LHightower

Chapter 5 focuses on basic concepts of fractions:1.You can have fractions of an object or a set. 2.The more fraction parts, the smaller the parts. 3.The denominator of a fraction is a divisor and the numerator tells how many fractional parts you're working with. 4.Equivalent fractions are different ways of looking at the same amount. Many hands-on activities are listed to teach these concepts.

Computation of fractions is the main focus of Chapter 6. It is very important that students do more than just memorize the rules of computation.  They need to truly understand  the operations and what they mean. Many opportunities for "informal exploration" of these operations are described in this chapter.

Chapter 7 stresses "friendly fractions to decimals". Students need to see that decimals are simply another way of writing fracions. Those who have never grasped place value will, of course, have a very difficult time understanding decimals. Base ten blocks can be a valuable tool when teaching decimals. Ordering decimals and computation of decimals are included in this chapter, as well as the teaching of percents.

Geometric concepts are the emphasis of Chapter 8. We need to provide students with many experiences to develop their spatial sense. Transformation of shapes is a concept often ignored. It includes the study of translations, reflections, and rotations. The research of two Dutch educators is introduced in this chapter (the van Hiele levels of geometric thought). There are five levels, which the authors summarize. Geoboards and pattern blocks are essential manipulatives when teaching geometry.