How to Teach the Order of Operations to 5th Grade Students

I often get calls from parents telling me their kids' homework is too hard (specifically anything related to order of operation). So I always remind them that teaching the order of operations isn’t optional 😊 If students don’t get it now, they’ll struggle with algebra later. I’ve seen too many kids try to solve a problem the wrong way because no one drilled the rules into them. That’s why I make sure my students know exactly how PEMDAS works, and I don’t move on until they do.

Start Simple and Make It Stick

I always start with something basic. A problem like 5 + 2 × 3 is perfect. Most kids want to add first because that’s what they’re used to. I stop them right there. “Multiplication comes first,” I tell them. “Always.” We go step by step: 2 × 3 = 6, then add 5, so the answer is 11. It seems simple, but I don’t let them just nod and move on. They need to prove they understand by solving more problems like it.

Parentheses Change Everything

Once they’ve got the basics down, I throw parentheses into the mix... I tell them, “Parentheses are the boss. Whatever’s inside has to be solved first.” I give them a problem like 6 + (5 × 2). They know they have to do what’s in the parentheses first: 5 × 2 = 10. Then tthey add 6 to get 16.

Some kids still try to go left to right out of habit. That’s when I start handing out extra problems (and when parents start to call me 😅). If they don’t get it now, it’ll just get worse when exponents and more complex expressions come into play.

Real-life math (not just worksheets)

I usually try not to just give them random numbers. I make them use math the way they’ll need it in real life. One of my students once told me he got the wrong total at a store because he forgot to add tax after calculating a discount. That turned into a lesson for the whole class. I had them work out sale prices and travel times to prove that order of operations isn’t just something for tests. It actually matters :)

Step it up with complex problems

Once they show me they can handle simple equations, I move them to the next level. I put a problem like this on the board:

3 × (5 + 2) - 4 ÷ 2

We go step by step:

1. Parentheses first: 5 + 2 = 7
2. Then multiplication: 3 × 7 = 21
3. Division next: 4 ÷ 2 = 2
4. Finally, subtraction: 21 - 2 = 19

If a student messes up the order, try not to just give them the answer.. make them go back and figure out where they went wrong. They need to learn to check their own work.

Exponents: No Guessing Allowed

When I bring in exponents, I remind them that exponents come after parentheses but before multiplication and division. A problem like (5³ - 4) ÷ 11 makes that clear.

1. First, handle the exponent: 5³ = 125
2. Then subtract: 125 - 4 = 121
3. Last, divide: 121 ÷ 11 = 11

I don’t accept guessing... If someone can’t explain why they solved it a certain way, they redo it.

Practice until it’s second nature

I don’t believe in moving on just because a few kids get it. If even one of mine is struggling, we keep going. The only way to get this down is through practice. I make them double-check their work, explain their reasoning, and correct their mistakes. By the end, they will know PEMDAS like the back of their hand :)

I’ve seen kids go from completely lost to solving problems confidently just because they finally had it drilled into them the right way. If you teach this the right way, they’ll never forget it. 😊