I'm still at the low end w/ a 2nd grader. They've done two digit addition w/ regrouping over and over, then w/ 4 digits over and over (numbers then w/ money)...problem after problem. My son could do that 2yrs ago. The teacher expressed SHOCK that she gave him some problems to solve that were 2 step problems and he did them all mentally and got them right. It was only one sheet however for the whole year for his portfolio she is compiling for GT program. Why can't they give multi-step problems using 2-4 digit addition/subtraction that make the kids think? All the kids could benefit from that!!!!!
Also, whereas from doing RS math and some SM math, DS would read the problem and think about what they were asking, the teacher is now emphasizing looking for keywords to determine whether you need to add or sub. He was confused on a problem b/c it deviated from the keyword list on the top that said "If it says X, then do Y; if it says Z then do A." I told him to ignore that, re-read the problem and think about what it was asking. Of course he said "oh I need to subtract." I feel like I"ll spend the summer undoing the damage that school inflicts all year.
So to answer the ?, my novice opinion is pace needs to be faster and depth needs to be deeper.
