tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764006739531924825.post5697380108505685530..comments2023-12-20T22:22:23.044-05:00Comments on One Room Schoolhouse: Comparing Fractions Using the Butterfly MethodOne Room Schoolhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04220416947705752421noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764006739531924825.post-27061117296305461692021-01-24T14:26:54.557-05:002021-01-24T14:26:54.557-05:00I agree with all of you. Teach benchmark fractions...I agree with all of you. Teach benchmark fractions and common denominators too but this gives students another strategy to use. Would we call the standard algorithms for operations, tricks? No, because we teach them why it works. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10398034287684575061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764006739531924825.post-13982345271369728392020-10-02T08:04:41.356-04:002020-10-02T08:04:41.356-04:00It is not a trick if you show them how solving the...It is not a trick if you show them how solving the same problem by finding a least common denominator will lead to two new numerators which match the cross-products from the butterfly method.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11878178448073621635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764006739531924825.post-85373638529473632792016-02-08T18:24:17.122-05:002016-02-08T18:24:17.122-05:00If you are teaching it as a trick, then I totally ...If you are teaching it as a trick, then I totally agree. When I teach it, I explain to the kids that we are finding equivalent fractions with a common denominator. When fractions have a common denominator, then you are able to compare using the numerator.One Room Schoolhousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04220416947705752421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764006739531924825.post-12136968516486833972016-02-08T14:15:08.026-05:002016-02-08T14:15:08.026-05:00I tell 4th & 5th grade teachers to not teach t...I tell 4th & 5th grade teachers to not teach the butterfly method because students are just learning a "trick" rather than learning why this method truly works. I have had 6th and 5th grade teachers tell me that students try to cross multiply when they are to just multiply fractions because they are confused. So, they begin to apply these in places where they do not work. And they do not promote understanding of fractions." It is better to teach students to compare fractions to benchmark fractions or find a common denominator.<br />Mathatudehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00307557262162843661noreply@blogger.com