• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.213-231
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• 2023

The purpose of this study was to analyze and derive pedagogical implications from elementary mathematics textbooks that align with the revised 2015 curriculum. Specifically, the focus was on the chapters related to simplifying fractions, finding a common denominator, and performing addition and subtraction of Fractions with Different Denominators. The analysis revealed that the overall structure of these chapters was similar across the textbooks, but variations existed in terms of the main activities and the textbook organization. Furthermore, different textbooks employed various types and quantities of visual representations. When designing lesson directions and content, it is crucial to consider the strengths and weaknesses of each visual representation.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.707-734
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• 2009

The purpose of the study was to investigate how children understand addition and subtraction of fractions and how their understanding influences the solutions of fractional word problems. Twenty students from 4th to 6th grades were involved in the study. Children's understanding of operations with fractions was categorized into "joining", "combine" and "computational procedures (of fraction addition)" for additions, "taking away", "comparison" and "computational procedures (of fraction subtraction)" for subtractions. Most children understood additions as combining two distinct sets and subtractions as removing a subset from a given set. In addition, whether fractions had common denominators or not did not affect how they interpret operations with fractions. Some children understood the meanings for addition and subtraction of fractions as computational procedures of each operation without associating these operations with the particular situations (e.g. joining, taking away). More children understood addition and subtraction of fractions as a computational procedure when two fractions had different denominators. In case of addition, children's semantic structure of fractional addition did not influence how they solve the word problems. Furthermore, we could not find any common features among children with the same understanding of fractional addition while solving the fractional word problems. In case of subtraction, on the other hand, most children revealed a tendency to solve the word problems based on their semantic structure of the fractional subtraction. Children with the same understanding of fractional subtraction showed some commonalities while solving word problems in comparison to solving word problems involving addition of fractions. Particularly, some children who understood the meaning for addition and subtraction of fractions as computational procedures of each operation could not successfully solve the word problems with fractions compared to other children.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.229-247
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• 2021

Students' mathematical thinking is represented via various forms of outcomes, such as written response and verbal expression, and teachers could infer and respond to their mathematical thinking by using them. This study analyzed 39 elementary teachers' competency to notice students' problem-solving strategies containing mathematical errors in fraction addition and subtraction with uncommon denominators problems. Participants were provided three types of students' problem-solving strategies with regard to fraction addition and subtraction problems and asked to identify and interpret students' mathematical understanding and errors represented in their artifacts. Moreover, participants were asked to design additional questions and problems to correct students' mathematical errors. The findings revealed that first, teachers' noticing competency was the highest on identifying, followed by interpreting and responding. Second, responding could be categorized according to the teachers' intentions and the types of problem, and it tended to focus on certain types of responding. For example, in giving questions responding type, checking the hypothesized error took the largest proportion, followed by checking the student's prior knowledge. Moreover, in posing problems responding type, posing problems related to student's prior knowledge with simple computation took the largest proportion. Based on these findings, we suggested implications for the teacher noticing research on students' artifacts.

• School Mathematics
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.625-645
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• 2016

This study clarified the big ideas related to teaching addition and subtraction of fractions with different denominators based on quantitative reasoning with unit and recursive partitioning. An analysis of this study urged us to re-consider the content related to the addition and subtraction of fraction. As such, this study analyzed textbooks and teachers' manuals developed from the fourth national mathematics curriculum to the most recent 2009 curriculum. In addition and subtraction of fractions with different denominators, it must be emphasized the followings: three-levels unit structure, fixed whole unit, necessity of common measure and recursive partitioning. An analysis of this study showed that textbooks and teachers' manuals dealt with the fact of maintaining a fixed whole unit only as being implicit. The textbooks described the reason why we need to create a common denominator in connection with the addition of similar fractions. The textbooks displayed a common denominator numerically rather than using a recursive partitioning method. Given this, it is difficult for students to connect the models and algorithms. Building on these results, this study is expected to suggest specific implications which may be taken into account in developing new instructional materials in process.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.537-555
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• 2017

This paper compared and contrasted Korean and Singaporean textbooks in order to explore the direction and possibility of teaching the big ideas related to the addition and subtraction of fractions with different denominators proposed by Lee & Pang (2016a). Firstly, we examined the teaching sequences related to the addition of fractions with different denominators in a series of elementary mathematics textbooks of Korea and Singapore. We then analyzed what types of representations are used and how the representations are presented for the big ideas related to the addition of fractions with different denominators. The results of the analysis showed that the contents related to fraction addition are addressed more gradually and systematically in Singaporean textbooks compared to Korean counterparts. The graphical representations appeared in the Singaporean textbooks provide specific implications for teaching the big ideas of the addition of fractions with different denominators. Based on such implications, we expect that the big ideas related to the addition of fractions with different denominators will be addressed explicitly and systematically in Korean textbooks.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.307-332
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• 2022

This action research was carried out to help students learn fractions computation by making and using semi-concrete fraction manipulatives that can be used continuously in math classes. For this purpose, the researcher and students made semi-concrete fraction manipulatives and learned how to use these through reviewing the previously learned fraction contents over 4 class sessions. Afterward, through the 14 classes (7 classes for learning to reduce fractions and to a common denominator, 7 classes for adding and subtracting fractions with different denominators) in which the principle inquiry learning model was applied, students actively engaged in learning activities with fraction manipulatives and explored the principles underneath the manipulations of fraction manipulatives. Students could represent various fractions using fraction manipulatives and solve fraction computation problems using them. The achievement evaluation after class found that the students could connect the semi-concrete fraction manipulatives with fraction representation and symbolic formulas. Moreover, the students showed interest and confidence in mathematics through the classes using fraction manipulatives.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.23-47
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to analyze the types of errors that may occur in the four arithmetic operations of the fractions after classified according to the level of academic achievement for sixth-grade elementary school student who Learning of the four arithmetic operations of the fountain has been completed. The study was proceed to get the information how change teaching content and method in accordance with the level of academic achievement by looking at the types of errors that can occur in the four arithmetic operations of the fractions. The test paper for checking the type of errors caused by calculation of fractional was developed and gave it to students to test. And we saw the result by error rate and correct rate of fraction that is displayed in accordance with the level of academic achievement. We investigated the characteristics of the type of error in the calculation of the arithmetic operations of fractional that is displayed in accordance with the level of academic achievement. First, in the addition of the fractions, all levels of students showing the highest error rate in the calculation error. Specially, error rate in the calculation of different denominator was higher than the error rate in the calculation of same denominator Second, in the subtraction of the fractions, the high level of students have the highest rate in the calculation error and middle and low level of students have the highest rate in the conceptual error. Third, in the multiplication of the fractions, the high and middle level of students have the highest rate in the calculation error and low level of students have the highest rate in the a reciprocal error. Fourth, in the division of the fractions, all levels of students have the highest r rate in the calculation error.