Share it out first
Before any symbols, give kids 20 counters and 4 paper plates and say "Share these fairly." Then switch: "Make groups of 4. How many plates do you need?" Doing both kinds of division with real objects is what makes the ÷ sign mean something.
Why it works: the U.S. Department of Education's guide for teaching elementary math recommends moving from hands-on objects to drawings to numbers.
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