1. Training Plan for Order of Operations Objective 2.2
© Maresa Flood 2018

2. What is the problem?
Among the students I tutor, several concepts in mathematics repeatedly emerge as problem areas: integer operations, order of operations, converting between fractions, decimals and percents, and word problems.

3. What do the experts say?
“Developing students’ abilities to solve problems is not only a fundamental part of mathematics learning across content areas, but also an integral part of mathematics learning across grade levels.” Cai, J., & Lester, F. (2010). Why is teaching with problem solving important to student learning? Retrieved from

4. What is the Development Goal?
Instructional Design Plan Objective 2.2 The learner will accurately explain PEMDAS.

5. What are the needed Actions?
Show the Khan Academy video which presents a basic math expression, and the dilemma of knowing how to solve it. Stop the video at 00:31. The math expression presented is x 5.
Show the Numberock video that describes the order of operations and the mnemonic PEMDAS: “Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally” for Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication or Division, Addition or Subtraction.
Perform a step-by-step review using PEMDAS for both of the math expressions presented in the Numberock video in Step 2 above. The math expressions are
•8 ÷ 2 – 22 + (2 x 4) •4 – 9 ÷ 32 + (2 x 6)
Students will practice saying the PEMDAS mnemonic (“Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally”) and will explain what each letter represents. They will include the “left-to-right” rule associated with multiplication/division and with addition/subtraction. Students will verbally explain why the order of operations is important. Students will use PEMDAS to determine the answer to the initial problem: x 5.
Show the remainder of the Khan Academy video to show what happens when PEMDAS is not followed compared to when it is. Start the video at 00:31. Stop the video at 04:00. The instructor will answer any questions the students may have regarding PEMDAS.

6. What is the Time Frame?
This training will be completed in one class period, and can be done before the end of January 2018.

7. How will we measure Results?
Students will be given a pre-test and post-test associated with PEMDAS. The results of those tests will be compared to determine the students’ levels of understanding.

8. We Love Photo by Brooke Novak was used as the background in slides 1-7
Link to Brooke Novak's Math Photo on Flickr
Background Music: “Voisin” by WOWA (CC0 on SoundCloud)