Developing Proportional Reasoning

Proportional reasoning is the heart and soul of mathematics in grades five through eight. Future success in secondary mathematics and in the real-world math beyond school depends upon an understanding of and proficiency with proportions.

This comprehensive handout explores eight ways to solve proportions including using graph paper, factoring, and even a multiplication table. The popular "Proportion Boxes" approach shown to teachers throughout the U.S. at my workshops is presented along with an engaging project called "A Day in My Life" that uses proportions to help students measure and evaluate how they spend their time.