Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Y7 struggling with homework

45 replies

BatmanLovesBakedBeans · 07/02/2015 12:32

My child is an August boy, in a grammar school, with traits of ASD (but doesn't tick all the boxes, so no DX)

He is struggling with homework - being organised with it, rather than actually doing it.

He has had 11 detentions since September as he has forgotten to write it down / take it in / do it.

I spoke to his Year Head two weeks ago after DS got two detentions in one day, and he agreed they're not working - he just sees them as part of school life. He has been put on homework report (for the second time). The first time was good, as the teachers made sure he was writing the tasks in it and signing it. That is not happening this time round.

I had a meeting with the Year Head last week and took along a Communication and Interaction checklist. The Year Head complained of things such as DS not looking at him when he speaks to him, and I explained that he won't give eye contact, he just won't. The Year Head was not keen to look over the checklist - I felt he didn't listen to me at all. He said that he had told DS that if he didn't do his homework on time then the school would be entitled to get rid of him, which shocked me at the time and I didn't challenge it. I am a primary teacher and I know that at that level we would work our fingers to the bone to get children through problem areas.

Sorry this is so long. I have another meeting next week with him, where my DS will be present. Any advice on how we can work together as home and school to help him get through this? Head of Year is very shouty (PE teacher ) and not great at listening I would say. I need a list to work through!

OP posts:

LeBearPolar · 07/02/2015 15:13

At the school I teach at, we have moved to an online system whereby teachers set the homework task (what it is, when it was set, when it's due) and it is automatically emailed to all the students in that particular class. At DS's school, the Yr 7s have online planners and again, the teachers set the homework and it appears in DS's planner.

It does make a huge difference.

DopeyDawg · 07/02/2015 15:23

Obviously he isn't coping with the organisational side of it and he has ASD traits.

Is there a SENCO you can speak to?

Quitethewoodsman · 07/02/2015 15:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

BatmanLovesBakedBeans · 07/02/2015 18:47

Thank you for all the replies - I've spent the afternoon with my friend. As an aside, but slightly related, I was telling her about the eye contact and she said 'Anybody who spends more than 5 minutes in your company knows its probably genetic' - which was pause for thought. I thought I hid my loathing of eye contact much better than that Maybe he's picked up on my mannerisms?

I don't think they will exclude him - he is more than capable of doing the work - but his HoY just doesn't really understand him and was trying to shock him into action.

He's spent today with a friend, which I am over the moon about as he hasn't really had this before, and I'm going to suggest to him that said friend is his homework buddy.

Some homework is set over the internet - maybe a quarter of it, so when that happens, it's OK. A lot is finishing off book work from lessons though.

I'm going to insist on seeing the SENCO when I next meet with HoY. I need to be less intimidated by shouty PE man as well! Takes me back to my own secondary PE teacher... hockey, period register, communal showers - eurgh

OP posts:

MillyMollyMama · 07/02/2015 19:20

Don't schools have intranet where the homework is posted rather than students writing it down? Sounds a bit like a test before they even start. Can each teacher not be asked to check that he has written it down accurately before he leaves the classroom? Hardly a big job to do this. Or ask him to repeat the homework to the teacher. Have they never come across another child with needs like this? Sounds like they are poor in a pastoral sense. Is there no pastoral member of staff he can check in with regarding his homework notes?

Original poster

BatmanLovesBakedBeans · 07/02/2015 19:28

I'm surprised at the level of pastoral care, to be honest, as the school 'felt' so nice when we looked around it. I'm also surprised they seem to be at a loss - it can't be unique to DS, surely.

His teachers are supposed to check his homework is written down before he leaves the room, but as a PP said - teachers have got a lot to remember.

In all fairness to the teachers, he really ought to be on top of writing a few words down at the end of the lesson. I suspect this is where his poor focus is coming in. Three separate teachers at Parents' Eve used the phrase 'away with the fairies'. He came out of his 11+ talking all about an interesting display that was in the room that he'd spent a lot of time looking at. I just don't know how I'm going to improve his focus.

OP posts:

Hakluyt · 07/02/2015 19:31

ShowMyHomework is brilliant...

Original poster

BatmanLovesBakedBeans · 07/02/2015 19:38

Just Googled it - his school is on there. I'm going to get him to set it up. I'm pretty sure that the lion's share of homework isn't on there - but maybe it is! Anyway - the more prongs of attack I have, the better. Thanks Hakluyt

OP posts:

Hakluyt · 07/02/2015 19:38

Sorry- that was a random post!

Did you see earlier when I suggested a friend sending him a picture of the page in his planner? Then whwt you can do is help him write a rolling list you keep on your fridge/notice board/whatever so you can keep an eye on it too. I know people say he ought to be able to do it himself, but if he can't, he can't. There are worse things in the world than your mum helping you organize your homework!

Original poster

BatmanLovesBakedBeans · 07/02/2015 19:40

Although... just found my school on it too and we absolutely don't use it, so I assume that all the schools are on it. Looks great though - will definitely investigate.

OP posts:

goinggetstough · 07/02/2015 19:49

If your DS's school is on show my homework he should have his own personal log in. This will then show you what he has to do, often there are links attached to the homework to help them. Then once they have completed it they can delete it. So very positive IMO. However, the is then, No excuse when you don't complete homework even if you were away!

If he doesn't have a log in then once you have accessed his School's SMH page you can find his own teachers and see what they have set for the week. It is rather laborious but possible to do.

goinggetstough · 07/02/2015 19:50

Sorry just saw your update you don't have SMH.

Original poster

BatmanLovesBakedBeans · 07/02/2015 19:54

It's a shame - it looks useful.

If one positive thing has come out of this thread though, it's that I intend to set up SMH in my school

OP posts:

Hakluyt · 07/02/2015 20:06

The rolling list we have on our fridge is incredibly useful- dd used it right through 6th form and ds uses it now. They have complicated lives and it meant that I knew mundane stuff like a child wouldn't have time for a family dinner or a babysitting job on Thursday.......

Fiddlerontheroof · 07/02/2015 20:30

Hi, I have a dd in year 7, who has cerebral palsy, and some traits of ASD. I really have to monitor her homework as she finds organising herself tricky. Each pupil in Their school has an iPads, and as she can't write well, she photographs the homework on the board, or written in the persons book next to her, so I can see what it is...I have to scribe for her. Is that an option? She is well supported though..and if your child has had that many detentions, CLEARLY he needs some help with organisation. The school should be doing that, not talking about removing him...ffs! Perhaps you need to think if this is the school for him, as he may need further support, is it going to be there for him? I would def want to enquire if he's on SEN register at School Action, school action plus.

Re eye contact...ASD is an enormous spectrum, and everyone is different, I've worked with many children who won't do eye contact many who will. I found that statement a bit odd!

smokepole · 07/02/2015 20:37

Hakluyt. It was put forward to me that DD2 might be 'more comfortable' and that other schools might have 'better resources' in helping her in year 7. I told the 'grammar' where to go and have been proved right that she is one of the most able girls in the school in year 11 !. Another parent may have been convinced to move their child with little the subtle hints.

However, I did get a lot of support from the schools SENCO in setting up plans in helping her with Handwriting and accepting she was quite able provided she worked hard with plans in place.

Original poster

BatmanLovesBakedBeans · 07/02/2015 21:22

Yes! Photos! Why didn't I think of that? Three days ago I helped him with some English - he'd taken a photo with his phone of a list of the 8 scenes he needed to complete. Why on earth didn't I extrapolate that to other situations? Obviously won't help with verbal instructions but it's still another strategy.
I think if we can get over this bump in the road, then yes, it is the school for him. I can't describe the relief at him having friends, good friends. And the work itself is fine - when he's focused.

OP posts:

theHanseaticLeague · 08/02/2015 23:07

DD is at a grammar. They all have planners in which they jot down all their homework assignments and teachers and patents have to sign it off.

If DD has missed a lesson she can ask a friend to text her the homework or forward her a photo of it. She often collaborates on homework via Skype too where a few of them will discuss ideas.

Gracegrapecherry · 21/02/2015 03:35

Unless I am very much mistaken, schools give children daily homework planners, what to do and how much time it takes.

8atman · 09/03/2015 18:12

Hi - OP here

Had a meeting with HOY, he means well I think, but complained about the lack of eye contact and how DS says as little as possible. HOY doesn't seem to understand DS's foibles at all. I am so frustrated with this all.

His old teacher asked about him at DS2's Parents' Eve. I explained it all and we commiserated together on the difference between Primary and Secondary. I feel like secondary think I'm a neurotic, helicopter parent, which I'm really not. I've never had to stand up for DS in the way I feel I have to now. DS2's teacher was the one who recommended we have DS assessed for AS, so she knows his difficulties well.

Just counted up the detentions since September - 16

Things we have put in place:

check his planner every night (did that anyway)
sign his homework report every night (and always have done when he's been on it - but its not as helpful as it should be as the teachers aren't signing it each period, sometimes because DS forgot to get it back from the teacher in the previous lesson)
one of his friends is his homework buddy and he texts if he is unsure of tasks
he takes photos of long written tasks from the board

And still we are getting detentions. He views them as a perfectly normal fact of school life. I am so frustrated and totally at my wits' end. Not looking for advice really - I'm just venting. So bloody upset with him.

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread