Where Can I Find Methods for Teaching Short Division?

Teaching Your Child Short Division at Home

Getting Your Child Ready

Before you begin helping your child, it might be a good idea to consult with his or her math teacher to find out what has already been taught in class about short division. Ask your child's teacher what resources are available. He or she may be able to tell you about some methods for reviewing division lessons at home. If it's necessary, the teacher may also be able to recommend private tutors or local learning centers.

It's likely that the math curriculum at your child's school is based on the Common Core State Standards. Knowing these standards can be helpful because you'll know if your child is meeting the expectations for his or her grade level. Additionally, many of the teaching methods that you'll utilize will be based on keeping your child's short division skills in line with these standards.

Teaching Division in Steps

Learning division one step at a time can help simplify the process. Most children learn simple division, long division and then short division. Begin by teaching simple division and long division concepts so that your child gains an understanding of division beyond memorizing facts. In order to master short division, your child must also have a thorough mastery of multiplication tables.

Since short division is closely related to multiplication facts, teach multiplication facts in a way that helps your child recognize these facts as a family. If your child knows that 2 x 4 = 8, he or she probably also knows that know that 8 ÷ 4 = 2 and 8 ÷ 2 = 4. Teach the division facts to your child as a chant so that he or she internalizes them. Educational stores and the Internet are both solid resources to find math chants and songs.

While long division involves mapping out each step of a problem on paper, many of these steps can be worked out without writing them down. This neat, somewhat simplified process is referred to as short division. While your child is just beginning to learn short division, it'll be easier for your child if the divisors are limited to one-digit numbers.

Using Visual Techniques

Visual lessons often help kids engage with lessons and retain information. There are many websites that can provide your child with visual learning aids, interactive tutorials and fun division games. Once your child has a thorough knowledge of long division, many of these resources can be used for short division as well.

You can use visual strategies to teach your child in everyday life. There are methods for teaching short division all over your home. Have your child divide objects around the house or at the supermarket, as well as divide tiles on a floor or cars on the highway. Make sure that the objects you choose are in a high enough number to warrant using short division techniques.