One of the attributes of rational numbers that make them different from integers are the different symbolic modes (fraction, decimal and percentage) to which an identical number can be attributed (e.g. 1 4 , 0.25 and 25%). Some research has identified students' difficulty in mental calculations with rational numbers as has also the switching to different symbolic representations between fractions and decimals. However, pupils' performance, and repertoire of strategies have not been systematically studied in mental calculations with rational numbers expressed in different symbolic representations. The principal question of this research: how is the ability of students to perform mental calculations with rational numbers affected when the same number changes in fraction, decimal and percentage? For the purpose of the study 62 8 th grade students were interviewed to examine how this symbolic shift in the number of operations affects the success and type of strategies they use, and the ability to alternate the rotation of these symbolisms. The results of the research show that the symbolic change of the rational numbers affects the success and the type of strategies that students use in mental calculations. Another result of the study demonstrated that students are not flexible when switching between the different symbolic representations of rational numbers as benchmark while performing mental calculations.

Research findings in the field of Mathematics Education emphasize that storytelling is an effective instructional tool in the teaching of mathematics, as it provides a meaningful context that attracts students’ interest and makes learning a pleasant process. The use of stories and fairy tales in the teaching of mathematics motivates students to learn and provides students with an authentic context to understand mathematical concepts and procedures. It is a clear way to incorporate mathematics into other, broader cognitive domains and promotes mathematical discussion in the classroom. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the role that the use of storytelling can play in teaching fractions to third grade students. The study sample consisted of 76 third graders, who attended two primary schools in the city of Florina (Greece). This sample was divided into experimental (n=38) and control (n=38) group. In this study target-focused teaching stories were used. These stories were written in accordance with the objectives of a new Curriculum for rational numbers teaching. The study results showed that the use of storytelling had a positive effect on students’ achievement in fractions, as the experimental group performed significantly better than the control group. The students who benefited most from the use of storytelling were those with medium, especially, with low performance. Finally, the use of storytelling had a positive effect on specific mathematical skills, such as comparing fractions, finding equivalent fractions, creating and manipulating representations and problem solving.

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