Why Fractions Matter
Fractions knowledge in grade 5 uniquely predicts students’ mathematics achievement in high school. This is true even after controlling for other variables that can affect student success in math.1
The impact to students is significant. Struggle with fractions can lead to struggle in basic Algebra, which in turn limits progress to the more advanced math required for many college and career opportunities.
How are we doing?
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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