Long division can be tricky, but mastering it is crucial for developing math proficiency. Not only is long division the foundation of advanced mathematical skills such as algebra, fractions, and ratios, but it's also crucial for problem-solving, logical reasoning, and everyday application. We want our kids to be able to tackle long division with confidence. This article aims to provide strategies, activities, games, and additional resources to help you effectively teach long division.
Understanding Long Division
So, what is long division? We know that division is breaking down a larger unit into smaller units. With long division, it is the same process; we’re just breaking down bigger numbers.
You can break division down into a couple of steps:
Divide: By figuring out how many times a divisor can go into the dividend.
Multiply: Multiply the divisor by the quotient and then write your answer under the dividend.
Subtract: Subtract from the answer under the dividend to find the remainder.
Bring Down: Bring down the next digit of the dividend.
Repeat: Then you repeat until all digits have been brought down.
I know this all sounds confusing but we’ll do an example together.
If we divide 648/12, we would set it up as such:
Next, we multiply:
What times 12 will get us closest or equal to 64?
We multiplied and figured out 12 times 5, which is 60, bringing us closer to 64. We now gained the start of our quotient.
Next, we subtract 64 minus 60, which gives us 4, so we bring down our 8.
Then repeat: What times does 12 get us to 48?
We figured out 12 times 4 gives us exactly 48, we put our 4 above and get our remainder of 0.
Our quotient is our answer: 54.
Strategies for Teaching Long Division
There are many strategies for teaching long division, but it’s essential to teach your child how long division is present in everyday life, and it can be a fun learning experience.
1. Use Real-Life Examples
Long division is all around us. It's important to make division applicable to your child’s day-to-day life. For example, they can divide cookies among their friends or divide chores among each person in the household. Try to make learning long division something that isn’t just applied in the classroom and your child’s life.
2. Introduce Division Concepts Gradually
Long division can initially seem intimidating, so it’s helpful to start with basic division facts, e.g., 12/ 6 = 2, then gradually move into long division. Below, I will provide an age-appropriate timeline for learning division. However, keep in mind that each kid learns at different paces, so this isn’t an exact formula but a tool guide.
- Ages 8-9–Basic Division Instruction: This is when your child will be learning division as the inversion of multiplication.
- Age 9– Understanding Division with Remainders: This is when your child will encounter division problems with remainders.
- Ages 9-10– Introduction to Long Division: The step-by-step process of long division is introduced: division set up, multiplication, subtraction, bring down, repeat. Your child will start with a more straightforward division that gradually moves to complex problems.
- Ages 10-11– Mastery of Long Division: This is when your child has had plenty of practice, where they can divide larger numbers with remainders and apply them to word problems and complex equations.
3. Engage in Fun Activities
Learning should always be fun and engaging for your child. By using hands-on activities, you can better help your child visualize their operations and enjoy their learning process.
- Division with Beads/Blocks: You can help your child visualize division using blocks and beads.
- Division Puzzles: You can create simple puzzles that require solving division problems to piece the whole puzzle together.
- Division Bingo: You can create bingo cards with answers to division questions and call out division problems for your child to answer and find in their bingo card.
4. Interactive Games to Reinforce Learning
Learning should always be engaging and interactive, so games are one of the best teaching tools.
Sorting and Matching Games:
- Division Match up, where you create two sets of cards, one with long division problems and one with the solutions, and have your child match up the correct pairs.
- Division Dominoes have division tiles with problems and solutions, and your child can connect the right solution to the right problem.
Division Board Games: You could find these games around the house where the whole family can join the division for fun.
- Pizza Fraction Fun involved dividing pizza into equal parts.
- The Allowance Game players must earn or spend money, which requires dividing money and using many real-world applications.
- Monopoly falls under a similar category where you must buy property and divide up your money to do so.
Digital Apps and Tools: These online resources can help make long division fun and incredibly engaging.
- Khan Academy
- SplashLearn
- Prodigy Math
Tools and Resources for Teaching Long Division
There are many different avenues to teaching long division out there. Useful tools can include physical and digital, such as books, flashcards, educational apps, and websites. Below, I will provide some helpful resources that offer rich and fun visual learning.
1. Books:
- "The Great Divide: A Mathematical Marathon" by Dayle Ann Dodds
- "Divide and Ride" by Stuart J. Murphy
- "Remainder of One" by Elinor J. Pinczes
2. Flashcards:
- "School Zone Division 0-12 Flashcards"
- "Carson Dellosa Division Flash Cards"
- "Trend Enterprises Division 0-12 Flash Cards"
3. Educational Online Resources:
All these websites provide various long-division games, exercises, and matching activities.
- IXL Math
- Math Planet
- Math Playground
Try Genie Academy for Extra Support
Genie Academy is a fantastic resource offering customized curriculums for your child’s learning pace. Along with tutoring options for core subjects like math, reading, and writing, Genie Academy provides engaging workbooks that cover essential skills like long division. The academy fosters a positive, supportive environment where your child will feel motivated and excited to learn. With six convenient locations in New Jersey – Plainsboro, East Brunswick, South Brunswick, Hillsborough, South Plainfield, and Marlboro. – Genie Academy supports your child’s educational success.
Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them
- Difficulty with Abstract Concepts: Sometimes, it can be difficult to understand more abstract division concepts. A way to combat that is through visuals.
- Using Beads or Blocks: It helps with visualizing what’s happening; for example, they can see and feel how items are being divided into equal parts.
- Use real-life examples/tools: It helps to make the lesson relatable for additional engagement. Dividing up food items or Lego blocks when playing can be a more relevant and interactive way to show your child how division can look.
- Maintaining Interest and Engagement
- Maintaining interest and engagement can be easy when incorporating games, activities, online resources, and physical blocks. As long as lessons are short but consistent with variation, maintaining interest won't be a problem.
- Dealing with Mistakes Positively
- It’s important to invite your child to make mistakes; this is how they learn. If we deal with mistakes positively, we welcome our kids to try. As much as you can, try to provide positive reinforcement and work through a problem together when your child gets it incorrect. The key is to reward effort!
- It’s important to invite your child to make mistakes; this is how they learn. If we deal with mistakes positively, we welcome our kids to try. As much as you can, try to provide positive reinforcement and work through a problem together when your child gets it incorrect. The key is to reward effort!
Conclusion
Long division is a fundamental skill that prepares your child for advanced mathematical concepts. It builds off the skills your child already knows, from subtraction to multiplication, and combines them to create the steps we discussed above. Long division is important for your child’s academic success, problem-solving skills, and real-world applications.
By helping your child master long division, you are setting them up to think critically by working through detailed multi-step problems that build off one another. It can be overwhelming for a parent to begin the process of teaching your child these skills, but you can do this! Let this article be your guide to keeping long-division learning fun and engaging for your child. If you ever need extra support with your child’s learning process, Genie Academy is here to unlock your child’s genius.
