In order to have a grasp on division, students must first understand the terms and their definitions. Quotient, dividend, and divisor are among the terms that must be covered. Make sure to also identify mathematical operators used in division, and include a few examples for students to see. Write out a few examples of division problems and allow students to identify parts of the equation.
An important concept for students learning division is to understand the inverse relationship between multiplication and division. Use a few examples of simple division problems and their multiplicative inverses for students to see and process this connection. Discuss the fact that unlike multiplication, where the factors in an equation can be reversed and still yield the same answer, the numbers in a division problem are not interchangeable. Show students how to perform a multiplication check on their division equations.
Sometimes, the dividend cannot equally be divided by the divisor. Explain this to your students by asking questions like "what would you do if the number cannot be divided evenly?" Incorporate multiplication checks into teaching this objective to show they are not possible. Remember to show plenty of examples. Use manipulatives like blocks, small toys or buttons to demonstrate the concept of having a "remainder" when separating these objects into groups.
Depending on the grade level, students should master the rules of divisibility for a number of common multiples. Students should always be taught how to divide numbers that are multiples of 10, but older students should also learn the rules for dividing numbers by 2, 3, 5, 6, and 9. Use a worksheet or list to show the rules for how to determine what divisors work for a given dividend and give lots of examples.