Writing yr2 tears at bedtime

[AllabouttheE]

DD is upset every Sunday because of writing task on Monday. It isn't like her and I know I should pop in but she panics about me talking to her teacher. And she is not very approachable anyway.

She was kept in last week to complete writing at playtime and I think this made it worse. She got 2c end of year one so she is doing well. It's her least favourite subject but school always hauled over coals for writing by ofsted so they probably are putting too much pressure on.

Advice needed on how to tackle please? Her reading is good, 2A possibly more.

What sort of writing task? Does she write much at home (in play/for pleasure)?

Can you tackle it from the angle of asking the teacher what you can do to relieve her anxiety. Something like "DD panics about writing on a Monday, and I'd like to stop her getting so upset on a Sunday. Could you suggest please some things I could do to help her?"

The teacher might say that she's got nothing to worry about and she's doing fine, in which case you can reassure her. Or she might tell you that there are areas she needs to work on, in which case you can offer to do some work on it at home.

If she's having to stay in to finish, then I suspect that she's struggling to get started. It might be that she gets brain freeze when told what she's got to write and then spends ages panicking/worrying when she should be getting on, and so what she produces doesn't reflect what she's capable of. If that's the case, then you could chuck random topics at her at home and get her to tell you everything she can think of about it. Once you've done it verbally a good few times you can encourage her to write it down once she's told you.

is it 'Big Write' they are doing?

You do need to speak to the teacher if she is so anxious.
At our school parents are asked to support the children in thinking what to write the night before they do a 'big write'

Yes big write. Except they have turned it into a giant.
Topic sent home. And yes I expect she gets brain freeze.

I am not bothered about level or achievement as DD is good at school and doing well, she excels at art so I figure we can't all be great at everything.

But tears? Not acceptable to me.

I'm going down too much ice cream route, funny how you panic yourself and can't think what on earth to say.

If they send the topic home then I would try talking to her about the topic, just chatting, no writing, so that she comes up with ideas, you can add ideas, you can then talk about different ways she could start. doesn't matter so much about the rest of it as once she gets started she will probably be fine. Could you make it into a fun 'lets think of opening sentences' activity? and I would do it maybe on a friday so that it heads off anxiety before it starts to build over the weekend.

I do think school need to be aware that she is getting that upset. I would tell the teacher, regardless of how unapproachable she is. Ask school what they suggest.