Article: Write down whole numbers and explain that each number stands for a place value. Show your students which place stands for ones, tens, and hundreds. For instance, write down 382. Tell students that the number farthest to the right, or 2, stands for ones, the next number to the left, or 8, is the tens place, and the next to the left, or 3, is hundreds. Explain that not all numbers are whole numbers. Describe how 5 and 6 are whole numbers, but there are lots of numbers in between them. Show your students how to place a decimal point to the right of the ones place, and mention that numbers after the point are in between 2 whole numbers. Write “5.” and say, “If you see another 5 after the point (write ‘5.5’), that means it’s in between 5 and 6.” Explain that, like whole numbers, there are place values to the right of a decimal point. Tell students that ones are always immediately to the left of a decimal point. Show them that tenths are always immediately to the right, followed by hundredths and thousandths. Over-pronounce tenths and hundredths to avoid confusing decimal place values with tens and hundreds. Explain that decimals and fractions are 2 ways of representing “in-between” numbers. Tell learners that fractions can be turned into a decimal that stands for the same number. Coloring grids or shapes is helpful. Draw a rectangle, then add lines to divide it into 10 equal strips. Have them color in a strip, then explain that the strip is 1/10 of the rectangle. Tell them that 0.1 is another way of saying 1/10, or one-tenth. Write down basic sample fractions, such as 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4. Explain that the fraction means the number on top is divided by the number on the bottom. Show students that dividing the top number, or 1, by the bottom number, or 4, gives you a decimal value, or 0.25. Practice using division to convert basic fractions to decimals. Then show how the decimal place values, such as the tenths and hundredths places, relate to the top and bottom numbers of the fraction. For example, 0.25 means 25/100. Write down a series of mixed decimal numbers and read them out loud. Teach your students to use the correct place values instead of reading 1.5 as “one point five.”  Write down 25.45 and read it out loud as “twenty-five and forty-five hundredths.” Write 54.035 and read it as “fifty-four and thirty-five thousandths.” After demonstrating how to read decimals, write down several examples and have them read the numbers out loud. If necessary, correct them gently and say, “That’s a great try, but remember this number means thousandths. Give it another shot!” Describe how place values in whole numbers and decimals differ. Explain that, while hundreds are greater than tens, tenths are greater than hundredths. Line up 2 decimal numbers on top of each other to demonstrate how to find out which one is bigger.  For instance, write:3.5353.353 Explain that they need to look at the tenths place first to find the bigger number. Since 5 is greater than 3, 3.535 is greater than 3.353. It might be tough for beginners to compare numbers such as 3.5 and 3.350, since 350 looks like it's bigger than 5. Tell your students that they can add zeroes to the right of a decimal to fill in place values. Mention that adding zeroes to the right doesn't change the number's value. They might have an easier time seeing that 3.500 is greater than 3.350. Adding zeroes to decimals will also come in handy when it's time to teach addition and subtraction.

What is a summary?
Start by reviewing whole number place values. Explain that decimals are “in-between” numbers. Introduce decimal place values. Describe how fractions and decimals are related. Explain how to convert fractions to decimals using division. Practice reading fractions and decimal values out loud. Explain how to see if one number is bigger than another. Add zeroes to help your students visualize place values.