Please or to access all these features

SEN

Here you'll find advice from parents and teachers on special needs education.

Oh help, what have we got into? Not a crisis, just... Music exams!

5 replies

Lancelottie · 15/01/2009 13:53

Can't quite believe that we would ever have anything so trivial to worry about, but my lovely 12-yr-old, who has Asperger's, started playing the flute at school last year (actually originally recommended to help with his asthma). He's now considerably startled us by saying Yes when his teacher asked if he wants to take the Grade 1 exam this term.

Oooooooh bugger. I'm torn between pride that he's come far enough to consider something like this, and terror that he will be totally thrown by 'performing' in front of a stranger. He doesn't do strangers. Or strange places. Or, really, the idea of practising (he hates making mistakes). But I don't want to squash him by not letting him give it a go. How do I help him prepare for this? I've checked the exam website, and it seems he can have 5 minutes' extra time, plus someone (not a parent) with him on the day, but all the same, I'm already a bag of nerves...

OP posts:
PuzzleRocks · 15/01/2009 18:23

Bumping for you.

cat64 · 15/01/2009 20:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

islandofsodor · 15/01/2009 20:46

Perhaps have a word with the teacher about perhaps doing the Performance Assessment first.

It is often used by SN pupils or adults and there is no pass or fail, just constructice critisism.

Lancelottie · 15/01/2009 21:35

Thanks all of you!
I'll try the idea of a 'pretend' exam, and i like the sound of the performance assessment as a different option.

This feels weirdly like being on Planet NT for a visit!

OP posts:
Lancelottie · 24/04/2009 21:07

Just an update:

He did it and he got a Merit! In the event, he was almost calm about the whole thing -- he said if he was going to have exam nerves, he'd rather have them now for something that doesn't matter rather than later for important exams. OK, he had to be bribed through the door with a Twix bar and his teacher stayed with him, but he did it!

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page