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SMOOTH OPERATIONS: CONNECTING FRACTIONS, DECIMALS, AND PERCENTS
reviewed in School Library Journal, March 1997
Three performers (a white male and female and a black male) use juggling, sleight of hand, and graphic montages to give many examples of converting fractions to decimals, decimals to ratios, ratios to fractions and vice versa. Also covered are reducing fractions and multiplying decimals. This effort is fast-paced, slick, and professional, but can be a little overwhelming to those trying to grasp the concepts for the first time. The Teacher's Resource Book is a strong part of the package. About 40 reproducible worksheets present every concept many times at various levels of creativity and difficulty. In "A Tight Squeeze," students are given a grid and told to lay out an amusement park with fractional parts given over to adult rides, kiddie rides, walking space, etc. Even with correct answers, there can be different layouts, and comparing designs with classmates is encouraged. There is a deck of cards, and three original games along the lines of Concentration, Stud Poker, and Gin Rummy can be played with the same deck. Perhaps with all the reinforcements, these difficult concepts will be mastered. It's worth a try.
Ken Freutel, Dwight Elementary School, IL
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