We’ve gone from learning about adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing decimals to doing the same operations but now with fractions. We’ve been talking all about important terms like least common multiple and greatest common denominator. Most recently, we came across the word reciprocal while learning how to divide fractions.
When learned that in order to divide a fraction, all you have to do is find the reciprocal of the divisor. In order to find the reciprocal, all you have to do is flip the numbers around!
Then, once you’ve found the reciprocal, just multiply the numerators in the new fraction and the dividend and then do the same with the denominators.
Once you multiply your numerators, you’ll find 2 x 4 = 8. When you multiply your denominators you’ll find 3 x 3 = 9. So, our new fraction is 8/9. We just check to see if we can simplify, which we can’t, so 8/9 is our answer.
After we learned how to divide fractions in class, students were given the option of a few different choices to show what they had learned. They could create a poster showing the different steps. They could fill in a graphic organizer showing examples and keywords. The last choice was that they could write a song or a rap explaining how to solve a division problem with fractions. Immediately, students were curious to know if I could give them an example of a rap. I told them I couldn’t at the time, however, if they worked hard and showed a true understanding of the concept, I’d be happy to create one and share it with them later. Of course, with the amazing class that we have, they worked as diligently as always and amazed me with how quickly they grasped the concept. So, without further ado, I give you the first, last, and only time you will ever see Mr. Avery rap.
*What do you think about Mr. Avery’s musical skills?*
*Do you feel as though this helps you understand dividing fractions?*
Dear Mr. Avery,
Not once in my life did I thnk I would see my teacher rap, but thanks to you I did! You did an amazing job rapping, if you wern’t such an awesome teacher than I definatly thnk rapping would be your career! You were also so brave for putting it on the blog for everyone to see, all for your students to understand dividing fractions. There is no other teacher out there that would go to such limits for their students to understand dividing fractions. Your rap will really help students to get how simple dividing fractions is. Plus we all will never forget our teacher rapping so we won’t forget dividing fractions! When MCAS comes and there is questions on dividing fractions all I have to do is think of you rapping and not only will it help me but it will give me a smile! I hope you know what a hard working and caring teacher you are Mr. Avery!
From,
Emily B.
Dear Emily,
Well, I can certainly say that you probably won’t see it too often! I would say that rapping is probably not one of my strengths. You can probably tell from the video just how awkward I felt! However, if it will help everyone to remember how to divide fractions, then I am more than happy to do it. Who knows, maybe there will even be another rap video at some point this year. We’ll see though. I’d have a little bit of lyric writing to complete first!
Thanks for writing in. Hope you have a great weekend!
Sincerely,
Mr. Avery
Dear Mr.Avery
Still watching now still is funny, it is so good me, sam, and other fellow companions from Dennett (which I miss) has been used for our math class! Hope you dont mind,it has really help this year. Hope to see you soon.
From,
Moriah M.
Dear mr. Avery,
I think You are an amazing rapper! I could never have done that. You added all the important details of dividing fractions and it will help us. I think you should make a rap video this year!
Sincerely,
Jenna
Dear Mr. Avery,
Awesome job on the rapping. WickaWikca Word! It must be fun to rap about fractions and reciprocals.
From,
♥Ariel ♥
Dear Mr. Avery,
I think it is very nice of you to put HOW TO DIVIDE FRACTIONS on your blog. I think it is easy and even though I don’t know you, you seem very nice! 🙂
– Tori8 –
PS. Please go to http://mrsgregory.edublogs.org to visit mine.
Dear Mr.Avery,
You did a great job on this video. Now I have a fun way to remember how to divide fractions. I hope you make many more posts like this one.
from Morgan M.
Dear Taite,
I also agree that he is the best 6th grade teacher.His video will stick with me for a while.
From,
Sam R. 😀
Mr. Avery,
I think your posts are very fun and make learning math much more interesting! My name is David and I am studying to become a high school history teacher at the University of South Alabama. I am taking a class now about how to use new technology in the classroom and I think your blog is a perfect example of that. Thank you for the post! And I love your rap!
David
Hi Mr. Avery,
My name is Stephanie and I am a student teacher for Miss. B’s class. As I was looking through your different posts, this one caught my eye. I love watching videos and I always loved math in elementary school. I found this video a great way to teach the basics of dividing fractions in a creative and interesting way. Although you said it will be the first and last time we see you rap, I personally think you should continue making interesting videos like this because it makes learning fun! Did you come up with that rap on your own or did your students help you? It rhymed nicely and even included all the proper math vocabulary!
Thanks for a fun and informative video.
Miss Steph (student teacher)
Miss B’s Block
Hello Mr. Avery,
My name is Adrienne Babb and I am a student at the University of South Alabama. I am currently enrolled in Dr. Strange’s EDM310 class and my assignment this week is to visit and comment on your class blog. I really enjoyed your rap. I thought that your hesitation to write the rap meant that it would not go well but you did a great job. I know that your students must have loved it. I loved fractions in school but I had a very unenthusiastic teacher; your students are very lucky to have a teacher who is excited to teach and shows it. Keep engaging and educating! Feel free to visit my blog or email to comment or question.
http://[email protected]
http://babbadrienneedm310.blogspot.com/
Dear Mr Avery,
One word: PRICELESS!
I love how you incorporated the math vocabulary. Thanks for yet another inspiring idea.
Love,
Ms Hanna
Dear Mr. Avery,
Hello, we are the Techie Kids from Michigan. This is a 5th grade class that meets on Tuesday. We loved your video. It was so awesome! The background was cool. We think your musical skills rock! Listening to and making videos and music is a fun way to learn. We did not know how to divide fractions, but now we understand more. Thank you!
Our class would like to know if we could talk to your class sometime on Skype.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Moore’s 5th grade Techie Kids
Hi Mrs. Moore,
We’re glad you visited us! Thank you for the compliments on the music. I’m sure I won’t be on American Idol anytime soon but I’m okay with that!
We’d love to Skype with you sometime! We’ll have to set up a time when we can do so!
Sincerely,
Mr. Avery
Dear Mr. Avery,
We must have reached 2000 comments by now! How many comments do we have?
Sincerely,
Alyxandra
Dear Alyxandra,
We’re pretty close! I’ll let you know exactly how many comments we have once we get back to school tomorrow!
Sincerely,
Mr. Avery
Dear Mr. Avery,
I thought that video was awsome! It’s hard to put together words to make a rap that goes together perfectly! I tried to think of a rap in my head, but I couldn’t think of anything. Nice job!
Sincerely,
Emma W.
Dear Emma,
It’s definitely hard to put together those words. It took a bit of time to figure out words that go well together, especially for dividing fractions!
Maybe if you keep thinking about it, you’ll be able to come up with one soon, maybe even about a cat named Skunk!
Sincerely,
Mr. Avery
Dear Mr. Avery,
You ROCK! Math videos and now Math Rapping Video? What awesome idea will you have next?
I like the idea of the rapping math video and it took a lot of language skills to get it right. You have the beat Mr. Avery! I think you have a future as the Rappin’ Math Man!
From,
Mrs. Hembree
Dear Mrs. Hembree,
I don’t exactly think I have a future in music but thank you! I enjoyed making the video. It was fun trying to come up with rhyming vocabulary to go along with dividing fractions!
Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment!
Sincerely,
Mr. Avery
Dear Mr. Avery,
I finished my book last night! But i am very sad because I’ve read all of his books and I have to wait next year for The Mark of Athena! I am buying the Harry Potter series today so I can have something good to read! 😆 Have a great weekend! 🙂
Sincerely,
Alyxandra
Dear Alyxandra,
That’s the worst part about finishing a book that you love! Then you have to wait until a new one comes out. Of course, you can always go back in a little bit and reread it again.
I have plenty of Harry Potter books in the classroom if you need to borrow one.
I hope you enjoyed your long weekend!
Sincerely,
Mr. Avery
Dear Mr. Avery,
I love the rap video that you did and my parents think that you were great in that video.
Sincerely,
Yana
Dear Mr. Avery,
We had the pleasure of viewing your rap video and believe that you will be the next YouTube sensation. We all agreed this was a creative way to teach the kids. Please keep the hits coming!
Well thank you but if I become a YouTube sensation, it certainly won’t be because of my rapping skills! I think it will be because of a lack of skills!
We’ll see if we have a follow up hit coming at some point! I’ll have to get working on it.
Sincerely,
Mr. Avery
Dear Mr Avery,
I wanted to know when this will be on iTunes. Thanks for actually rapping! It was awesome.
Sincerely,
Kirstyn M.
Dear Mr. Avery,
My family and I really enjoyed you rapping. It was a lot of fun and I’m glad to see it finally finished. It came out great.
From,
Will G.
Dear Mr. Avery,
I love that video so much! 🙂 Thank you for putting it up. It makes me laugh so hard every time I watch it! 😆 I just got back from the book signing for Rick Riordan! It was great even though it took 3 hours to get there and we waited in line for 3 hours! I got your book signed for you and I can’t wait to give it to you! His signature looks like a 3 year olds! I can’t read it! 😆 Have an awesome Columbus day and long weekend! See you Thursday!
Sincerely,
Alyxandra
Dear Mr. Avery,
The video was wicked funny 😆
Not to embarrass you or anything but I showed it to my dad’s friend’s family and they thought you were insanely funny! I have to say that was the highlight of my day.
Thank you for rapping!
Sincerely,
Hannah, Quentin, Sophia, Luke, and Emily 😀
Dear Mr. Avery,
I love the video. Did you add to it since we’ve heard it in class? Anyway, I showed everybody in my family the video and they loved it. See you in class next week!
Sincerely,
Kristin
Dear Mr. Avery,
Great job! I really enjoyed telling and showing my family your rap of how to divide fractions. Your the best teacher in the history of technology!
Sincerely,
Taite
Dear Mr. Avery,
I think you should make MORE rap videos! You’re a natural 🙂
Sincerely,
Ms. Liz
Dear mom,
I honestly don’t think he’ll do more rap videos but he may make us do rap videos! 😆 Mr. Avery said he wasn’t going to videotape himself rapping but he changed his mind and got some kids to stay in from recess to help him videotape.
Your daughter,
Turtles 😈
Dear Liz,
Thanks for leaving a comment on our blog. I also think it would be cool if he makes more rap videos this year.
From,
Morgan M
Dear Mr. Avery,
That was so funny! Julia, George, and I were just watching you. At first they had no idea who you were! It was a really good idea though. It was a cool way to remember how to divide fractions. I cant wait to do more stuff like this!
See you soon,
Molly C.