How to Help Your Child Improve in Fractions and Primary School Math

If your child is in Primary 3 or 4 and is struggling with fractions, you’re not alone. Many students get overwhelmed the moment they hear words like denominator, numerator, equivalent fractions, and simplify. These big terms confuse them before they even start learning.

Over the years, I’ve found one key idea that has helped even my weakest students gain confidence in fractions — and improve their Math in general. I call it:

Make the Same – A Pattern First, Understanding Later Approach

Most teachers focus on explaining concepts first. I do the opposite. I teach the pattern first because Math is a pattern recognition subject. Once students can follow the pattern and make the same, the understanding naturally follows later.

Step 1: Make the Same

This is the most important step. If your child doesn’t master this, nothing else in fractions will make sense. There are three types of “make the same”:

1. Exchange Numbers (What adults call cross-multiply)

Example:
For numbers like 3 and 4:

• 3 must multiply by 4
• 4 must multiply by 3

Now both numbers are 12. They are the same.

2. Multiply One Side

Example:
For numbers like 2 and 6:

• Only multiply 2 by 3 to make it 6. They are the same.

3. Multiply Both Sides

Example:
For 4 and 6, instead of 4×6 and 6×4 (which gives 24), we do:

• 4 × 2 = 8
• 6 × 2 = 12

We have made the numbers the same. But with a smaller number, 24, as compared to 48. This helps in simplification later.

How This Helps in Word Problems

A huge number of tough word problems in Primary School Math use this exact skill — recognising when two values must be made the same. This helps across topics like:

• Fractions
• Multiples
• Ratios
• Rate
• and many heuristics word problems.

If they can’t make the same, they’ll get stuck everywhere.

Don’t Jump to Understanding Too Fast

Some parents insist on full understanding first. That backfires.

Let them memorise the pattern first. Drill it like a song. Understanding will come later once it becomes second nature.

🧠 Pro Tip: Forget the multiplication tables for now. Let them refer. Focus on the process, not memory.

Start with Pictures, Then Numbers

Before you show numbers in the numerator, start with images.

Example:

• Picture of a dog over 4 → dog/4
• Make the same to 12
• 4 × 3 = 12 → dog must also × 3

This teaches them: Whatever happens to the bottom, must also happen to the top.

Once they grasp this, then introduce actual numbers in the numerator.

Then Add the + or – Operations

When they’re solid with “make the same,” just add plus or minus.

The operation is the easy part. They already did the hard part.

Closing Thoughts

If your child is struggling in fractions, don’t panic.

Start with patterns. Repeat until it’s mechanical. Understanding will come after that. Once they know how to make the same, everything else in fractions — and even Math in general — gets easier.

Let them see the pattern, and the understanding will come.