The other thing is envisions is HUGE on using counters, ten-frame's etc and just drawing them, counting them etc, if teacher requires all work- this can make a child like mine, and i'm sure most all kids here, very frustrated- he can glance at 2+3=? and say "5". quick. nooooo envisions req child to draw out counters or to count and write the quantity down etc, and I found myself spending more time last year trying to talk DS6 into doing that-showing that "work" than it took for him to get a whole topic done!
The program still uses counters in 4th grade for single digit multiplication. DD was drawing arrays a couple nights ago on an "enrichment" page. Luckily since this is new to her, she was sort of enjoying picking what she drew pictures of - smiley faces, lightning bolts, etc. and was taking her time to draw each one out. However, if she has to continue to use arrays, I doubt her creativity will last long and her neatness will dwindle down to messy squiggles and simple x's and o's.
