I think she's been kidnapped and replaced by a robot!
DD is 13 in Y8. She is generally bright, but is much stronger in maths & science than she is in English. She got it into her head in primary that she was "rubbish" at English, and for a long time would just write almost nothing because she didn't know what to write. Her teacher in primary despaired but they got her through her SATS with a L5 because her reading and SPAG are very good, and she is now targeted a L7 for the end of Y8. Her school still do levels btw.
This week she's come home with a report saying she's still at L5c. She's had to go to extra booster classes which she hates because the only other girl with her has a history of bullying her.
I personally think the problem is that she's always been the top performer in maths and science at both primary and secondary, and she doesn't like not being the best. I also think her total lack of imagination (mild ASD traits) is letting her down. They are now starting to do analysis, symbolism etc and she doesn't get it at all. She also really struggles with creative writing or putting much emotion into her work.
She got really upset a couple of days ago, and said that she feels really stupid and she wants to get better. She has no other homework all holidays, so she said can I help her learn how to do the analysis stuff and to write stories. I have a degree and MA in Eng Lit, but it always came very easily to me (maths was another story!) so I don't really know how to teach it. Can it be taught? Where would you start?