5th grade math (long division) tuturing help needed

[Brilliant]

I volunteer in an after-school program. We don't really "tutor"; it is more like we are there to nudge them to complete their homework so they can go play. 

 

Today I was helping a 5th grader with her math homework.  She absolutely couldn't do the long division problems.  As we tried to work through a single problem it became clear that she didn't get the basic concept of what she was to do (figure out how many times 37 goes into 111).  She also doesn't know how to round (I suggested rounding to 40 for the first guess attempt), nor does she know basic multiplication facts other than 2s and 5s.  She couldn't skip count as a "cheat" for the math facts (I suggested she count by 3s, and she started with 3, 6, 8...)

I want to ask the program director if I can arrange 1-2 hours a week to work with her individually but wanted some advice before I approach her; my kids are in college so it's been a long time since I've taught elementary math!

1. Do you think 1-2 hours a week would help this student improve meaningfully? (I'm *assuming* no real learning disability; according to the program director the student has moved frequently and may have fallen behind because of that).
2. Since these concepts are foundational for long division, and it's what I noticed she was having trouble with, I think time would be best spent on :
     a) math multiplication facts/skip counting
     b ) division with single-digit divisors
     c) rounding concepts
3. I don't have any materials left from when I taught my kids elementary math.  I hope to find something free online - is there anything specific you would recommend?

 

Please help me help this student!

 

[Guest rhoshi]

Not sure if this helps, but I just used this to help my daughter learn long division:

http://www.jumpmath.org/cms/sites/default/files/JUMPMath%20Sample%20AP5.1%20pages%2089-99_0.pdf

 

Here's the link to other free samples of their resources:  http://www.jumpmath.org/cms/samples

 

JUMP Math seems to break things down into individual steps, so it seems like it might be a potential option for remedial students.

[Arcadia]

For math facts, let her fill up a blank multiplication chart every time you meet and then use that chart to help her with questions that need recall of math facts. See if she can memorize some math facts each week.

 

For 111/37, what my younger did when he initially did long division was write down

1 x 37 = 37

2 x 37 = 74

3 x 37 = 111

In this problem, the answer happen to have no remainder.

 

I have used MEP math which is free for extra practice.

[Brilliant]

Not sure if this helps, but I just used this to help my daughter learn long division:

http://www.jumpmath.org/cms/sites/default/files/JUMPMath%20Sample%20AP5.1%20pages%2089-99_0.pdf

 

Here's the link to other free samples of their resources:  http://www.jumpmath.org/cms/samples

 

JUMP Math seems to break things down into individual steps, so it seems like it might be a potential option for remedial students.

Thanks, that looks like a good lesson on division; I've saved it and will check out their other samples.

 

For math facts, let her fill up a blank multiplication chart every time you meet and then use that chart to help her with questions that need recall of math facts. See if she can memorize some math facts each week....

Yes, this is what I had in mind for that.  I also volunteer in a 5th grade classroom, and they start off every math lesson with this warmup!

 

Thanks to you both; after looking at your suggestions and googling some other stuff, I feel confident that there are materials that I can use to help her.  So I've just emailed the program director.

[ElizabethB]

Here is a nice multiplication matrix, of she could do one daily at home as well that would be even more helpful.

 

http://www.donpotter.net/pdf/multiplication-matrix.pdf

 

I also like doing them in reverse, the 60 second sweep honeycomb. You can start with a row or two and work up to the whole thing, there are also printed versions available if you search.

 

http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/13520291/