Homework for Monday & Tuesday, December 1,2

 Both of these assignments are fraction related and intended as review. 

Monday's assignment, Simplifying Fractions, came with 3 practice level options. For those confident in their simplifying skills and looking to see what's next, the pre-algebra option came with the opportunity to simplify using variables! 

Tuesday's assignment, Multiplying Fractions, required students to select one of three levels for review. I also introduced the idea of simplifying before or after doing the multiplication and gave them the opportunity to practice the new and decide if they have a preference.

So how can you help?

Firstly, don't do the work for them. This is just a reminder that if they cannot do the work themselves, it will show up on the test, and that isn't pretty for anyone. Encourage them to try out all factors (see below) and feel confident that their final answer has no common factors left besides "1." Suggest they look once again and then let it go. They will learn from quitting before they are sure ... and they can redo it. 

However, this is an opportunity to help them become practiced in seeing cues that indicate a fraction is not simplified: are both numbers even? do they share any factors? is one number the multiple of the other? Have them keep their prime number chart handy and think about how a number is "built." 

I recommend checking only the factors of the smaller number to see if any are also factors of the larger number. I also told them some of my favorite numbers to use are ones with many factors like 12, 24, and 36. And 51 for reasons they should be able to tell you ...

I do not recommend spending time looking for the greatest common factor though. If you see it, great! Otherwise just start with what you see (2? 3? 5?) and then keep working your way through it. In other words, don't feel the need to overburden them with LCMs, GCFs, and the like. The purpose is to simplify it!