Is your child struggling with subtracting mixed number fractions? You’re not alone! Many students hit a roadblock when tackling problems like 3 ¾ – 2 ⅚, leading to frustration and lost confidence. Without a clear, visual approach, they often feel overwhelmed—making it harder to progress in advanced math.
But what if there was a way to demystify this concept, making it fun, engaging, and easy to understand? That’s exactly what we’re offering in today’s powerful math intervention tutorial!
Why Is Subtracting Mixed Number Fractions So Hard?
The main struggle? Misalignment between visual learning and abstract concepts. Many students try to subtract whole numbers and fractions separately, which leads to mistakes. Others don’t understand how to borrow properly when needed. This results in a weak foundation that affects their long-term math success.
Case Study: How a 5th Grader Overcame the Struggle!
Sarah, a 5th grader with ADHD, used to dread subtracting mixed fractions. She would rush through problems, making simple mistakes that hurt her confidence. But after using our “Play-Pause-Copy” strategy—watching short video segments, pausing, and copying steps—she mastered the concept in just a few lessons. Now, she tackles fractions with ease and has aced her Common Core assessments!
The Solution: Learn Through Visuals & Interactive Lessons
To bridge the gap, our latest blog post walks students through subtraction step-by-step using engaging real-world scenarios. These five interactive video tutorials bring math to life, making learning exciting and stress-free.
Here’s what your child will learn:
✅ Illustrate the subtraction process – Using visual models to truly grasp the concept
✅ Step-by-step breakdowns – No more guesswork, just clear strategies for success
✅ Boost long-term retention – A solid fraction foundation ensures success in algebra & beyond
Watch & Learn – Free Math Video Tutorials!
Challenge 1: Slow-Moving Sloth (Watch Me!)
Your child will watch and learn as a sloth slowly moves toward a tree. How much farther does he have to go?
You are on vacation in the rainforest of South America. You discover a slow sloth crawling across the ground. He is headed for a large tree 3 & 3/4 yards away. You watch his slow progress as he moves one foot in front of the other. After a full minute the slow sloth has only traveled 2 & 5/6 yards.
How much further does your slow moving sloth have to travel before he reaches his tree?
This video breaks it down step by step for easy understanding. Watch now!
Challenge 2: Hungry Octopus (Work With Me!)
Your child will follow along and solve the problem with guided help.
You are part of the Junior Marine Biology Club of America. Your Club is scuba diving off the coast of Monterey California. You observe an octopus eating clams. There are 2 & 2/3 clams hidden in the sand. The octopus finds and eats 1 & 4/5 of the clams.
How many clams does the Hungry Octopus have left to eat?
How many clams are left for the octopus? Press play and work through it together!
Challenges 3-5: Try It Yourself! (On Your Own!)
Now it’s time for your child to apply their knowledge! Each problem is designed to reinforce learning while making math fun and engaging:
✔️ Carrot-Chomping Horse
You have wanted a horse of your own for as long as you can remember. You have saved and saved. Finally, you have enough money for your horse. She is a beautiful mare and she loves chomping on carrots. You buy 2 & 7/9 carrots for her. She chomps away 1 & 2/3 of the carrots.
How many carrots are left?
✔️ Snowy Owl & Her Babies – How much food remains?
A beautiful snowy owl has moved into a tree behind your house. She has three baby owls that recently hatched and are growing fast. The mother owl has killed 3 & 1/2 mice. Her baby owls eat 2 & 5/8 of the mice.
How many more mice do the baby owls have to eat?
✔️ Burger-Eating Panda – How much more can he eat?
You just made friends with a red panda. He is totally cute, but a little messy. His favorite food is hamburger. You take him to In & Out Burger and order 2 & 2/3 burgers. He eats 1 & 5/7 burger in about 8-seconds.
How many burgers does your Burger Eating Panda have left to eat?
Game-Changing Learning Strategies for Every Child
Struggling learners? No problem! Use our Play-Pause-Copy method to break problems into manageable steps.
ADHD, Dyslexia, or Learning Gaps? This structured approach has helped hundreds of students, including those with learning challenges, pass their Common Core proficiency exams!
Need extra support? Students can replay the videos and follow along as many times as needed.
Unlock Your Child’s Full Math Potential!
The Teacher’s Dungeon isn’t just another math program—it’s a game-based learning experience designed to make math interactive, engaging, and effective for 3rd to 6th graders. Each membership includes:
✔️ 48 math books with time-tested strategies
✔️ Standards-based tracking so you can monitor progress
✔️ Instant video tutorials for every problem
Visit our website now for FREE access to this life-changing math intervention tool!
www.teachersdungeon.com
Articles within this series on Fractions:
- How to do fractions, Free Online Tutoring in Math for Understanding Fractions
- How to Add Fractions (like 4/7 + 3/7 )
- How to Subtract Fractions (like 8/9 – 4/9 )
- How to Add Fractions with Unlike Denominators (like 2/3 + 3/4 )
- How to Subtract Fractions with Unlike Denominators (like 2/3 – 1/4)
- How to Add Fractions that are Mixed Numbers (like 2 & 3/4 + 3 & 5/6 )
- How to Subtract Fractions that are Mixed Numbers (like 3 & 3/4 – 2 & 5/6)
- How to Multiply Fractions (like 2/3 x 5 )
- How to Divide Fractions (like 6 ÷ ¾ )
- How to Multiply Fractions (like 2/3 x 1/4)
- How to Divide Fractions (like ½ ÷ ¼)