DS is 9 and in Year 5.
We always knew Year 5 would be a 'step up' from Year 4, as they begin to prepare for 11+ exams, but I think it has been quite a big step for DS.
He has about 30 mins of homework per night. Maths tends to be fine.
But anything where he is required to write a reasonable amount (e.g. book review, or comprehension work etc) is causing him to have a complete meltdown.
So far this term we have had
- being vague about homework in the hope that we won't make him do it
- saying that he 'doesn't have to do it all' (although when I check , he does)
- massive tears and tantrums, where he basically just shouts "I don't know what to do/ I can't do it"
I think what he has to do is reasonable for his age/ ability. It is usually set out quite clearly (on a worksheet, or he has copied it off board into homework diary etc) so I just don't understand why he is being so panicky and emotional about it all 
?
When he starts to argue/ protest about not being able to do it, Dh or I begin patiently - trying to focus on a bit at a time/ pointing out that he's done it before etc, telling him to just try/ offering to explain it if he doesn't understand etc, but he really does just get SO worked up, and shouts at us, coming up with excuse after excuse - it's all "yes, but..." and "no but," and " but I can't".
It's as if he just won't even begin or try!
It then usually ends up in a big scene where DH/I get increasingly frustrated (and sometimes a bit angry ) and Ds just gets more and more random/ angry/ aggressive to us 
.
We've tried 'leaving him to it' but he just faffs around and doesn't do it. We've tried sitting with him, but it's painstaking, and then he just tries to get us to tell him what to write (he's quite sneaky about this).
We need some new strategies - this isn't working. Can anyone help or make suggestions?
I'm going in to chat to his English teacher this week, but in the past when I've spoken to them they've just said not to worry/ he's doing fine etc 
.