Fractions

Question of the day: How much is 2 1/4 (2 and 1 quarter) take away 1/2 (1 half)?

Many of the adults would use one method to solve this problem.
The most abstract method that they were taught.

Answer: 

Denominator multiply whole number, add numerator.
Minus 1/2.

Why do we have to teach children the same way that we were taught?

Using diagrams and graphs make learning easier for the children because they proceed from concrete to pictorial to abstract. Jumping straight to the abstract approach often confuses children.

Challenge of the day: 
Think of as many ways as possible to solve the question that caters to children under the concrete and pictorial level! :)