• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.129-144
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• 2009

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of the use of RNP curriculum based on Lesh translation model on third grade students' understandings of fraction concepts and problem solving ability. Students' conceptual understandings of fractions and problem solving ability were improved by the use of the curriculum. Various manipulative experiences and translation processes between and among representations facilitated students' conceptual understandings of fractions and contributed to the development of problem solving strategies. Expecially, in problem situations including fraction ordering which was not covered during the study, mental images of fractions constructed by the experiences with manipulatives played a central role as a problem solving strategy.