Fractions Unlocked: How Teaching Fractions As Numbers Is the Key to Student Understanding (Math Teaching in Practice Series)

How can teachers help students overcome persistent struggles with fractions?Fractions Unlocked, co-published with the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, provides a research-based answer by shifting instruction away from traditional part-whole models toward a measurement-based approach grounded in unit fractions. Fractions represent one of the most persistent challenges in mathematics education.Despite their critical importance as a foundation for algebra and advanced mathematics, many students struggle to develop a meaningful understanding of fraction concepts and operations.Fractions Unlocked offers teachers a transformative approach to instruction. Drawing on decades of research and classroom experience, the authors show how understanding fractions as numbers with magnitude can transform student learning.This book provides a clear roadmap for instruction, prioritizing conceptual meaning over rote memorization to help students build a deep, connected understanding of how fra