SK> take one of these timed tests. I believe it was in
SK> addition/subtraction to start with. 100 problems in five
SK> minutes or less, five mistakes allowed. My initial reaction
SK> (which I didn't share with my son) was to call the teacher
SK> and object. But then I thought about it, and thought,
SOP in our system.
SK> time. Later in the year (or maybe it was the following year?)
SK> he had to do timed tests in multiplication. Seemed quite
SK> doable. The teacher did give rewards. For instance: when all
SK> of the students in the class had passed their timed test on
SK> multiplication, they had an ice-cream sundae party.
Ditto- my kids loved it. It was motivational for them. They used 
to race one another. FWIW, we set up a small lab in my wife's 
1st. grade classroom. She introduced concepts with manipulatives, 
taught points, and moved on to the "facts." Most of her 1st. 
graders race when they get on the computers with IBM Wicat 
software. Most can do 150+ correct problems in addition or 
subtraction in 10 minutes. They are absolutely flying and beg her 
for a chance to race on the machines. 
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