Ok, so the problem lies with my son because he believes that he doesn't NEED to know  multiplication, division, adding and subtracting because he is allowed to use a calculator in his 8th grade Algebra class. I remember having to write out the problem, step by step, showing your work. Well, either I have been living under a rock or the teachers and the school system has changed drastically. My son cannot tell me what 6 x 9 is without using his fingers. He has to think for approximately 7 seconds for the answer to 3 x 8! I am so frustrated and cannot get him to understand that this type of math...