Are you confused by the Partial Quotient Method of Division?

Hi everyone,

Long time no see! But I found a great site to help children with the Partial Quotient Method of Division.

The Partial Quotient method is a transition for children who are not ready for the traditional method of Long Division. Some reasons are lack of basic multiplication skills and memorization, the traditional steps are proving difficult to memorize, the numbers being divided have gotten too large for a set of manipulatives, etc.
But regardless, it is a stepping stone to the Traditional U.S. Method.

I like Partial Quotients because students choose multiplication facts they are comfortable with, and do repeated subtraction 'ad nauseum' until they understand it is about taking away from the whole number in smaller sets. I like this tool because it has a "reset" button featured prominently before the "new" button, so kids can do the same problem repeatedly, until they tighten up their numbers. For example, the first time they do a problem, they might take away single groups, and the second time take away doubles, groups of fives or tens, but on the third or fourth time, they are using quotients that are similar to the most efficient numbers (which are the traditional method).
 
I like this tool because my students do. There are multiple characters, and multiple "things" that fit into sets, and a visual model which reinforces what division does, take away repeated groups. Dinosaurs, Penguins and puppies can eat apples, waffles and bones, and the student can choose. The animals pictured "take away" sets that the students can count if they need to. I do wish the example was easier to count, though.

The tool has a wide range, with using divisors from 1 to 50, and dividends from 1 to 500. The student can use it like a calculator, which guides them through the right method without giving them the answer.  This can be the perfect help for parents unfamiliar with the Partial Quotient Method. Eventually students will work on the traditional method, but this gives them a greater understanding of "Why" before "How"


Try it out and let me know what you think!

  Partial Quotient Method of Division:  The Quotient Cafe
http://illuminations.nctm.org/Activity.aspx?id=4197

It is from a trusted site, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, (NCTM)

If you prefer a video explaining it, watch this one:
http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/teaching-topics/computation/div-part-quot/

And if your child needs help with the traditional method, try Snork:
http://www.kidsnumbers.com/long-division.php
The music is goofy, but meant to set a pace, and it asks the questions a person should be asking in their head.