It’s November, and many teachers are introducing and teaching Division in their math classrooms. For our students in 3rd grade, Division is a new concept. It can be challenging to understand, let alone master. If you need a few ideas – keep reading!
I have always loved teaching Division! One reason might be all the fun activities you can do!
Kids LOVE to use manipulatives and these are a few of my favorites!
- counters
- marshmallows
- M & M’s
- cute erasers
- pencils
The list goes on and on! Of course, the more you use candy and treats – the more they will LOVE it!
Table of Contents
Dividing with Objects
Teaching students how to divide with objects helps their conceptual knowledge. Most children understand sharing and dividing up things they are interested in. So, they know what division is and why we divide objects. (to share)
Teaching division includes showing students these strategies:
- how many groups
- how many in each group
- how to use repeated subtraction
- the relationship between division and multiplication
- how to solve division word problems
Division Core Instruction
Most of our students will master division from our core instruction when we give them the skills and strategies to do it. This needs to include manipulatives, drawing representations, and understanding the division equation, especially with quality resources.
What happens when students don’t understand and need extra help?
In Two Important Reasons I use Formative Assessments in my Classroom, I share how I use formative assessments to determine whether my students have mastered a math concept.
Once you have determined who needs additional help by using formative assessments, you need a plan.
Teaching Division in Small Group
Math small group instruction allows students to get the one-on-one attention they need to master math concepts.
The big key to small group math instruction is using the right resources.
Using manipulatives and rigorous activities helps struggling math students practice essential strategies and skills they need to gain mastery. These activities still need to be fun, so using marshmallows or candy as manipulatives will help student engagement!
Grab these FREE Division Equal Groups Math Mats to use in your small group instruction!
Teaching Division Resources
When I plan small group instruction and intervention for division, I usually try to use Division worksheets. I think they are easier for struggling mathematicians to use. Honestly – I love the fact that they are NO-PREP. Teachers have so many lessons to plan, but so little time. Quality resources that reduce my prep time are perfect!
I also love these Division worksheets because they address so many different skills and strategies for division on one page:
- Writing division equations
- Dividing arrays into equal groups
- Drawing arrays to represent a division equation
- Recognizing patterns in division quotients
- Relating division to multiplication
- Solving division word problems
The worksheets start at one and go all the way up to 12. As students gain understanding and confidence, they can work through all 12 worksheets OR just the ones they need. Each worksheet gives students several ways to address division with that number.
In addition, I love that you can also practice specific ways to learn division with these specialized worksheets:
- How Many Groups?
- How Many in Each Group?
- Drawing Math Models
These three worksheets are perfect for teaching specific strategies as needed.
Grab this packet of DIVISION WORKSHEETS if you need NO PREP small group resources for your 3rd grade math classroom! I know you will love teaching division in small groups with these worksheets! They have been a game-changer for my students.
Need more division resources?
- Division Jeopardy Game
- Division Word Problems Task Cards – Print & Digital
- Division Word Problems Error Analysis
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