One point of hope: since DD10 began EPGY algebra a few weeks ago, she now understands showing work for the first time. It's complex enough for her and symbolic enough that she actually does have to go through it step by step. She may not like doing the same steps for school math, but at least she understands what they want and why.
I have no explanation or hope or optimism of any sort for the EM show-this-ten-ways stuff that isn't showing work, I'm afraid. I guess the best I will manage for DD5 when she gets there is to give her something hard, then explain that her teacher wants to make sure that if her school work is this hard, she can still do it. I will probably get a confused and incredulous stare, but that's for the future.
