Math Resources and Ideas for Upper Elementary Teachers

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8 Helpful Tips for Teaching Long Division

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i survived long division

Long division is one of the most difficult skills to teach. What other math skill requires students to think about division, multiplication, subtraction, and comparing numbers all within a single problem?

Here’s the thing. I know students will eventually have that “aha moment”. The challenge is preventing them from getting frustrated and giving up. I tell them daily I don’t expect perfection, but I do expect progress. So we shoot for that: progress.

Here are a few tips to help you teach long division without any tears from students…or from you!

Tip #1: Focus on a Growth Mindset

My first tip doesn’t have anything to do with the long division process, but it is a must. When I hear students say they don’t understand, I make them add a very important word–YET! Teaching students to have a growth mindset instead of a fixed mindset is key. They need to realize mistakes help them grow.

Class Dojo has amazing videos that reinforce the importance of this concept. I’ve been showing these videos weekly and have had wonderful discussions with my students about growth mindset. Sometimes they need a pep talk from someone other than me!

One of my favorites is called The Incredible Power of Yet. This short video will inspire your students to conquer long division!

Tip #2: Begin with a Hands-On Approach

It may be tempting to start with a cute acronym (Does McDonald’s Sell Cheeseburgers?) and then begin drilling the steps repeatedly. While I’m not opposed to the acronym, I’ve learned you must first begin with a hands-on approach.

long division base 10 blocks

Students need to know the meaning behind the steps. Why do we compare the remainder to the divisor? Why do we bring down the next digit? They won’t understand this without seeing it first.

Therefore, on day one, I help students model the process with base 10 blocks. We have deep conversations about what each part of the division problem means and why the steps are in the order they are. As a result, students begin to understand the true meaning behind the algorithm.

Tip #3: Teach the Box Method First

I want to kick myself for not teaching this method years ago. The “box method” prepares students to learn the algorithm but presents the steps in a simpler, more organized manner. I teach this method first and work up to dividing a 4-digit number. Here is a video of an example in action.

After students master this method and comprehend the steps of long division, I move to the algorithm.

box method long division

I am amazed at how quickly students understand the algorithm on the FIRST day! This was not the case when I didn’t teach the box method. Back then, long division was frustrating to teach and frustrating for students to learn. It took DAYS for them to grasp this concept. Now students have a choice and can pick the method that works for them.

In the end, most of my students prefer the algorithm. For the rest, I’m so thankful they have a backup method that fits their needs and helps them be successful. You can find this FREE WORK MAT HERE!

Tip #4: Use a Long Division Guided Work Mat

 

Because there are so many steps, long division can be an overwhelming process to learn. That’s why I make sure to check in with students frequently. I want to know what part is clear and what part may be confusing to them.

The most common problem they express is not understanding where to place the digits. Guided work mats can be helpful when students struggle in this area. I created these to use with my students and recently added the place value chart for students to gain a better understanding of what long division means. This work mat has been extremely beneficial and is something I recommend trying if your students are having difficulty with long division.

Try a FREE SAMPLE to see for yourself!

Tip #5: Create Long Division Challenges for Students

It’s easy to spend most of your time helping students who are struggling, but you can’t ignore those who master long division early. Be sure to create a few challenges for those students as well. Mine love my LOOOOOOONNNGGG DIVISION challenge where they can attempt to see how many digits they can divide. It has become quite the competition! By the end of the unit, my entire outside wall is filled with division problems from floor to ceiling!

Tip #6: Go Digital with Boom Cards™

Since much of our current and future testing will be online, students need exposure to digital resources. Those who are just getting the hang of long division by hand may struggle with transitioning to a digital platform. Therefore, it’s important to be selective when going digital.

My favorite digital resources are Boom Cards because of their unique guiding nature and self-checking component. Curious about these digital task cards? Read this blog post which explains how I use Boom Cards in the classroom!

After a few days of practice, I assign students my Long Division Boom Cards. Students who have mastered long division work through these with ease and are able to move on to the Long Division Challenge. Students who struggle still benefit because of the self-checking feature. As a result, students learn from their mistakes, something other digital resources don’t always have.

The Bright Bunch has this to say about my Long Division Boom Cards-“My students were much more engaged while using this than a typical worksheet, and the fact that it collects grades – wow!”

Sample a few Long Division Boom Cards yourself! Not sure your students are ready for 2-step division? Try practicing with 1-step division first.

Tip #7: Listen to Your Students

When you see students struggling, refrain from automatically telling them what to do next. Sit down and listen to what they have to say. Ask them what parts of the process are clear and what parts are still confusing. Every student is different!

Tip #8: Be Patient

It’s called Long Division for a reason…sometimes it takes students a LONG time to grasp. But hang in there. It is so rewarding when they finally succeed!

Resources to Get You Started

If you need a few resources to get started, I’ve got you covered. Click below for more information!

Long Division Work Mat FREE SAMPLE

Divide with Remainders Boom Cards

Long Division Boom Cards

Long Division Work Mat

Long Division Digital and Printable Anchor Charts

I hope you and your students grow to love long division. Do you have any helpful tips when it comes to teaching long division? Leave a comment!

Until next time,

Happy Teaching!

P.S. If you listen to podcasts, then check out Episodes 15 and 16 of Elementary Math Chat on interpreting remainders. There was so much information to share that I had to break it up into two episodes!

Part 1  |  Part 2

4 Reasons Why Teachers and Students Love Boom Cards!

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The first time I discovered Boom Cards, I was in utter shock. I had never seen anything like them before. I was giddy with excitement as I worked through a few preview cards. Digital resources that were meaningful and graded themselves? Sign me up!! However, I didn’t jump on board right away because I wasn’t exactly sure how to use them. If you’ve ever felt that way about Boom Cards, keep reading to discover 4 reasons why you need these digital resources, and most importantly, how to use them in your classroom.

1. Students Love Digital Activities

Years ago, I attended a conference that referred to this generation of students as the “Nintendo Generation.” I tend to think of myself as the “Nintendo Generation” having grown up in the 80s, but I understood their point. It’s true, our students have grown up with technology and can’t imagine life without it. Therefore, they love digital resources and are comfortable using them. So, right away, you have their buy-in.

What exactly are Boom Cards? In a nutshell, they are digital task cards. With features like drag and drop, multiple select, and fill-in-the-blank, students interact with a variety of question types when working through a set. I’ve found that students connect much more to the content and questions within Boom Cards than regular task cards or a workbook page. It’s a win-win situation!

2. Digital Means No Prep

Have you ever checked off an entire to-do list? I know I haven’t. As a teacher, it’s nearly impossible. Once you get your head above water, you start thinking ahead and begin to feel like you’re drowning again. There is always something to do.

Boom Cards, however, have made planning and preparing activities SO MUCH EASIER. There’s no printing, laminating, or cutting, and I don’t have to use my beloved card stock. All I have to do is send students a link! I can do that in less than 10 seconds. Printable task cards would take me a minimum of 20 minutes to prepare from start to finish. (45 minutes if the laminator hasn’t been turned on, arghhh!!!) Plus, students have access to these decks outside of the classroom, and they can review them anytime or anywhere. Another teacher win!

 

How to Assign Boom Cards to Your Students

There are a variety of actions you can take with each deck of Boom Cards. To keep things simple, I assign Boom Cards by sending my students the hyperplay link. It will prompt them to log in to Boom Learning to access the deck. This does require you to have a paid subscription, but it is SO worth it because of all the valuable feedback you get!

assign boom cards with membership

If you are wanting to use the free version of Boom Learning, you can send students the fast pin link. Both of these options require a simple copy and paste into Google Classroom, Schoology, or whatever online platform you use. Students immediately have access to the deck!

how to assign boom cards

 

3. Data Collection

Boom Cards provide instant feedback to students and beneficial data for teachers. Yes, paper-pencil assessments can provide this data as well. But this is immediate. There are times I don’t look over paper-pencil assessments for days, and sometimes I’m too late to intervene. With Boom Learning, I can quickly glance through student scores and intervene on the spot. It has made my life so much easier!

Here is an example of what students would see:

boom card student view

Here is what teachers would see. Of course, I would never use actual student data, so Jake is a sample account I created.

boom card data

 

I find it helpful to see how long it takes students to complete each deck. Even better, I have immediate item analysis. The red questions would be the ones I would revisit with that student.

boom cards data

 

4. Versatility

Not only can you assign Boom Cards as a math center, but you can also use them for whole group lessons. For instance, I will often use a few cards for a quick spiral review or include them in my lesson. One feature in particular I love is the ability to assign a certain number of cards to students. Many of my decks have 20 cards, but depending on the skill, 20 questions could take a really long time to complete. Therefore, I may assign only 7-10 cards for the math center (you can hide certain cards so they don’t show up) and use the other cards in my whole group lesson.

Boom Cards also come in handy when preparing for state testing. Instead of searching endlessly for review materials, you can simply reassign previous decks to students. For a quick spiral review of several skills, consider assigning 3-5 cards of multiple decks instead of 1 deck at a time. It’s amazing how Boom Cards can actually teach and reinforce skills as students work through them. They are called Boom LEARNING Cards for a reason!

You can also use Boom Cards for your own test prep. I’ve created Chapter Review decks for all 13 chapters of the 4th Grade Go Math curriculum. I assign these 2 days before a test. With instant data collection, I’m able to plan my small group instruction effectively the day before a test.

Do yourself a favor and try a set of Boom Cards in some way, shape, or form. You will be happy you did. 🙂

Until next time,

Happy Teaching!

P.S. For even more tips and ideas, read this blog post where I explain how I use Boom Cards to review for chapter tests!