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Ask Holly a quick homework question between sessions. She usually replies within a day.
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Holly Calvert
Your tutor · English & Maths
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Mon 18 Aug
HC
Hi Sarah! Lovely session with Ava today. I've popped this week's reading comprehension and a fractions worksheet in her Resources tab. No rush, but if anything trips her up just message me here. 😊
Holly · 4:52pm
Thank you Holly, that's brilliant. Ava's already made a start on the reading and she loved it.
Sarah · 6:18pm
SB
Tue 19 Aug
Morning Holly! Quick homework question, if that's ok. Ava got stuck on question 4 of the fractions sheet, the one asking to add 2/5 and 1/3. She keeps adding the tops and bottoms together and getting 3/8. I wasn't sure how to explain it without confusing her more. Any tips?
Sarah · 8:41am
SB
HC
Hi Sarah, no problem at all, this is such a common one so please don't worry! It's actually a really good sign that Ava is having a go rather than freezing. 💛
The trick is that we can only add fractions when the bottom numbers (denominators) match. So with 2/5 and 1/3 we first make them into fifteenths: 2/5 becomes 6/15, and 1/3 becomes 5/15. Then we just add the tops: 6/15 + 5/15 = 11/15. The bottom stays the same.
A little picture really helps, try folding one strip of paper into fifths and another into thirds so she can see why the pieces need to be the same size before we can add them. We'll do a couple together on Thursday too so it really sticks. Tell her I said well done for having a proper go!
Adding-fractions-visual-guide.pdf
1 page · PDF
Holly · 9:07am
Oh that makes so much sense, the paper-folding idea is genius. We tried it and it clicked straight away. Thank you so much Holly, see you Thursday!
Sarah · 9:22am · Read
SB
HC
Messages are for quick homework help between sessions. For anything urgent, please email Holly directly.