Why fractions are essential for math success
Understanding fractions is foundational to math success. Research shows that fractions knowledge in grade 5 uniquely predicts students’ math achievement in high school. This is true even after controlling for other variables that can affect student success in math.1 The connection highlights the importance of fractions in building the advanced math skills students need for academic and career growth.
The impact on students is significant. Struggling with fraction skills often leads to challenges in basic Algebra, which is a critical stepping stone for higher-level math. Without a strong grasp of fractions, students may face limited progress in the advanced math required for many college programs and career opportunities.
The ongoing challenge of teaching and learning fractions
How are we doing in fractions? In short, not well. Performance with fractions has been a weak point in U.S. education for decades and has not improved in recent years. In a recent national survey of 1,000 Algebra 1 teachers, most rated students’ knowledge of fractions as “poor” and rated fractions as the second greatest barrier to students mastering algebra (second only to word problems).2
As an example, in 1978, less than one-fourth of a nationally representative sample of 20,000 8th graders could answer this question on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP): What number is 12/13 + 7/8 closest to? (Answer choices: 1, 2, 19, 21, I don’t know)? The most common answers were 19 and 21. Nearly 40 years later, the results had barely changed.3
Stop the fractions struggle
ExploreLearning Frax zeros in on fractions so students can build the concepts and skills that most impact their path to progress. And we’re using a proven, research-driven approach to do it.
We took on math fact fluency—another major barrier to math achievement—with ExploreLearning Reflex. Adaptive and game-based, it’s helped millions of students master their facts and learn to love math. Now Frax is doing the same creating a more effective, more fun way to learn fractions.
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