When it comes to learning math, fractions often top the list of tricky topics for students. But at The Richland School of Academic Arts (RSAA), fifth and sixth grade math teacher Angel Vega decided to turn that challenge into an opportunity.
“Math is a schoolwide struggle point, and fractions are one of the hardest concepts for students to grasp,” Vega explained. “I decided that if I could make some hands-on, engaging lessons for all students, it would at least start to bridge that gap.”
That idea grew into Fraction Week, a schoolwide event designed to make fractions fun and accessible for every student, from kindergarten through eighth grade. Vega developed the concept as part of a local teacher grant proposal and found inspiration at a joint National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) conference.
“At the conference, I learned about using literature to enhance math lessons through picture books,” Vega said. “So Fraction Week was born!”
Each day of Fraction Week featured a read-aloud and a hands-on activity focused on fractions, tailored for each grade level. The week culminated in Math Night, where students and their families explored the activities students had experienced during the week.
In the theater, families interacted with fraction-based learning stations, while in the gym, they encountered a lively scene of movement and math. Twenty colorful mats spread across the floor invited participants to learn through motion – part of the Math & Movement program that uses physical activity to build math fluency.
“The students use their whole bodies to skip count. For example, counting by eights,” Vega explained. “They whisper count one through seven while moving their feet quickly, and when they get to eight, they shout it and clap at the same time. It’s a movement-centered approach that reinforces multiples and helps make learning stick.”
The mats cover a wide range of math skills, including number sense, fractions, decimals, money, time, shapes, and even negative numbers. By blending movement, literature, and hands-on exploration, Vega’s Fraction Week turned abstract math concepts into something tangible, memorable, and (most importantly) fun!
