Consistent exposure to fractions will build better problem solving skills.
3. Improved mental math can happen over time with more practice and exposure to fractions.
Converting Fractions, Decimals, and Percents Worksheets for Daily Practice
Students can practice with a fraction a day and work on converting between fractions, decimals, and percentages.
Next, students need to practice placing fractions on a number line, as well as comparing fractions using <, >, and = signs.
Determining whether a fraction is a terminating decimal or a repeating decimal is important and a big part of truly understanding the relationship between those equivalent number forms.
Finally, students practice reducing fractions that are not in simplest form, or if it is in simplest form they can draw a picture to represent the fraction. Hundreds grids are also used to model the fraction of the day.
These skills are some of the foundations needed to be successful in later secondary math courses.
Converting Fractions, Decimals, and Percents Worksheets for an Entire Quarter or School Year
Students can work on each fraction of the day for warm ups, exit tickets, homework assignments, stations, intervention groups, early finishers, and more.
These worksheets can be a part of your spiral review in your middle school math classroom.
Try out a single quarter of worksheets (9 weeks) or a full year of fractions.
Benefits of Daily Practice to Increase Number Sense in a Middle School Math Classroom
Now, you can see that daily practice using converting fractions, decimals, and percentages worksheets will help your students in so many ways.
But if you're still not sure, then try out this 2 week free sample.
