Fractions Deep Dive: Preparing for Algebra

Too many students struggle with algebra. Are you one of them?

We don't need a national inquiry into why: many students simply never really get to grips with the rules of our number system. Have you inadvertently skipped over these rules too, touching on them only briefly? Have you ploughed ahead relying on prescribed methods that you simply memorise? Is there now too much to remember?

The rules of numbers, and all their delightful interconnections, are a joy to discover in this deep dive into fractions. Our destination may indeed be the world of algebra, but it's a solid understanding of all things fraction-related that will allow you to stride into it fearlessly.

This course offers a plethora of 'aha' moments! Join us today, and discover some delightful revelations.

We are based in the UK, and this course is delivered with KS3 and GCSE / IGCSE students in mind. That said, mathematics is a universal language, so whether you are about to begin algebra or you are a long-suffering survivor: this course is for you.

We build on Year 6 (end of primary / elementary education, age 11) and Year 7 fractions knowledge. We do away with the tips and tricks which you may have been taught, and instead we lay down a solid foundation. This will serve you well as a strong anchor point and as the bedrock to underpin more advanced techniques as you continue your mathematics journey.

Our aim is to equip you for your future studies, your future careers, and for problem-solving in your everyday lives. We hope to make you feel genuinely clever, and to bring a quiet confidence to your mathematics.

This course comprises 55 videos, ranging in length from 5 to 15 minutes. Alongside the maths, Michael offers some broader mentorship and occasional insights into his 'other life' as a full-time professional engineer.

Course Video Lessons:

This course also includes 16 downloadable PDF worksheets. These are an integral part of the course and we encourage everyone to have a go! They can be viewed on-screen using any (free) PDF application, or of course they can be printed out. There is space on every worksheet for your workings and answers, and all our worksheets come with fully worked solutions. You can view a small sample below.

Our worksheets steer clear of mundane, repetitive practice: there is sometimes a place for repetition, but there is also a plethora of free resources available online which provide that. Instead, we aim to make you think, and to provide guidance and hints on the worksheets themselves to signpost your direction of thought. We are huge advocates of the word YET: if you can't answer some of the questions YET, fear not. We aim to keep you in your Learning Zone, and not to leave you sat in your Comfort Zone (see Video Lesson #44: Chapter 8: Exam Questions).

We do not believe in the educational strategy of "teaching to the test". Imparting methods intended solely to improve your performance in an examination, rather than to genuinely enhance your understanding of mathematics, is folly! Nevertheless, for many of our students, high-school exams are a necessary stepping stone, and we know that. We always target a level of understanding that will turn anxiety-inducing exams into fun challenges, and all of our courses continually encourage and challenge students to attempt exam questions: you do not need to be 15 going on 16 to have success with - and learn from - past exam questions.

In that spirit, this course culminates in 36 GCSE exam questions. By using only what you learn in this course, plus a dose of mathematical thinking which is carefully scaffolded by Michael as he takes students through the questions, you can secure 95% of the marks needed to achieve a Grade 4 pass!

We hope that your inner mathematician is inspired by your deep dive into fractions, and that by the end of this course, you'll feel excited and eager to explore the world of algebra with us further in future courses!

The Gill Learning team

Course Author:  Louise

Course Presenter:  Michael

Video Editor:  Alex

Supplementary Information and Disclaimers:

• Free-to-view videos are intended to give non-members a taster of our courses.

• The course worksheets and accompanying worked solutions are available only to members of Gill Learning.