Long Division Cheat Sheet

I once joked to another teacher that I'd be happy sitting around making math cheat sheets all day. It was June, the building was probably 150 degrees and we were in the middle of a rational functions unit, which, ironically, is related to long division. 

Later when I thought about it, I realized that maybe I wasn't totally joking. It's not so much making the sheets themselves (though formatting is strangely addictive), it's making something that a kid can use to help lower stress and build math confidence. No cheat sheet ever takes the place of a teacher, but sometimes every little bit helps when a kid is frustrated and on the verge of giving up.

A teacher had recently asked if I could make a long division cheat sheet for one of her students who was having a tough time with the algorithm. 

I love making references and activities for younger kids. I was a high school math teacher for so long that making math resources for younger students can feel a bit intimidating. The last thing I ever want to do is cause misconceptions. 

Multiplying & dividing multi-digit numbers digital escape room

But I also feel pretty darned honored when trusted to make activities and references for younger students. This happened again when another really nice teacher reached out to ask if I'd make a digital math escape room for her 4th graders. Above is puzzle #4 of a multiplying and dividing multi-digit numbers digital math escape room where students multiply and divide then enter the 4-digit code to unlock the puzzle.   

Division puzzles

I also made another type of puzzle set, these coming in both print and digital form. This set of 3 division puzzles come in both PDF printable form and digital form in Google Slides. Students need to figure out how the numbers will arrange in the grid to divide to each row and column. The 3 puzzles are easy to differentiate by including or removing the included distractor slips or sorting one of the slips onto the puzzle before giving to students to complete.

Getting back to the long division cheat sheet, I had already made a reference for long division with decimals as part of a 5th grade math word wall, but the teacher who had reached out needed a non-decimal reference to support her student. Her student was having trouble with the standard long division algorithm before decimals even entered the picture.

He was putting up a wall, so I made this reference sheet for him. If you have students who are also struggling with long division, I hope they find this reference sheet helpful. 

>>You can find the free long division cheat sheet here. 

I enlarged the PDF by following directions in in this making posters post.

More ideas

A while ago, I had made this long division math pennant for students to practice long division. Some answers have decimal answers and others don't so that you can differentiate for everyone. There are also blank pennants included to customize the activity even further.

Long division ghost pennants

A teacher requested a long division math pennant for Halloween, so I made her these fun long division ghost pennants.

Division ornaments

A 4th grade teacher asked if I could make a set of division ornaments for her students to practice division using different methods.

And for help with multiplication facts, I made a set of multiplication flash cards with strategies printed on them. 

More posts:

Dividing Fractions with Models - 3 examples


Finding GCF & LCM with the Ladder Method