Fractions and Decimals; April 2010

Learning is about more than students' memorizing information. Learning takes place when students are presented with information that contradicts what students knew previously. When that division takes place, students move into crisis mode as their knowledge and growth increases.

I experienced this crisis during student teaching. I planned and presented a unit about the relationship between fractions and decimals, plotting decimals on a number line, ordering decimals, and finding equivalent decimals. Before and after teaching the two week unit, I gave the same assessment. This allowed me to accurately measure the growth of my students' understanding. Throughout the unit, I used a variety of assessment tools: homework, observations of classwork, completing problems at the board, and the final exam.

Often during the lessons, I would write a math problem on the board, such as 6/8, and ask students to simplify. I would then walk around, checking students' work right away. I gave high-fives to students who were correct, which motivated them and provided instant feedback. For the students who provided the incorrect answer, I was able to intervene and offer a mini-lesson right then. Then, back at the board, I modeled how to find the right answer. By approaching my lessons this way, I was able to ensure the continuous intellectual development of the learner.

Below is a copy of my lesson plans.

Math Unit: Decimals

Unit Objectives
1. Students will understand and use proper terminology related to decimals, both in written and oral form.
2. Students will be able to compare and order fractions from least to greatest.
3. Students will be able to convert between fractions and decimals.
4. Students will identify fractions and decimals in pictures and on a number line.

Text Used
- enVision MATH, topic 12: Decimals (grade 4)
- all worksheets, plus the pre- and post-test, from the math curriculum

Lesson Plan Overview
Day 1. Decimal "free response" pre-test over place value, word form, comparing, ordering, converting between fractions and decimals, and number lines
Day 2. Reading and writing decimals; Place value; Write down everything students know about decimals on the Promethean Board to assess their levels of prior knowledge; use of the word "and" to represent the decimal when spoken and written; Re-Teaching/Practice worksheet, with Enrichment for early finishers
Day 3. Place Value; Importance of adding "-ths" when working to the right of the decimal; Re-Teaching/Practice worksheet, with Enrichment for early finishers
Day 4. Comparing and ordering decimals; Re-Teaching/Practice worksheet
Day 5. Fractions and decimals; Review previous week; Correct homework together
Day 6. Fractions and decimals; Review; Money; Read Pigs Will Be Pigs
Day 7. Fractions and decimals on the number line; Mixed numbers, improper fractions, decimals greater and less than one; Interactive website - practice moving decimals to the correct place; Class number line - students work together to order fractions and decimals; Create their own number line individually
Day 8. Review decimals
Day 9. Decimal "free response" post-test over place value, word form, comparing, ordering, converting between fractions and decimals, and number lines
Day 10. Go over test with class

Results:
Pre-test: mean = 23.6%
Post-test: mean = 59.3%