Butterfly Fractions are Easy!

Math for a lot of people simply isn’t fun. Fractions tend to specially be something few enjoy. I remember when I was a teen I went from one high school where it seems we did everything with decimals to different high school that was working mostly with fractions. It annoyed me to say the least, a subject I happened to enjoy, I then suddenly didn’t. I didn’t ever learn how to do butterfly fractions though until I was a homeschool mother and knowing my children, I knew the best way to help them remember was to make it fun and different. My teen is now working on making a 3d representation of this method to help her remember and to help teach it to her younger siblings. Seeing fractions like this some how makes them fun.

By just looking at it can you see the math? How about looking below, do you see it better?

There is a page that explains this very well and I wanted to share it with all of you! This is great for anyone but specially kids and homeschoolers. Remember, make math fun!

http://www.moveitmaththesource.com/realfractions/butterflyfractio.html

One of the reasons my husband and I home school our children is because we want to pass on our love of learning. Yes, we are admittedly geeks but really there are few gifts as wonderful as the love of learning. I think most of us have that teacher that helped change our lives, the person who believed in us or encouraged us. We want to be those teachers for our children, not just for one class, or a year, but for their lives. This is not to say that we have egos big enough to fill the shoes of the best teachers but I don’t think it was the teachers formal education that made them amazing, it was their personal skills, skills I think we have being parents to these amazing kids. Home schooling is not for everyone and that does not mean someone is less of a parent or cares less. We all have things we are love and are good at. I can say I would be horrible when it comes to anything with sports, horrible…. but give me a book, or technology and shine (unless it has something to do with editing LOL) . I think you can understand what I am saying. I know that about half of my readers are not homeschoolers and I want you to know you can still help your children learn, have fun, and that your choice to not home school is the best choice for your children as you’re the parent and you know them and your situation the best.