Fraction Talks
What are Fraction Talks?
A Fraction Talk uses an image as a prompt, and often asks the question "What fraction is shaded?" As students become comfortable with the routine, there are other possibilities including:
"Can you shade a fraction with twice the area?"
"Can you shade exactly one-quarter of this shape?"
Nat Banting, the creator of Fraction Talks, shares useful "How To" and "In The Classrooms" posts on fractiontalks.com which include a variety of prompts and teacher moves for this routine.
Ultimately, Fraction Talks allow for creative thinking and reasoning with fraction representations and operations.
More Information
Along with the K-12 Math Task Collection with Fraction Talks linked to SK outcomes, here are other resources:
Carla Dawson's Fraction War cards can be requested for download using this google form
Simon Gregg compiled a Number Search spinoff of Fraction Talks (started by Berkeley Everett) appropriate also for primary grades
Steve Wyborney has similar structures to Fraction Talks called Tiled Area Problems and Primary Tile Questions
Mishmash of Fraction Talks with Clothesline Math to place Fractions on a number line
PD via Twitter: @FractionTalks, #fractiontalks, @NatBanting
Note: Selected Fraction Talk explorations have been implemented as Desmos Activities.
Check out the recorded webinar given by Nat Banting about using Fraction Talks in your classroom.
Check out the sample Fraction Talk classroom videos and resources below.
Grade 4s Discussing Fraction War
Pre-Service Fraction Talk
Sample of Carla Dawson's Fraction War Cards
