Mathematical Meltdowns...

[EmilyStrange]

I was wondering if any of you could give me some advice how to help my yr5 dd with her maths, especially considering I am such a dunderhead when it comes to numbers and (faint) fractions. She is really stressing out about it and I want to help her but I don't know where to begin. So please help. Thanks

I am sorry, but at 5 she doesn't need to know anythign about fractions.

Is it homework she is struggling with?

Op said "yr 5" DD not 5 yr old!

over, I think the DD is in yr 5, so 9 or 10.

emily, what is the problem/concept she is struggling with?

I always think pizza is the answer to everything to do with fractions. Or for the sweet-toothed, chocolate bars that come in squares. Denominators are just how many slices you have cut the pizza into. Numerators are how many slices you've got. Improper fractions are where you've got more than one pizza. If you need to add or subtract, you just need to know that you can't mix your sizes of slice - wouldn't be fair. Equivalent fractions - yes I've given your sister 2 quarters and you only 1 half, but stop whinging cos you've both got the same.

That's ok for fractions of shapes, party stress but it's a bit more tricky to understand fractions of number using that method.

hi it is year 5, I think I need some recommendations for any workbooks or websites that we could work through together as she is very vague about what is the actual problem and probing leads to tears. I suspect she just needs to practice a bit more. She seems to have a bit of a psychological block to anything numeracy related but I do believe she is capable.

It has been so long since I have tackled arithmetic and it is all done differently now.

The pizza thing sounds like a good start.

Oh God I am so sorry! Don't know why I read it as age 5!!

I have found, for DS (age 8) there are loads of good online maths games that he enjoys that have helped him. Does your school have Mathletics? If not you could recommend they subscribe to it, as it is brilliant, Has really improved the maths of lots of the year 5s I work with who were struggling.

There is also a website called Primary Resources full of worksheets, presentations, and explanations for everything, all done and submitted by teachers. Might be a good place for you to start?

mathletics

primary resources: fractions

www.amazon.co.uk/Learning-Resources-Fraction-Tower-Equivalency/dp/B000296LSO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328043284&sr=8-1

www.amazon.co.uk/Magnetic-Rainbow-Fraction-Circles-%C2%A311-00/dp/9999437079/ref=sr_1_1?s=kids&ie=UTF8&qid=1328043386&sr=1-1

Maybe something like this - she might appreciate something tangible to connect the theory to if she isn't keen on online computer learning?

Somewhere I read a fraction story - try googling - but it explained everything really well to KS2 age kids in a really accessible way - and it was written for kids who were struggling with fractions. Sorry don't have time to search for it for you at the moment.

www.iboard.co.uk/curriculum.htm?launch=3270#mathsks2-topicYear51maths_year_ks2year5

Mathletics here too.

Can I just give you my absolute TOP TIP for long division? My DS was Yr 5 last year and we struggled like mad with long division. I nearly wept to be honest - i couldn't grasp it when i was 9 so i had no hope of helping DS and THEN...duh duh duuuurrrrr....I was introduced to CHUNKING! It changed our lives - changed our lives, I tell ya!

chunking

Thanks so much overmydeadbody and ohmygosh I will certainly take a lookl at these, it is a good start.

Part of the problem is how competitive the kids get. They can be quite mean to her if she is slow to finish a booklet in class or does not get a good mark on a mental arithmetic test and she is very sensitive. So I am trying to fight two battles, confidence in dealing with bitching and academic confidence. And it is very easy for me to say ignore them and it doesn't matter how long you take as long as you understand what you are doing etc etc but a 10 year old girl feels these things keenly.

www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/ngfl/ngfl-flash/fractions/index.htm

www.crickweb.co.uk/ks2numeracy.html

www.mathsframe.co.uk/resources/category/Fractions_Decimals_and_Percentages.aspx

[Stung by amistillsexy's criticism of my patent pizza method] I bring you chips! Fraction of number... We've got 50 chips, and 10 kids for tea. How many chips will they each get if I am a fair mum? You've just done tenths. I had eyes bigger than my belly and piled my plate with 100 chips. I only managed 60 of them, what fraction was left? There are 16 people in the queue at the chippy. If half of them get bored waiting and go to Domino's instead, how many people get chips? I rest my case.

One thing many people either forget, or are not taught is that the line between the top and bottom numbers represents the divide symbol so 3/4 is the same as 3 ÷ 4, but sometimes it is easier to use whole numbers.

This is also why multiplying fractins gives you smaller numbers

2/3 ÷ 1/5 =10 /3

is the same as

0.66666666666666666666666666 ÷ 0.2 =3.33333333333333333333333333333

I'd take a look at Power of 2 - the books worked wonders on DD's maths although it requires 10 - 15 mins parental input per day with the child. Not sure how children achieve on their own though when they are struggling.

You could try a book called Maths for Mums and Dads, it is by Rob Eastaway and might be helpful for you to feel more confident in helping your DD.

Hi EmilyStrange:

Thought some videos may give you an idea:

I thought this video using cut up paper cups to help explain fractions was a great idea: www.teachersmedia.co.uk/videos/ks2-numeracy-understanding-fractions

Here's a video on pizza fractions: www.teachersmedia.co.uk/videos/pizza-fractions

There are some booster activities with fractions here: www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks2/maths/fractions/index.htm - both worksheets & games

A really useful website with all sorts of activities/ worksheets: chiddingstone.kent.sch.uk/homework/maths/fractions/index.htm

There are some games:

BBC KS2 bitesize fractions easy: www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/maths/number/fractions_basic/play.shtml - My DD1 (Y4) enjoys fraction monkeys.

adding fractions game (for fractions with different denominators): www.mathplayground.com/fractions_add.html

(info on denominators here www.mathsisfun.com/numbers/common-denominator.html)

Multiplying fractions (info & on-line worksheet): www.coolmath4kids.com/fractions/fractions-14-multiplying-fractions-01.html

Converting fractions to decimals: www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/maths/number/fractions_to_decimals/play.shtml

There's much more - but I hope that's a good start and will help.

Sorry - fraction monkeys is on chiddingstone.kent.sch.uk/homework/maths/fractions/index.htm