Anonymous
Post 01/15/2026 14:35     Subject: Best simple resource for fractions?
What are examples of problems he can do easily and examples of problems he struggles with?
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2026 10:39     Subject: Best simple resource for fractions?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I like fraction wheels and cooking, but it's easy to waste a HUGE amount of time on manipulatives when you should instead be drilling on paper.

I suggest "Key to Fractions", a very inexpensive four-book workbook series. Get it either used or from Rainbow Resource. Also math-drills.com for printable worksheets for extra practice. (They have some with autofill for answers. Don't do that, just print them out.)

NB that fractions are the most difficult topic in elementary school math; IIRC in Liping Ma's blockbuster "Knowing and Teaching Elementary Mathematics", something like 40% of teachers failed to do a fractional division problem correctly, and only one out of twenty-five or so could come up with an example of fractional division, and the one she came up with wasn't that great.


Key to Fractions looks like a good set. Question for anyone, does adding and subtracting fractions typically come after learning multiplying fractions as laid out in this series? I think mine has learned how to add and subtract fractions at school but I’m not sure he knows how to multiply them. That seems more complicated.


Multiplying fractions (and dividing them, which is just flip and multiply) is conceptually easier than adding and subtracting. It's also fewer steps, as no common denominator is required.

That said, across two different math curriculums (FCPS and Math in Focus) my kids have learned adding and subtracting fractions before multiplying and dividing them.
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2026 10:37     Subject: Best simple resource for fractions?
Anonymous wrote:I like fraction wheels and cooking, but it's easy to waste a HUGE amount of time on manipulatives when you should instead be drilling on paper.

I suggest "Key to Fractions", a very inexpensive four-book workbook series. Get it either used or from Rainbow Resource. Also math-drills.com for printable worksheets for extra practice. (They have some with autofill for answers. Don't do that, just print them out.)

NB that fractions are the most difficult topic in elementary school math; IIRC in Liping Ma's blockbuster "Knowing and Teaching Elementary Mathematics", something like 40% of teachers failed to do a fractional division problem correctly, and only one out of twenty-five or so could come up with an example of fractional division, and the one she came up with wasn't that great.


Key to Fractions looks like a good set. Question for anyone, does adding and subtracting fractions typically come after learning multiplying fractions as laid out in this series? I think mine has learned how to add and subtract fractions at school but I’m not sure he knows how to multiply them. That seems more complicated.
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2026 10:34     Subject: Best simple resource for fractions?
That book scared me enough to take control of math education for my kid. Even a first grade teacher should instantly think of examples though - how many pizza slices (1/8ths) go into whole pizza, how many quarters go into $2.5, etc.
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2026 10:25     Subject: Best simple resource for fractions?
Anonymous wrote:I like fraction wheels and cooking, but it's easy to waste a HUGE amount of time on manipulatives when you should instead be drilling on paper.

I suggest "Key to Fractions", a very inexpensive four-book workbook series. Get it either used or from Rainbow Resource. Also math-drills.com for printable worksheets for extra practice. (They have some with autofill for answers. Don't do that, just print them out.)

NB that fractions are the most difficult topic in elementary school math; IIRC in Liping Ma's blockbuster "Knowing and Teaching Elementary Mathematics", something like 40% of teachers failed to do a fractional division problem correctly, and only one out of twenty-five or so could come up with an example of fractional division, and the one she came up with wasn't that great.


I like to knock on FCPS all the time, but this stat amazes me. My kids upper ES teachers could all easily do this kind of math. I have no idea about lower ES, because they aren't doing fractional division. Maybe the problem was she was interviewing mostly kindergarten and 1st grade teachers?
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2026 10:24     Subject: Best simple resource for fractions?
Anonymous wrote:Legos for multiplication and fractions


If the problem is the concept, I support this. Most people have them and it's easy to flexibly determine the denominator of the fraction this way.
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2026 10:21     Subject: Best simple resource for fractions?
I like fraction wheels and cooking, but it's easy to waste a HUGE amount of time on manipulatives when you should instead be drilling on paper.

I suggest "Key to Fractions", a very inexpensive four-book workbook series. Get it either used or from Rainbow Resource. Also math-drills.com for printable worksheets for extra practice. (They have some with autofill for answers. Don't do that, just print them out.)

NB that fractions are the most difficult topic in elementary school math; IIRC in Liping Ma's blockbuster "Knowing and Teaching Elementary Mathematics", something like 40% of teachers failed to do a fractional division problem correctly, and only one out of twenty-five or so could come up with an example of fractional division, and the one she came up with wasn't that great.
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2026 22:19     Subject: Best simple resource for fractions?
I used mini marshmallows to teach my kids.
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2026 21:38     Subject: Best simple resource for fractions?
Legos for multiplication and fractions
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2026 21:24     Subject: Best simple resource for fractions?
Bake something. Or use a set of measuring cups. Or cut a pizza.

Or money.
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2026 21:06     Subject: Best simple resource for fractions?
Those linked toys seem awfully babyish for a 9 year old. Even a 5 year old can easily pick up the concept of what a fraction is and represents with an oral explanation and a few drawings. Even little kids understand "1/4 of a pizza."

I think OP's kid must be having trouble with more complicated things like comparing them or doing arithmetic. Those toys are not going to help him solve a problem like comparing 6/31 and 4/21, or calculating 4 and 4/7 plus 5 and 5/7. For that you need one on one instruction. Better than a toy would be getting a 1 meter square whiteboard for the kitchen where you can do math problems step by step.
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2026 19:55     Subject: Best simple resource for fractions?
Use food. Let him touch. Also, there are fraction blocks. Sit on the floor and play with the blocks.

https://www.amazon.com/ETA-hand2mind-Plastic-Fraction-Fractions/dp/B016DU8TF8/ref=sr_1_3_sspa?crid=1K563VJ05XJD0&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ItDtjFHkxzFqsrqNReibrXO1bcdgzayCGQAU4dmAoYz7d5umIpqHFTtQ0J3KXzWzaSkPqHhr2hbTTci-wuH79HBVfGGmwTg2DPn-Q8xCOIf8ojPUeLB1sDst3XrYHQKhZN3dq1J-hYowgSydaCNg7KC7ZT8BdxOpJv5G7IHc-ofQUevbpeJt_Yx1ZW8UdoBdcJj503CiKm7XYrtAQ9u7-GfAyB_ULuzrzKMXvKVwYCyqPoENc_wxbtLU0JlOyyDpC9Onx3YMMf7DiYvwlPN_uLl_EsLaxwY4fT_HsWWhOog.K92QsZt4L6hRoL7BOhGl1RtTABoDnf6nEVf4iHYeofk&dib_tag=se&keywords=fraction%2Bblocks%2Bfor%2Bkids&qid=1768438542&sprefix=fraction%2Bblocks%2Caps%2C233&sr=8-3-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2026 19:37     Subject: Best simple resource for fractions?
Trouble in what way? Trouble with understanding what they are or trouble adding and subtracting them?
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2026 19:17     Subject: Best simple resource for fractions?
Amazon has some great manipulatives. I have this one and my child likes it



https://www.amazon.com/D-FantiX-Educational-Manipulatives-Elementary-Montessori/dp/B0F2FRW6H9/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?crid=XW4T6WWHOOIS&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.vILToxTES6e6c0A9GgvuEpaJF3tTHtdxOKTAb4FFd_RPLBBeQtPP2erU9T_gJzKParkf-W0HTTThkc53z-jJjKC9xhvpBieQ2Dr1LnWUO52WJwfd9WyB6QYLpg6psPpCpm6Ph30zkihdpBhFhBjkFYUDExYSga7x72_7uI1FIUcSjwU0xSmuG7j52zOsh-7llC104uVx5ycoJ89VV6QzaA.J5ZduVjbLKDw9lb4IMdhaeFWLG1S1MreG7tQDcjlBSU&dib_tag=se&keywords=fraction+manipulatives&qid=1768436221&sprefix=fraction+man%2Caps%2C218&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRm&psc=1
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2026 18:44     Subject: Best simple resource for fractions?
A set of diagrams, or free worksheets, or a toy, any resources that you liked best? DS9 seems to be having trouble with fractions.

I’ve tried drawing things for him and also going step by step through a paper square, cutting it in half, quarters, then grouping the pieces, etc.

We have cut up an apple together.