Fractions in Action PD (Grades K-5)

UCLA Center X's 'Fractions in Action' professional development is designed specifically for K–5 educators who want to transform how their students understand and work with fractions—one of the most notoriously challenging topics in elementary mathematics. Developed by UCLA's nationally recognised teacher education programme, this workshop moves beyond rote procedures to build deep conceptual understanding of fractions through hands-on, inquiry-based approaches. Participants will explore research-backed instructional strategies including the use of visual models, number lines, and real-world contexts that help students see fractions as meaningful quantities rather than abstract symbols. The session addresses common misconceptions that derail fraction learning—such as treating numerators and denominators as separate whole numbers—and provides specific pedagogical moves for anticipating and addressing these errors. UCLA Center X brings its distinctive commitment to equity-focused mathematics instruction, ensuring that the strategies presented are designed to engage all learners, particularly those who have historically been underserved by traditional approaches to mathematics education.