To change DS's homework without asking teacher?

[CalcatrippticLego]

DS has to read 15 words.
Then write the correct word next to its picture (6 of them)
Then draw and write a word from the list.

He has dyspraxia. Writing is an issue. He constantly has the mickey taken out of him for his lack of drawing skills which he gets from me

He has read his words. He has done the 6 picture words and coloured them in. Would it be totally wrong of me to scan in his worksheet and show him how to search, type and resize a picture to fit the box for the final 6 and then print it out to send in as his homework?

He is desperately unhappy at school. Totally disheartened about his work and abilities. Who needs to draw these days anyway? (Unless you're a teacher or an artist.)

if you have a diagnosis I would write a note that you have adapted his work for his condition.

"she's a "bit shit" at walking if only she'd practice a bit more she'd not need her wheelchair. Perhaps I can pass on the info"

My nephew's in a wheelchair but with intense physio (practice) is able to crawl and move around much better than if we'd told him not to bother trying. Expectations can be altered but the idea of working to overcome your difficulties isn't.

Do you see the parallels?

My comments aren't supposed to be insulting. We all have strengths and weaknesses but ignoring our weaknesses as opposed to working to improve is the wrong way to approach it. Admitting failure and skipping over a 'comulsory' task teaches your son so many wrong things. Telling him to try his best, be proud of what he's done and know that every time he works hard he gets better is what you should be doing.

Bullying or teasing is another matter and if this is happening you need to speak to the teacher / school.

Horrible to read he is so unhappy at school especially as the world would be so boring if we were all the same.
Would it help to show him the range of different styles in art? Not everyone’s pictures are the same and that different is not necessarily worse.
Also this list of famous dyspraxics theblogwithonepost.wordpress.com/2015/07/10/celebritiesfamous-people-with-dyspraxia/
Hope he feels better about school soon as all of them will find along the way that they have their own failings and talents.

My oldest child has severe dyspraxia and is autistic. These are not things you grow out of if 'change your mindset'. What a load of nonsense.

It's an utter waste of time and emotional energy asking my teen boy to write. It looks shit, it hurts him, it's illegible to everyone else and it takes four times as long as it does to type. The practical solution to my son's disability is to use the readily available technology to help. We spent four long, sad years at primary school trying to get him to write. As far as I'm concerned those are four years where he learned basically diddly squat in anything as all his physical and emotional energy was sapped by the horror of writing.

There are other more fun things to do to improve fine motor skills if that’s the objective.
If it’s putting words by a picture then getting a picture by cutting one out is fine.

My dd also 8, would struggle with this. She has hypermobility so her fingers don't grip properly. Her drawing is terrible- in yr 4 is just about on a par with the reception kids - and her peers have no problem in telling her so!

My line with this is to look at how long the homework should take a 'normally skilled' child, then adapt using similar skills - so people have suggested tracing, or comuter drawing or cutting and sticking ) - which to be fair in this task would be equally challenging for my dd, BUT look a lot less obvious to her peers.) I try not to make it take her any more time - even if that means me doing some prep - e.g. finding pics for tracing etc.

I would also make sure he has writing / drawing equipment at home and encourage him to use it, but in his own way, without an audience until he is ready. My Dd will share pics at home for example but would not take to school. I can share with school away from her peers if need be.

It's hard to see your kid struggle and of course it seems to be the easiest option to simply say "You don't have to do it." The problem is that life doesn't work that way. I believe you know that, too.
You will need to work on your sons self-confidence. How come thw other children are making fun of his drawing? How are they allowed to see it. Have a word with the teacher so they can address this at school.
Remind him of the things he is good at and tell him that most children in his class will struggle with something.

Expectations can be altered but the idea of working to overcome your difficulties isn't.
I agree BUT making DS draw pictures for homework (and one which is about spelling, not art!) that are going to be ridiculed isn't a good idea. Encouraging him to think outside the box to overcome his difficulties (by learning how to resize pictures or source them from elsewhere) is a good skill because it'll stand him in better stead later in life. It says to him that if one path is too difficult then look for a different way - don't feel you have to conform, find your own way. It doesn't mean giving up, it means developing different skills and maybe coming back to the harder ones when you have more resilience, more time or have increased your skill another way.
OP, I can't draw at all (came last in an art exam where you had to draw freehand). I can manage stick figures, and if I tried to draw a picture of a house it would be the box with squares for windows and a big yellow sun the same as a little kid would draw. But it hasn't stopped me achieving & I've multiple degrees to my name because, remarkably, I've gone for subjects that don't involve art Help DS to do his best using whichever strategies work best at any given point. Imagination comes in many forms and shouldn't be restricted to illustrating words!

They sit next to him in class so of course they see his work.
But life does work that way. I can't draw. So I don't. That still enables me to hold down a job.

And yes, contrary to popular teacher belief, we do have writing implements at home and he is allowed to use them.

It's all very well saying other kids struggle with something. But not much consolation when he struggles with everything.

The "change his mindset" attitude. Because it's that easy... I also think he would learn a lot more and be willing to engage more if the stress of writing is taken away.

@nextDayDelivery - do you have a child with dyspraxia? Their lives as kids are a long list of stuff they are shit at. Pretty much every single aspect of school (apart from the brain power) means trying much harder and still failing. It's absolutely soul destroying for them.

OP - I'd let him cut the pictures out. DS's school has allowed him to produce homework on a computer for years because of his dyspraxia. He's in year 6 now and because I've pushed for reasonable adjustments in every aspect of his school day, his self-confidence has really grown and he's a lot better at drawing nowadays and his handwriting has improved immeasurably. But I honestly believe that building his self-esteem first was the only reason he's managed to gain the confidence to make improvements.

I have a son with Dyspraxia or DCD if you prefer that term. I also teach SEN. It's not just about practise fine motor skills it is about giving them an alternative way and making reasonable adjustments. Dyspraxia is a disability. There is a world of technology to support these days. Students who are bright but in the past would have struggled to get ideas down on paper have whole areas of opportunity opened up to them. Should we deny them it just because we think they should practise their fine motor skills? Would you deny someone a wheelchair or guide dog because they should practise walking or seeing??
I have fought tooth and nail to get my son access to technology and this kind of attitude really really annoys me.

I don't think there's a problem cutting out pictures or getting him to colour in cut-out pictures instead. Are you in touch with any support groups for parents with DCs with dyspraxia? You may find it helpful.

A number of publishers produce blank comic books, which encourage children to create their own superhero and draw the story. This would be totally separate from homework and therefore your ds could do this knowing it's HIS book and no one at school can see it or comment.

You could also show your ds different styles of illustration - a tree drawn by Axel Scheffler is completely different from one drawn by E H Shepard for example. Your ds draws in his own style, and each person's style is completely different from another's. This should be celebrated (whether it's felt someone is 'good' at drawing or not).

I do hope your ds does not get discouraged by his classmates - do the secret comic book!

I'm sure if you explain that your son is nervous of other kids reaction to his work the teacher could come up with something? She could get it from his bag maybe?
I don't see the parallel with someone paralysed practicing walking. Some people have conditions which mean they will never 'improve' at walking. Having dyspraxia doesn't mean your child will never improve at drawing/writing etc. Just that it's more difficult.
My son has gone from being the reception child who couldn't catch a ball to playing a ball sport at a high level due to his interest in it and hours and hours of dedication. But when he started he was terrible at it. If he hasn't persevered he'd still be terrible at it.

Miaow you are right some of us do get it but when you get one that doesn't it is soul destroying!!

Has he had an OT assessment?

As much as I do get you (ds is autistic, dyspraxia and has low muscle tone amongst other things) I think long term teaching an “it doesn’t matter you can avoid it” attitude isn’t the most helpful approach.

We are at the point of being fitted for a splint for his arm next week his tone is so poor (already has a body suit) and the Ot involvement has made a massive difference for us.

My son has dyspraxia and is in the bottom 0.5% for fine motor skills. He can't write legibly and will never be able to, despite lots of OT intervention, practising and writing programmes. He has used a laptop at school since age 8 and it has made the world of difference to him and the quality and quantity of what he is able to produce. He is 12 now and we have always adapted homework that involves writing and / or drawing. In my experience, making him hand-write things really effects his self esteem and confidence and if things can be adapted to allow for his disability, then so much the better. I don't think people realise how much concentration and effort it requires to produce just one legible word.

I think long term teaching an “it doesn’t matter you can avoid it” attitude isn’t the most helpful approach.

This isn't what's happening. Reasonable adjustments are being made for a disability.

No known dyspraxia here, but ds1 is hopeless at drawing - just like his mum. I'd modify the homework. Probably find the pics on Google, print and cut out.

Something DS1 has done is use a "how to draw" book. We have one telling you how to draw all the dragons from the "how to train your dragon" series. And because he has an interest in the topic, he will sit and draw (and then colour them in) occasionally. His art must be improving - he apparently has won art student of the month for effort. In 3 years at this school, I didn't know this was a thing!

I'm a teacher and mother of a 7 year old with DCD. I'd second the suggestion above that you ask yourself what the purpose if this homework is. It seems to be spelling /reading. He's done that bit. I'd just draw what he asks you to draw and let him colour it in.
I don't ask the teacher's permission to oy complete homework. My daughter clearly needs differentiated homework. The teacher gives the same homework to all so I differentiate for her.
As far as I'm concerned, my dd world's SO hard in school to stay sitting upright, to time in to what's happening etc, she's already had to work much harder than her classmates. She's exhausted after school. So we spend the same amount of time as the other children on homework as per the school's homework policy is 20 minutes. We prioritise the work and I do some of the work for her. She's a trooper, she already works harder and practises more than any child in her class.

OP's DS is 8 though so his writing and drawing is likely to improve.
Ds1 has dyspraxia and poor muscle tone. His writing has improved massively since his diagnosis and increased support at school. If a h/w task is 'make a poster' he will choose to do it on his laptop (and his I.T. skills are amazing despite his problems with fine motor skills). However if it is an art h/w he would make some effort. His style is v. simple line drawings with stick men. Sometimes I will sketch out how you can draw something simply first so he can copy it. I wouldn't tell him he can't do pictures - he's got a lot of school left at 8.
DS1's Occupational Therapist told him he can do everything everyone else can, but some things he needs to practice a lot more than others. He really believes this and for example plays for a football team despite his motor skills problems.

I’m a teacher but have certain special needs myself.

I agree that fine motor skills are important and it’s important to practise them, but not at the cost of upsetting a child who is already feeling humiliated.

I’d get him to find pictures on the computer and type the words, and then I’d get him to cut out and stick them to the actual worksheet. Not becuase I’m a Luddite who can’t scan, but because cutting and gluing is a good way to practise fine motor skills without upsetting him.

However as with anything, pick your battles. If he will get upset about the cutting and gluing, leave it for another time and do as you suggested.