1. Big Ideas, Fractions, and eworkshop
Resource: www.eworkshop.on.ca
Presentation by Rachel Albert

2. The Big Ideas
• Quantity
• Operational Sense
• Relationships
• Representation
• Proportional
Reasoning

3. Quantity
• Use hands-on activities where students can physically see quantity.
• Explore student mental images of what quantities look like
• Allow students to practice estimating what a number will “look like”
• Use varying visual representations such as fraction circles, open
number lines, and 10 by 10 grids
• Present relevant contexts for students to learn new concepts.

4. Operational Sense
• Present meaningful contexts for problem solving
• Allow students to create their own problem solving questions
• Ensure students can use a variety of operations to solve a problem and
allow them explore all the possible ways.
• Use diagrams and other visuals to model concepts and enhance
understanding.
• Explore relationship between operations
• Spend time on mental math

5. Relationships
• Explore whole numbers and fractions using a variety of
visuals
• Practice breaking down large numbers into their place
values
• Practice using different operations for one problem
• Use concrete materials to enhance understanding of
fractions

6. Representation
• Allow students to explore that different number forms can represent
the same quantity
• Use visual representations to demonstrate different representations of
the same idea
• Apply mathematical equations to real-life situations and problem solve
• Know your audience and teach accordingly!

7. Proportional Reasoning
• Use everyday situations as
examples
• Use hands-on materials to
allow students to
kinesthetically explore
proportions
• Allow students to create
and share their own
proportional reasoning
problems

8. General Principles for Instruction
in Mathematics
• Foster positive mathematical attitudes
• Focus on conceptual understanding
• Involve students actively in their learning
• Acknowledge and utilize studentsʼ prior knowledge
• Provide developmentally appropriate learning tasks
• Respect how each student learns by considering learning
styles and other factors
• Provide a culture and climate for learning
• Recognize the importance of metacognition
• Focus on the significant mathematical concepts (big ideas).
As listed in The Ontario Ministry of Education’s Guide to Effective Instruction in Mathematics:
Kindergarten to Grade 6

9. This website contains Literacy and Numeracy
Modules for Kindergarten up to Grade Six. You
can find downloadable resources and guides from
the ministry in both curriculum areas under the
Resources tab.
You may find the videos helpful as well. They
can be found under the Quick Access tab.
Take your time looking through the Tell Me,
Show Me and Let Me Try tabs under each module
as you will find very useful information.
Think about how you use the ideas Tell Me, Show
Me and Let Me Try in your daily teaching.