When students initially learn how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide, they are taught to perform those skills within two numbers in one operation. As they progress to the next level, they begin to see numerical expressions with more than one operation and word problems that involve multiple steps. Introduce your students to the order of operations - and help them memorize the "PEMDAS" or "Please Excuse My Ear Aunt Sally" acronym as early as third grade. Putting this memory into practice can be more of a challenge - so place this poster in your classroom to remind and reinforce the concept with your students!