01/24/11

I enjoyed capturing icicles in interesting areas. I found that some were right in the middle of an area that had already thawed out.

Here is an enjoyable and typical moment in the life of ME.

On Saturday when Mikayla and I were baking that layer cake, I came across a fraction that caused me a moment of hesitation.

Now, let's remember that Kellie is no Math Genius and is doing better in the fraction areas since her children are in fourth grade. However, she is still not up to where she can figure them out quickly.

The recipe called for 2/3 cup of butter.

2/3 a cup??? I have always done it by halves and fourths!

I began to frantically look over the stick of butter to see where it says "1/3" of anything.

And thinking... why in the world didn't they just figure out it to be a whole, half or fourth of the butter instead of these thirds? Butter adds flavor so why not MORE?

I finally find the spot that says "5 1/3Tbsp. = 1/3 cup"

YES! Now I can do it!

Only to realize I have to do more thinking because I need TWO-thirds.

OK... I have to act like I know what I am doing here.

I begin to say "Mikayla, we are going to use this as a teaching moment!"

I hope you know how to figure out your fractions better than your Momma!!

Let's write down the fraction so we can see how to turn it into 2/3.

No, let's write it down so hopefully your Mom can grasp it within a reasonable amount of time. The butter has been out of the fridge so long it has gone past room temp.

OK, Mikayla... we have to come up with 2/3.... OK... can you figure out how we can get that?

Blank stare.

Blank stare in Mom's head.

Mikayla, to make it easier for you, let's just use two different sticks of butter and cut them both off at the mark of "5 1/3 Tbsp." so you can see what happens.

Actually, your Mom doesn't have it in her right now to figure out the total amount of tablespoons because her heart is palpitating and she has sweaty palms.

Great! Do you see how we have two sticks of butter cut to what we need?

Do you see how we have two ends of butter that can't really be used for anything but melting for something later?

After she plops in those two 5 1/3 Tbsp. sticks of butter into the bowl, I figured it out... we could have just used 10 and 2/3 Tbsp. of butter. Meaning... a whole stick of butter a little bit of another.

And to think I teach math.

Thankfully it is all second grade and on my level. I don't teach adding fractions. We just play with quiet counters and fraction mats. Maybe next time I bake with Mikayla I'll bring those home.

To help me.