If you’ve ever had students confidently tell you that multiplication always comes before division or that PEMDAS means they have to add before they subtract, you’re not alone. Teaching order of operations is one of those foundational skills that your students need clear guidance on, especially when introducing expressions with multiple steps. Whether you’re brand new to 6th grade math or just looking for a fresh way to explain it, I’ve got a strategy that makes this concept click. Let’s go ahead and start!
See Teaching Order of Operations in Action
Let’s start with a video that breaks down everything you need to know for teaching order of operations. You’ll learn everything from explaining the PEMDAS/GEMDAS acronyms to solving step-by-step problems that include all the tricky parts your students usually struggle with.
In this lesson, I walk through four example problems and highlight common misunderstandings, like when students confuse the order of multiplication and division. I used this kind of walkthrough for classroom modeling, small group reteaching, and even as a review for myself when prepping lessons.
What to Emphasize When Teaching Order of Operations
Here are a few big takeaways from the video:
- Explain that multiplication and division (and addition and subtraction) are partners. They are not ranked in order. They must be solved from left to right. It just depends on what comes first in the expression.
- Encourage your students to rewrite the entire expression at every step. It might feel repetitive, but it helps them slow down and catch mistakes.
- Include problems that combine parentheses, exponents, and all four operations. This way, your students will get used to switching between steps and choosing the correct order.
For example, in an expression like 15 ÷ 5 + 22, your students might want to divide first because it is the first operation in the expression, but that is not correct because E comes before D in PEMDAS. Instead, show them how to evaluate the exponent first, then divide, then add. You want them to carefully work from left to right when operations share the same level.
Extra Tips for Teaching Order of Operations
Something that really helped my students was using visual cues. I grouped multiply/divide together and add/subtract together in anchor charts. I always had a visual with a reminder to go left to right. That small change made a big impact on how they approached expressions with multiple steps.
Try this in your classroom: Talk through each step as you write it. Model not only the math but the thinking behind each move. For example, say, “I see multiplication and division, but I’m doing division first because it comes first from the left.” These moments build metacognition and help your students remember the process more than any acronym will.
Additional Resources to Explore
Looking for a wide variety of resources that will engage your students? Make sure to take some time to explore my Order of Operations resources! There is an activity for each one of your learners, whether they prefer collaborative learning, movement, or combining color with math practice! For even more tips and activity ideas for order of operations, check out the blog post Tips & Activities for Teaching Order of Operations.
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