INTERNAL USE ONLY FRACTION NATION TALKING POINTS AND FAQS

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What is Fraction Nation

INTERNAL USE ONLY

Fraction Nation: Talking Points and FAQS


When will Fraction Nation be released?

Fraction Nation will be released in February 2009. The program with all its components will be shipping from JC in the end of February. For customers who need the program earlier, we can ship out components from the office starting at the end of January.


Is that date real?

Yes.


What is Fraction Nation?

Fraction Nation is an adaptive software program that helps students in grades 4-8 build fraction fluency. Through an initial placement assessment, Fraction Nation prescribes an instructional path for each student. Each lesson is 15 minutes and is comprised of targeted instruction, guided practice, and ongoing performance assessments.


The brilliance behind Fraction Nation is the 64 carefully designed and sequenced lessons to build students’ fraction fluency. With a focus on the number line and fraction strips, Fraction Nation provides explicit instruction with dynamic visual representations and a variety of examples to ensure understanding. With guided and adaptive practice, students receive sufficient rehearsals and immediate feedback to build confidence, and competence, with fractions and decimals.


How big is the market and how great is the demand?

There are not many fraction and decimal specific programs on the market which places Fraction Nation in a good position. Our competition will most likely be larger comprehensive intervention programs that cover lots of content or freeware/shareware. The demand is big. Ask any math teacher or math director if their students are struggling with fractions and you will get a head to nod: YES. In fact, many of our FASTT Math customers have been asking for a fractions program.


What is the need/gap that the product fills?

All students struggle with fractions. Fractions and decimals are some of the most difficult concepts to learn and teach. Fraction Nation meets the current need to help students build and achieve fraction fluency.


Who is it for?

Fraction Nation is a software program for students struggling with fractions and decimals (concepts with which we know all students struggle). The program is targeted for students in grades 4-8. The grade range may range depending on state standards.


What is the grade range for this program?

The grade range is 4-8, but this may change depending on state standards.




How do you position Fraction Nation?

Fraction Nation is a new program designed to build fraction fluency for students in grades 4-8. Since many students struggle with fractions and decimals, all students will need Fraction Nation at some point. Some students may benefit from Fraction Nation while these concepts are being taught in class while others will need to targeted intervention after these concepts have been taught – 6th-8th grade.


What is an easy way to talk about the program with a customer?

An easy way to open up a conversation is ask these questions: “Where are your students struggling in mathematics?” or “What gaps do you see in your students’ mathematical abilities?” More often than not, basic math facts and fractions will come up as gaps in students’ mathematical understanding.


Why is it called Fraction Nation?

The title Fraction Nation represents Scholastic’s aspiration that all students in the United States can and will display fluency with fractions. Someday we hope to be a “Fraction Nation” where all students are fluent with fractions.


What is the pricing structure?

Classroom Plan (60 licenses) – $3,000

School Plan (Unlimited Site License) – $9,000


All CUSTOMERS:

Special pre-publication pricing is available for the Unlimited Site License: if purchased before 3/1/2010 customers receive a 33% off discount and pay only $6,000!


Is this program adaptive?

Yes, there are a few ways in which the program is adaptive:

  1. Fraction Nation is adaptive in its placement. After taking the initial assessment, students are placed into 1 of 2 areas within the program (at the very beginning – Introduction to Fractions or in the middle – Introduction to Equivalence).

  2. Guided Practice is adaptively paced. For students who are doing well in a guided practice session they are accelerated (essentially they do less problems). On the other hand, if students are struggling they will receive more problems that are similar to the ones they are getting incorrect.

  3. The program is adaptive in its feedback. During the Guided Practice sets, the program gives students immediate and corrective feedback. In addition, students have access to the glossary and they can receive a series of scaffolded hints.

  4. Fraction Nation individualizes instruction for students during the animated instructions because students can use the navigational bar to: pause, stop, rewind, or use close captioning. In addition, there is a “Play-by-Play” mode which allows students to receive 1 sentence of instruction at a time.


Is every student within Fraction Nation similar? Or is it adaptive for each student?

Each student will be assessed in the placement assessment and each student will answer the same questions. (The computer will provide the assessment questions in different orders so that all students are not seeing the same question for question 1, 2, 3, and so on.) From there, students will be placed into 1 of 2 areas in the program. Some students will be ahead of others within the scope of Fraction Nation. Each student will go through each piece of the program similarly. Each student will receive the same Targeted Instruction (Learn). Students can make the Targeted Instruction their own by using the navigational bar available to them. They can use the close captioning, the Play-by-Play mode, or choose to pause, stop and rewind the animation.


The adaptive nature comes into play when students enter into the Guided Practice. Each student will receive the same problems, however if students do well they are accelerated and do fewer problems. Students who struggle will receive more questions that are similar to the ones they got incorrect. All students will receive the same performance assessments.


Does this program cover percents?

Fraction Nation provides 64 lessons that span the key areas of fractions and decimals: quantity, equivalence, and addition and subtraction. We do not cover percents.


Does the program have multiplication and division of fractions and decimals?

Fraction Nation provides 64 lessons that span the key areas of fractions and decimals: quantity, equivalence, and addition and subtraction. We do not cover multiplication and division of fractions.


How many sessions per day can a student complete?

Good news. Students are not limited to the amount of lessons they can do per day.


What happens when a student reaches 15 minutes?

Nothing. Fraction Nation does not log off students. In fact, students can continue to do additional lessons if they are moving through the program at a faster pace. If students take longer, or need to exit the program early, students will pick up at the beginning of the section where they left off. They will start at the beginning of Learn, Practice, or Perform.


TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE PLANS


What are the Tech Plans for Fraction Nation?

There is a basic Fraction Nation support only plan for $350. This is available for customers purchasing the Unlimited Site License or the Classroom Plan.


Does the FASTT Math plan cover Fraction Nation?

No. Customers must purchase separate plans for each program.



Will there be a Tech Plan bundle for FASTT Math, Fraction Nation, and SMI?

No. Customers must purchase separate plans for each program. However, we are working on an ISBN that can be used on proposals for those customers purchasing all the programs so it will be displayed on one line.



SALES SUPPORT AND COLLATERAL


Will there be a research report?

Yes. There is a professional paper that provides a comprehensive summary of the research behind Fraction Nation. Now available in JC. The item # is 273778.


Will there be a RTI Alignment Guide?

Yes, there will be a Fraction Nation RTI Guide. Coming soon. The item # is 273779.


Will there be an Alignment Guide to the National Math Panel and the NCTM Curriculum Focal Points?

Yes. Coming soon.


Will there be an Demo CD?

Yes, we will have an Demo CD. Available in March.


With FASTT Math we were able to send out a 1-computer license as a review copy.  How are we going to be able to access review copies for Fraction Nation?

We will have a Fraction Nation Product Sample (0-545-22342-3) which is the actual product with 5 trial licenses. The customer can sample this item for 30 days. After 30 days, the customer must coordinate with the TM/AE to return that product back to Scholastic/Tom Snyder Productions. It is up to the TM/AE to get the product back from the customer.



FASTT MATH & FRACTION NATION


A customer may ask you…

Is this program like FASTT Math?

It is similar to FASTT Math, but because instruction for fractions and decimals is much more complex and students are required to have firm conceptual understanding and procedural knowledge the program is different.


What are the key similarities of FASTT Math and Fraction Nation that I should highlight for my customers?

  1. The programs focus of the basics needed for success in mathematics – FASTT Math focuses on basic math facts; Fraction Nation focuses on the key concepts of fractions and decimals – quantity, equivalence, and addition and subtraction.

  2. The Instructional Model is similar. Similar to FASTT Math, Fraction Nation provides an instructional model that includes instruction, practice, and ongoing assessments. Both programs are adaptive.

  3. Research-based – Fraction Nation incorporates the best principles available for fraction instruction.

  4. SAM – Like FASTT Math, Fraction Nation includes the powerful student management system to help further differentiate instruction and produce powerful reports for on-going progress monitoring.

  5. Engaging – Like FASTT Math, students will want to be on Fraction Nation – gallery of animated citizens and the motivating survey questions.


Will there be a name out there that we could refer to (like Ted Hasselbring)?

Fraction Nation compiles the best research available in math education and learning issues. The program is based on key research mechanisms. Scholastic and Tom Snyder Productions has a rich history of providing strong, research-based programs such as FASTT Math and READ 180. Many research advisors were advised during the development process of Fraction Nation.

List of advisors:

CHIEF ACADEMIC ADVISOR

Dr. David Dockterman

Technology and Learning Harvard University Adjunct Lecturer on Education


EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

Maria Flanagan

Lead Designer of Fraction Nation Tom Snyder Productions/Scholastic


ADVISORS

Dr. Dennis DeTurck

University of Pennsylvania Professor of Mathematics


Dr. Nancy K. Mack

Grand Valley State University Professor of Mathematics


Dr. Gayle Millsaps

Purdue University Assistant Professor of Mathematics Education


Dr. Bethany Rittle-Johnson

Vanderbilt University Assistant Professor of Psychology


Linda Schoenbrodt Baltimore County Public Schools

Former Coordinator for Elementary Mathematics


Dr. Jon Starr

Harvard University Assistant Professor of Education


A customer may ask you…

The Fraction Nation lessons are longer than a FASTT Math session, why is this the case?

Fraction Nation covers key areas of fractions and decimals: quantity, equivalence, and addition and subtraction. In building fraction fluency, students must learn about both conceptual and procedural knowledge of these foundations. Because fractions are much more complex than basic math facts, Fraction Nation spends more time on the targeted instruction, practice, and assessments than in FASTT Math.


When do we introduce Fraction Nation in the school year?

Fraction Nation begins with quantity concepts and essentially helps students learn “What is a fraction?” Students typically learn this information at the END of 4th grade. Encourage your customers to check their state standards. We will be posting state standards soon. Below is a chart that will explain when Fraction Nation content is typically covered in the general math curriculum.


Grade 4
Fraction Nation Topics A-D (fraction and decimal quantity) supports on-grade level usage.

Grade 5
Fraction Nation Topics E-G (equivalence) and H-I (addition/subtraction) supports on-grade level usage.
Fraction Nation Topics A-D (fraction and decimal quantity) provides remediation of student learning.

Grades 6-8
Fraction Nation program provides remediation for student mastery of fraction fluency.
Curriculum depends on student mastery.



CONTENT/RESEARCH


What is the importance of the length model (number line and fraction strips) verses other types of models?

There are a couple reasons why the number line is an effective model above others:

1. “The number line is powerful because it integrates all the number systems from pre-K to grade 8 mathematics (whole numbers, integers, fractions and decimals.)”

    1. The number line helps students understand that fractions and decimals are a single entity on the number line. Fractions and decimals are numbers.

    2. The number line helps students see the relationships between whole numbers, fractions and decimals. Students often don’t see these systems as related.

2. The length model has advantages over the commonly used circle model

    1. The length model is better at illustrating a key idea: fractions must have equal parts. Circle model drawings often violate this because it is difficult to divide a circle into equal parts (especially beyond 8.)

    2. Length models are good for decimals and metric measurements. This enables the relationship of fractions, decimals, and metric lengths. (A circle model is common for fractions and 100-grid is for decimals. This leads students to view the systems as separate and unrelated.)


What are the other models that can be used to teach fractions?

      1. Sets: Sets refer to a set of items in which a particular part of that set refers to a fraction. For example, I have a set of 6 apples, 4 are green and 2 are red. What is the fraction that represents the green apples?


      1. Area Models: These are models such as squares or rectangles that are partitioned into the appropriate number of regions, and shaded as needed.


      1. Pie or Circle Models: These are the models in which a circle is divided into equal parts. (You may hear Fraction Nation be referred to as a “pizza-free” fraction program. As stated above in the previous question circle models are difficult to separate into equal parts and are not as effective as the number line.)


Does Fraction Nation cover sets, area models, and circle models?

Yes. Although we emphasize the length model throughout Fraction Nation because it is a proven effective model recognized by the National Math Panel, we do realize that students will see models in other places. Topic C is called “Number Lines & Other Models” and that is where we cover these models.


IMPLEMENTATION


What is the implementation model for Fraction Nation?

Similar to FASTT Math, the implementation model for Fraction Nation is a flexible one. Students are encouraged to use the program 3-5 times a week, 15 minutes a day.



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