Children's understanding of fractions in year four primary

Abstract

This dissertation involves a study of 42 year 4 pupils' understanding of fractions. A test paper was constructed purposefully for this work. The schemes the pupils used were analysed. The pupils' responses are also categorised by ability of pupils - above average, average and below average. The experimental design and results are discussed in chapters 3 and 4. The first two chapters include a review of literature to cover issues relating to the nature of rational numbers, the different types of understanding in Mathematics and the schemes identified by Nik Azis Nik Pa and Adalira Saenz-Ludlow in their studies of children working on fractions. The main conclusions include: 1. most of the schemes identified in this research could be described in terms of schemes already identified in terms of schemes already identified by Nik Azis Nik Pa and Adalira Saenz-Ludlow. 2. The more difficult items, set although within the syllabus for year 4, were too difficult for the average and below average group of pupils.