I recently began teaching 5th grade math and noticed a lack
of basic understanding, not only of basic division, but
division with 1-digit and 2-digit divisors and 2 or more
digit dividends.

I'm thinking of taking a class period to try and really
teach understanding at a deeper level.

This is my idea...and please, please, stop me if it's not a
good one!
I'd go over the basic division concept...such as 6 divided
by three meaning how many groups of 3 are in 6. This will
be the foundation, and many students get that by 5th grade.

Then, I'd demonstrate higher level division this way:

EX: 432/5

Instead of the traditional..."will 5 go into 4, no, so
divide 5 into 43, multiply, subtract, bring down,etc.

I would demonstrate what is really going on by dividing 5
into 400, then dividing 5 into 30, then 5 into 2...all in
separate problems. The result is adding the individual
quotients 80 + 6 with a remainder of 2.

I'm wondering if this will even confuse them further.
Does my explanation make sense? If not, let me know and I
will clarify.
Thanks.

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