Making Sense of Multiplying and Dividing Fractions Word Problems
By Mary Montero
Share This Post:
If you teach the upper grades, you likely know how maddening it is to try to teach your students the difference between a multiplication word problem and a division word problem when it comes to fractions. Everything we have taught our kids seems to go out the window when it comes to multiplying and dividing fractions word problems.
Multiplying and Dividing Fractions Word Problems Anchor Charts
I make two anchor charts with my students for multiplying and dividing fractions word problems.
Once we had the basic fraction skills down, we moved on to word problems, which some of my students really struggled with. They knew how to divide and multiply fractions, and *sometimes* they could figure out if a word problem was multiplying or dividing, but then some of them didn’t know which number should be the dividend vs. the divisor in a division problem. We practiced and practiced, and finally I resorted to an anchor chart and accompanying foldable. We spent an entire hour walking through 8 different multiplying and dividing fractions word problems that are representative of the types of problems kids most often come across.
I had the students copy the word problems on a foldable so that they could put them into their math journals and reference them later. I hemmed and hawed over whether or not I should have them take the time to write out the problems themselves or if I should type them onto the foldable, but in the end I decided that I wanted them to write them. I’m still torn over whether or not this was a productive use of our time. Oops! I just noticed I flip flopped the title pages on this. Just reverse. 🙂
Here’s a closer look at each multiplying and dividing fractions word problems anchor chart.
Then off we went. We dissected these word problems, underlined key phrases that they felt helped them to know what type of problem they were reading, and drew visual models for many of them. The visual models are what really helped to solidify which numbers you were multiplying or dividing. I wrote the original expression we came up with in black and then any work we did was done in red.
They all agreed that this helped them to better tell the difference between the two types of problems. As we speak, I’m typing up a mixed bag of word problems to give them tomorrow and see if it really stuck! Let’s hope so!
Multiplying and Dividing Fractions Word Problems Resources
I am also having my students work through the word problems in my Multiplying Fractions Task Cards and Dividing Fractions Task Cards.
If you are looking for even more resources for teaching operations with fractions, stop by my store to see the Ultimate Fraction Operations Resource Bundle! It includes all of the resources you will need when planning rigorous student activities for learning operations with fractions!
More Fraction Posts
Mary Montero
I’m so glad you are here. I’m a current gifted and talented teacher in a small town in Colorado, and I’ve been in education since 2009. My passion (other than my family and cookies) is for making teachers’ lives easier and classrooms more engaging.
Timely blog- we just started this very topic today, after 3 days off last week down here in the ATL. This is a very tricky skill but your anchor chart is a great tool for my students, too. Looking forward to more on this as you progress, too, through this unit. THANKS, Roberta
We just started our multiplying and dividing fractions unit. I will have to give this a try!
Perfect for where we are…thanks for sharing. Love the INB…my kids are hooked on it. They begged for notes the other day! 🙂
You are amazing! Fractions are such a tough concept for my kids, let alone word problems!!! These are perfect! Thank you for sharing!
Fought this battle today! Thanks for the great idea! We're going to try again tomorrow.
Liz
BeachTeach
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Do you have the questions in your journal mixed up?
Yes, I think the titles need switched in the journal entry pic.
cheap oakley sunglasses
ray ban sunglasses
michael kors handbags
ray-ban sunglasses
coach outlet
oakley sunglasses outlet
chi hair strighteners
christian louboutin outlet
pandora uk
nfl jerseys
burberry handbags
louis vuitton
ralph lauren
mont blanc mountain
copy watches
jordan 3 retro
coco chanel
hollister outlet
gucci outlet
oakley outlet
hogan outlet
kate spade totes
kobe 8
cheap oakleys
gucci bags
michael kors outlet
louis vuitton
michael kors
ray ban eyeglasses
hollister clothing store
ray ban sunglasses
jordan 4 retro
cheap ray bans
abercrombie outlet
jordan 6 cigar
20150626xiong
michael kors outlet, http://www.michaelkorsoutletcanada.in.net
san antonio spurs jerseys
lululemon
cheap jordans, http://www.jordan-shoes.us.com
kate spade handbags
nike huarache
coach outlet online
yoga pants, http://www.yogapants.us.com
the north face outlet store
pandora charms
air max 2014
burberry outlet online
michael kors outlet, http://www.michaelkorsoutletonlinstore.us.com
beats headphones
babyliss pro
instyler
prada shoes
kate spade outlet
tory burch outlet
lacoste shirts
lebron james shoes
stuart weitzman boots
michael kors canada, http://www.michaelkorsoutletcanada.in.net
babyliss
oakley sunglasses, http://www.oakleysunglassescanada.com
fred perry sale
green bay packers jerseys
coach outlet canada
nike roshe run
jordan 4
atlanta falcons jersey
kate spade outlet
vibram fivefingers
salvatore ferragamo
ferragamo shoes
hollister clothing store
swarovski jewelry
asics running shoes
michael kors uk outlet
0811maoqiuyun
I love this. I'm going to do this as a review with multi-step word problems.
fractions are coming soon for 5th and 6th grade.