I remember being in elementary school and getting really bored during class. So I do the assignments in class while the teacher was 'teaching' the other students. When I ran out of assignments, I would then work ahead. I especially liked to do the math. (We had workbooks with our assigment back then.)
Well at a parent-teach-student meeting, I was asked/demanded not to work ahead because I should be paying attention in class. Nevermind the fact I was correctly answering questions on materials the teacher had't covered.
Not saying I was any brighter than anyone else; I'm surely not. Just that stuff like 2+2 is too easy for second grade.
I can't imagine what retarded standards schools go by these days. Thank goodness my kids have a decent school.
Standards? STANDARDS!?!
Check out Pacemaker Algebra being used in California schools. Mind you, this is Algebra for 8th & 9th grade.
The Pacemaker. Algebra 1, Second Edition
Following the success of Pre-Algebra, The Pacemaker. Curriculum is proud to present Algebra I. Providing the essential concepts and skills of a first-year algebra course, Algebra I meets the needs of all students, facing the new rigorous algebra demands. The text is written at a 3RD TO 4TH GRADE READING LEVEL and is correlated to the NCTM standards.
http://plgcatalog.pearson.com/program_multiple.cfm?site_id=15&discipline_id=0&subarea_id=0&program_id=2