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Original poster

Y4 boy 'CAN'T' write

24 replies

wonderfultykes · 24/09/2010 20:44

DS (Y4) 'CANNOT' write story for homework. He can dream up the most incredible fiction, tell you all about it, but when it comes to writing it? Nothing. He'll sit for 1.5h and end up crying saying 'I can't do it'. I've tried everything. Being caring & supportive, ignoring him, harsh, NOTHING WORKS. End of tether. Now saying he can't write more than 3 lines for book review of Lord of the Rings (of which he has read all 1183 pages) AAARRRGGGHHHH!What next?

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fruitshootsandheaves · 24/09/2010 20:50

my ds was/is like this. It just takes lots of encouragement and not asking them to do too much. My DS is 9 now and he still doesn't write much at all. it is a struggle to get him to do homework. He rarely does as much as he is supposed to but as long as he writes a bit I think it helps. Try to get him to write anything, just a few words is enough for a start and let him write it in a way that he finds interesting, that helped alot with my DS. He liked talking about war and soldiers and guns so if he could include anything like that it was much easier to encourage him to write a few words.
HTH

Ingles2 · 24/09/2010 20:52

Why can't he tykes, do you know?
Is it, that he doesn't know where to start?
or can't organise his thoughts?
or is it physical? does his hand become too tired?

c0rns1lk · 24/09/2010 20:54

can he word process it for now?

pointydog · 24/09/2010 20:58

Can he write a short story of 3 sentences?

Original poster
wonderfultykes · 24/09/2010 20:59

Oh thanks both. I'm calming down already. I'll try with the 'whatever he likes' but really, he loves nothing more than Lord of the Rings, so I just can't understand it. Think he doesn't know where to start, and/or organise thoughts, but we've tried 'essay plans' that should over come both these and he still gets so stuck. I find it SO hard not to get crtoss/frustrated with him. I will put my best Mummying head on from now on and try my hardest to help him include things that interest him, work out how to start, and organise thoughts. Thanks. Here we go...

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Original poster
wonderfultykes · 24/09/2010 21:01

The 3 sentence story may just be the answer. Beginning, middle, end - Sorted! I wonder about word processing - not cos his arm gets tired, but maybe the novelty? Great ideas, thanks.

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c0rns1lk · 24/09/2010 21:03

Also you could try scribing for him.

pointydog · 24/09/2010 21:04

If the homework does not specify a length, then just aim to complete 3 interesting and perfectly punctuated sentences.

Then aim for 4. And I don't think I'd go above 5 sentences (interesting and perfectly punctuated) for yr 4 homework.

Algebra18MinusPiEquals16 · 24/09/2010 21:04

Shock he's read LOTR? blimey!

he may be a bit young for this but following MN advice I have just got my 12yo DSD a digital dictaphone. she is dyslexic and therefore while she has amazing ideas (and a lovely turn of phrase) she struggles to get the words out, even while typing. so she will use the dictaphone to speak her plans (hopefully using it for essays when she's older) and then play it back slowly while she writes it down.

Original poster
wonderfultykes · 24/09/2010 21:06

Scribing - i'll speak to teacher, see what she thinks. Also, if I did it even just once, and he read it afterwards, it may encourage him to realise that he CAN come up with the most wonderful words, so should help. THanks

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Tigerdrivesbackin · 24/09/2010 21:08

You're certainly not alone. My DS, Y4, is like this: full of ideas, bright but writing is just ........

I've been scribing for him a bit, they use the Learning Platform, and he's put lots of things down there with me typing and trying not to edit. Obviously the spelling and grammar aren't his, I can't bring myself to do that, but getting down the ideas has worked and given him some confidence. It's picking up a pen that floors him, but let's face it, most people do get this skill eventually so I guess they'll be fine.

Original poster
wonderfultykes · 24/09/2010 21:10

Dictaphone - I have one! Fabulous idea. Also I love the aiming for 3 great sentences...then 4. A clear target may be exactly what he needs, rather than just a scary open-ended writing task. Oh you are all wonderful

THanks

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pointydog · 24/09/2010 21:11

I think it's very important to know the purpose of teh homework.

Is it to show imagination and the ability to come up with a beginning, middle, end of a story and show understanding of a story structure?

Or is it to show the child can write perfectly punctuated sentences that make sense?

Two completely dfifferent things.

Do you know?

Ingles2 · 24/09/2010 21:11

I wouldn't worry Tykes, I think this is really quite common.. especially for boys.
I have 2, a yr 5 and yr 6. Ds1 is very academic, maths is his thing, but it is only this year that he has been able to write easily...
So, don't stress, but consider,
scribing for him,
giving him the openers, (find VCOP on the internet, it's a literacy pyramid to help with vocab, openers etc)
writing every other sentence,
getting him to write the story plan in single words then expand.
I have tried all of these and it does help..
Also check the problem isn't physical.. my yr 5 son is dyspraxic. and he really struggled to get down his thoughts, despite having some really interesting things to say...the effort in writing was just too great until the OT became involved.

pointydog · 24/09/2010 21:12

A blank page and no ideas is a terrible situation to be put in.

Ingles2 · 24/09/2010 21:13

and if you talk to the teacher I'm sure scribing would be fine... last year, ds2 had a long project and he regularly dictated while I typed. I just signed at the bottom

pointydog · 24/09/2010 21:13

My kids ahve never been given 'write a story' as homework and I would never set it as homework.

How many adults have sat down of an evening and written a half-decent story? Preposterous, isn't it.

narkypuffin · 24/09/2010 21:14

Have you tried getting him to do it as answers to questions eg who was your favourite character?

Original poster
wonderfultykes · 24/09/2010 21:15

THanks Tiger...love the idea of getting down the ideas to boost confidence and of course you're right, it WILL come with time. AAh I feel waves of relaxation washing over me. THanks

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Original poster
wonderfultykes · 24/09/2010 21:21

Pointydog...it's story structure rather than grammar/punctuation. It wasn't set as 'write a story' excactly, but whenever he gets anything to finish off, or embellish he gets so stuck.

Ingles & Narky - what a load of super helpful ideas, he won't know where moany Mother's gone after all this! THanks

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pointydog · 24/09/2010 21:23

What was it set as?

I really do think it's rubbish to set a homework task of writing a story in primary.

Original poster
wonderfultykes · 24/09/2010 21:30

Pointy, tricky, because I have HIS word for what it should be, but latest one was he came home saying he had to 'try to finish his story' and he'd been given carte blanche to write about anything it seems, so he chose the Romans, full of excitement that he would be able to breeze through it with no problems, but still got so stuck. Maybe I need to request from teacher's mouth

Ingles. THe VCOP pyramids look perfect. Will print them for him, perfect resource

THanks all

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pointydog · 24/09/2010 21:35

I think you should find out what the teacher thinks the problem is.

Original poster
wonderfultykes · 24/09/2010 21:39

Will do, definitely. Thanks all so much.

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