So my original question, how DO you do round pi to the thousandth digit? Depending on the method given, I can see how he might have difficulty.

Personally, I hate decimals. They’re inaccurate and ugly. In science you can end up with errors bigger than the answer if you don’t keep the accuracy of the decimal in check (and sometimes, even if you do. This can especially be a problem with computers, as I learned about in my Introduction to Computational Mathematics course at university). I prefer to leave everything in exact format: square roots and fractions, as reduced as possible.

I’m starting to think that SWB could write an entire separate edition – WTM for the Gifted Child.

We’re a very pro-Japanese family (both language and culture). My brother and my best friend studied the language, and we hosted many exchange students from Japan over the years. Our very first student is now one of our dearest family friends of 13 years now, who visits us years. She’s like an aunt to my kids. Since we’re going to get a Japanese language teacher, not use a boxed curriculum, we’ll likely go with whatever the teacher prefers in terms of method, but I appreciate the input.

I have signed to some extent with all my babies. One of my uncles is deaf due to meningitis in early childhood. His wife is also deaf. My father still signs fairly fluently and my mother and I took sign classes when I was a Girl Scout. I definitely value ASL as an additional language!

First, I love Japanese. It is the most thought out language (at least of the four that I speak) and makes so much sense. There are practically no exceptions to rules and everything seems to have a rule. I was going to suggest that you teach the written language before starting the spoken language. I learned at the university from Japanese instructors and we were taught hiragana and katakana first and then all written language from that point on was in the kana. I don’t know anyone that was taught in Romanji first that ever got the knack of reading kana and kanji, and all of my classmates could read it easily.

The second language suggestion I have, if you are not doing it already is teaching sign language. It would add to your ideas of having an open mind about difference and give your whole family a leg up on communicating with those with disabilities. The other thing (you probably already know this) is that babies that are taught sign language speak earlier and better than their peers that are not taught, and also show a pretty large increase in IQ scores on average, even in children with special needs such as Williams or Down syndrome.

I use my big coffee cup to resist the thumping temptation – I take a big drink before I say or do anything. Socratic questions plus a big cup o’coffee work great for that helpless stage.

And excellent work this week.

LOL. I’m sure the Tank was a joy to behold in the pageant. Sounds like he put some pep into the program. I would have been terrified of what my Dragonfly would have done given the same situation.