2025 MidSchoolMath National Conference

In this session, we'll explore the cognitive demand of proportional reasoning by guiding participants. Using thoughtfully selected tasks from the California 2023 Mathematics Framework, we'll look at how the importance of rigor, sense-making, and flexible thinking that go beyond procedural algorithms.

Drawing on insights from Susan Lamon’s “Teaching Fractions and Ratios for Understanding”, we will highlight the importance of fostering students’ deep reasoning around ratios, fractions, and proportions. Instead of relying solely on algorithms, we will look at how to equip students with tools such as ratio tables, tape diagrams, double number lines, hundred grids, graphs, and equations to help them understand and reason proportionally. Additionally, we’ll discuss how these concepts progress from elementary to high school and the importance of building a solid foundation in proportional reasoning. You'll leave feeling confident in empowering your students to become problem solvers and critical thinkers by deeply engaging with proportional reasoning.