Fractions

Fractions are handy. Unless you're making a pound cake (traditionally, a pound of each ingredient), fractions help you cook and make change and do all sorts of handy things. Fractions and the ARITHMATIC involved shall never ever be confused with bullshit math like algebra. Algebra is not handy...... (no matter what Elaine says).

Fractions have vexed Emma all year. Cannot understand them. They make no sense whatsoever. Teacher couldn't explain 'em. (which is another topic all together, but I'm trying to let it go...) Parents couldn't explain 'em. So Emma finds herself spending 2 hours a week in tutoring. Our neighbor, Jennifer, is a teacher and we have enlisted her as tutor. So when SHE relates fractions to something like MONEY it makes sense. When someone like, oh.... Emma's MOTHER, relates fractions to money, she is an idiot. Fractions and money?? Mother, mother, mother, you are just so dimwitted.....

Of course Emma does not WANT to spend 2 hours per week in tutoring. But she went and she, shock of all shocks, LEARNED SOMETHING. I think Emma was just amazed. She now thinks she's got one over on her schoolmates. I think she's got a long way to go until that happens. But the lightbulb is now at least screwed into the socket. The power to light it up is online. Now just to flick the switch.

And 5th grade is a whole new year......