Well, I took the opportunity to flip through DS8's 3rd grade math workbook today and I guess I don't have to worry about multiplication for some time...seems like that unit starts about 1/2 way through the year! Mostly it is bigger numbers (eventually after a couple of units) more words in the word problems, etc. He's not 'beyond' learning from this, but from what I could tell it will be 1 out of evey 20th worksheet or so which will have something really new for him...
Seems I won't be satisfied - I don't want things to be too frustrating for him if the teacher relies heavily on rote memorization but I don't want him to wonder why they are still doing math problems using graphic representations of strips of stickers for 10's, etc (this is review from 1st! grade). And of course he is wondering.
I guess this might be the point where a lot of other families in the county have been complaining about this 'Math Investigations' series, although I always heard it was due to not enough practice problems. (??)
I appreciate review & practice, and I don't think ds is really unhappy with the program so far, but I will have to keep my eye on things. Back to school night is mid-Sept.
DS is in the gifted enrichment program, but the wording of the letter sounds like he will only be receiving enrichment in lang. arts. In typical school-speech they were sort of vague while trying to be specific. Anyway, I will definitely clarify this first; if he can get a little enrichment in math as well things might be ok...
