### ***Practice 1 - Fraction Tiles and Number Lines*** ![[Pasted image 20260421142102.png]] Fraction tiles are physical manipulatives that allow students to compare, add, subtract, and find equivalent fractions by physically placing and overlapping pieces. Fraction number lines extend this by placing fractions in sequence, making the relationship between fractions and whole numbers visible and spatial. |Pros|Cons| |---|---| |Concrete and visual — builds genuine understanding before algorithms.|Physical tiles are limited to fractions with common denominators without additional tools.| |Number lines connect fractions to students' existing number sense.|Students must transition carefully from concrete tools to abstract computation.| |Highly effective for students who struggle with the abstract nature of fractions.|Tiles must be managed and organized, which takes instructional time.| **** ### ***Practice 2 - Benchmark Fraction Strategy*** ![[Pasted image 20260421142120.png]] Benchmark fraction instruction teaches students to compare and estimate fractions by anchoring them to familiar benchmarks — 0, ½, and 1. Students ask themselves whether a fraction is closer to 0, closer to ½, or closer to 1 as a first step in comparing, ordering, and estimating with fractions. |Pros|Cons| |---|---| |Builds number sense and estimation skills alongside procedural fraction work.|Students who struggle with fraction concepts may not yet grasp what ½ represents.| |Reduces cognitive demand when exact computation is not required.|Not sufficient on its own for tasks requiring precise comparison or computation.| |Transfers to decimal and percent reasoning naturally.|Requires explicit instruction — students do not naturally use benchmarks without guidance.|