UPDATE!
I just found out today where this awesome idea came from. And no, it wasn't Pinterest. :) It comes from Alicia, who is a stay at home mom/ homeschool teacher. Please click her name to take you to the article she's written about it. She also has a ton of other really good educational posts as well. Thank you Alicia!!!
Ok...
The EASIEST Long Division EVER!
Here is the traditional way that I teach, you know, the one that makes us want to pull our hair out!
And here is the easy way. Different Problem...
How many times does 4 go into 8? 2 times.
How many times does 4 go into 9? (without going over) 2.
One is left over, so put it before the next number
How many times will 4 go into 17? 4 times.
One is left over, so put it before the next number
One is left over, so put it before the next number
How many times will 4 go into 14? 3 times with 2 left over. No more numbers, so that is your remainder.
Crazy Easy Right?!?
I saw this and pinned it, too. It's going to make division so much easier for my kids! Can't wait to show them it.
ReplyDeleteJen
Runde's Room
OH MY GOSH!!! This is incredible! I could definitely see my students understanding this with ease. Thank you so much for sharing this!! :)
ReplyDeleteKristen
Thanks for sharing!!! I hope it works everytime!
ReplyDelete@Janaye...I've tried it with 10-15 made up problems and it worked each of those times. :)
ReplyDeleteI learned to do long division this way when I was in elementary school. :-) I've never showed my students how to do it, thinking it would confuse them, but maybe the short cut way is easier?? I'll have to give it a try this year.
ReplyDeleteI call this short division. I show my students both short and long division strategies and they usually choose the long division...go figure. I think short division is faster and really cool!!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great way to check work, too! WOW... :)
ReplyDeleteHi. The images are from an article I wrote here: http://www.examiner.com/homeschooling-in-mankato/long-division-is-so-last-century. My little girl Anna did the math for it. I'd appreciate a link instead of reposting my slide show, as I write for a living and the hits help support our homeschooling. :) Thanks!
ReplyDelete~Alicia
This is how they taught it in the 60's. I also have been afraid to teach it to my kids for fear of confusing them. WHY?????
ReplyDeleteI teach my 5th graders long division (state expection) and the ones that have solid understanding, I also teach "short division." The only downside I have found to short division is that it's hard for some of my students to do the subtraction steps in their head.
ReplyDeleteThat is what I am finding with my special needs student.
DeleteMy thoughts exactly!
DeleteI agree that once you are comfortable with the concept, the "short" division seems so much easier. but from a child's perspective, I think it would be more difficult. You may not realize it because it comes so naturally by now, but using the "short" method requires you to keep track of a lot of math in your head...subtracting the difference, figuring how many times one number fits into another. I know when I learned math, I preferred to write out EVERY step so I could follow the logic. But that's just me = )
ReplyDeleteFor some kids this is the only way they can successfully divide. They get lost in the steps and sometimes that is due to only being taught some cutsie saying for the steps and not why they are doing what they are doing. There are a handful of students every year who are only successful with this method. Do not be afraid to show your kids this! For those who don't need this method they will not use it and will continue with the long division.
ReplyDeleteHow does this method work with a 2 or 3 digit divisor?
ReplyDeleteI am thinking the same thing. My opinion is it doesn't.
DeleteProblem is...most want you to "show your work". I agree that this is better and quicker.
ReplyDeleteI have been teaching my son the shorter way becuase that's how i was taught but when he started to do long division with double and triple divisor the longer does come handy. It is best to master both methods in my experience.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to show my class. I'm in my internship and have been struggling with teaching my class division, because it seems like I only know ways that help me, but if you know basic multiplication, this way is absolutely perfect!
ReplyDeleteOf course it will work every time, its the same way just carrying in the sum instead of under it. Just make sure children remember that the number is a ten and not added on.
ReplyDeleteOf course it will work every time, its the same way just carrying in the sum instead of under it. Just make sure children remember that the number is a ten and not added on.
ReplyDeleteWe have a video on our class blog (from The Internet) that extends this even more. Http://tammiecatherine.blogspot.com.
ReplyDeleteYou can find it under Maths. The video is called 'Short Division by Olivia'.
ReplyDeletethis is the only way i teach kids how to divide....and when they get old enough to do it as a fraction answer instead of just remaiders you put the remainder on top of the divisor. And if they want the answer expressed as a decimal you add a decimal point and a couple of zeros to the number you are dividing into. then instead of writing remainder whatever you continue as you have been but remember to put the decimal in the right position above and you have the correct decimal answer.
ReplyDeleteHi. I wrote last year and asked you to take down my pictures from my article. I appreciate that you've added the credit to my article and your nice words, but again, please do not use my photos here. I write for a living and depend on the page views on my articles. Thanks.
ReplyDeletePS This is the updated article with slide show that the pictures are from. www.examiner.com/article/short-division-makes-math-easy My little girl did the math for them and she still loves doing short division for fun.
ReplyDeleteThanks for understanding.
Well, thank you, Katie. I'm a senior citizen who's preparing for the GED test so that I can put that to rest and go on to college and earn a degree in business marketing. I was getting so confused using the traditional long division procedure that my self-tests were hurting. This streamlined method makes it so easy for me that I'm very thankful to have found your blog.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
RT
The method that you shared is how Touch Math teaches long division. I like it too, however, the downfall is they have to have very strong mental math skills to do it successfully. Touch Math is usually geared more toward the Special Ed. population - or those who need kinesthetic learning. I do love it though, and use it personally if I don't have a calculator within reach. Cell phones have ruined any thought of doing it the hard way unfortunately!
ReplyDeleteGet the heck out of here (said my 10 year old). This is amazing. Thank you, thank you, thank you
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteStill helping people four years later! This rocks!
ReplyDelete