Book report blues

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-13-2006
Book report blues
10
Thu, 10-25-2007 - 11:11pm

Hi Everyone,


David, 4th grade Aspie, has a book report, due next Tuesday.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2006
Fri, 10-26-2007 - 12:26am

Evelyn,


My son also has a hard time with Ridgid (sp?) behavior on having things be the same all the time too.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2006
Fri, 10-26-2007 - 12:45am

Actually, reading my post again, you really don't have to change anything except the first sentence.


Let us know what happens.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-25-2007
Fri, 10-26-2007 - 5:03am

I wonder if they are using your son's advanced reading ability as a peer model for less capable students? They do that kind of thing alot in our school district. You should inquire whether his reading group placement is right for him. Last year my son was in a reading group that had to read a Nancy Drew Mystery. Two strikes against it: A

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Fri, 10-26-2007 - 7:17am

. With my teaching hat on I know what they are trying to do with David at school, it isn't about being in a reading group appropriate for his skills, it is meant to be a mixed group. They are doing a type of structured reading/comprehension teaching, whereby a mixed ability group are supposed to learn about working in a group, on a set task, so they will probably only read a few pages at a time, then do some related activities (eg rewriting it in reported speech, or punctuation, grammar or vocabulary exercises).


I don't know where you get the 'unlike most aspies' from on the reading comprehension thing though, because in my experience a lot of aspies do have very high reading comprehension skills. What they struggle with, which David is also struggling with, is working to task when they do not understand the point of the task. This is where you can help his teacher help him. Explain to the teacher that David needs very structured and detailed explanations for what he is being asked to do: not just 'because this is the set task' or 'because I said so' (which will get you nowhere with David!) but 'because today we are learning about how writers set out paragraphs to help the flow of a story' or 'because today we are looking at how you can use punctuation in different ways' etc). This takes you out of that dreadful 'my kid doesn't like doing this' place and makes it 'my kid learns things slightly differently to other kids, how can you, as a professional, help him?' Make it clear that you respect the teacher's professionalism and competency and you will get a long way with them, trust me!


And try it at home with the book report too. Explain to David that this is not MEANT to be fun at all, he is completely right in that! This is meant to be learning about a particular form of story-telling. Get a few mysteries out of the library, explain to him about plot development, secrets, red herrings etc (which a lot of aspies hate, because it is like 'lying' in their eyes). Explain that some reading is for fun - particularly the reading that he choses to do - and some is for different purposes, like gathering information, learning about different writing styles, being able to distinguish good writing from bad, and possibly finding new authors to enjoy so he can add to his list of books. See if you can encourage him to 'beat the teacher': what can you put in this book report that the teacher will not be expecting? Is there some way he can write about how stupid he finds mystery stories that will convey that to the teacher in a funny way?


And if all else fails, bribe him. He gets an extra chapter of Harry Potter read to him, or some candy, or some extra game time, if he completes the report.


It's all about carrots and sticks, and unfortunately for David, you and his teacher, his carrots and sticks are not the obvious ones!


hth


Kirsty


mum to Euan (9, Asperger's), Rohan (4 NT) and Maeve (23m, NT)


iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Fri, 10-26-2007 - 8:36am
"What they struggle with, which David is also struggling with, is working to task when they do not understand the point of the task."

That makes a lot of sense to me and I see that to be true with Haley.



We haven't started book reports yet and Haley's in 5th grade. They do have to do these Q&A things on the computer about certain books they check out from the library though. I have been dreading the introduction of book reports. I know it is going to be a huge battle because Haley is the same way about books. She has to LIKE the book in order to get through it. She has read White Fang 10 times and continues to read it over and over again because it is the only book that she really likes.



I hope all goes well!




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Mom to Erin (19) and Haley (10yo Asp
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-28-2004
Fri, 10-26-2007 - 9:46am

Dear Evelyn,


Something popped into my head:


How do you think David and the teacher would respond if you asked if he could adapt the

APOV on Autism
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2003
Fri, 10-26-2007 - 11:36am
What would happen if you tricked ds into reading a mystery? For instance, find a book along the subject interest he has, but don't tell him it's a mystery? You can pick up a handful of mystery books from the library on subjects he likes and leave them around for him to find and read. After he's read one, you can let him know it was a mystery and would qualify for his book report. Sometimes that works with my kids, and they're pleasantly surprised to find they liked something they didn't think they would (other times they get mad that I tricked them).
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-29-2004
Fri, 10-26-2007 - 3:29pm

OMG Evelyn, You have my household. Finally, I convinced Sravan to do it on Harry Potter (first one), when we had just a week left. The whole report, poster is due today. Don't have to worry for another month, sigh! Maybe take him to the library and see if he can pick out something. But, we are having this topic that sometimes we have to do that we don't enjoy on a routine basis, like at work or play Yu-gi-yoh with Sravan etc.


iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2003
Fri, 10-26-2007 - 3:41pm

Here is a suggestion for a book along the lines of mystery stories. The book series is called Wright and Wong. The interesting thing is that one of the title charACTERS has Aspergers syndrome. And of course think abouit how and Aspie would solve a mystery with their logic and follow the rules sort of wy.


I have taken a couple of books from the series out. Josh hates to read and finds them "hard" to read only because he hates to do so. But even he can relate to the one character.


Good luck


Rina

Avatar for toryanna
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Fri, 10-26-2007 - 7:12pm

Oh YES! Victor LOVES Wright and Wong. I had to fight him to get him to read it but now that he's read the first one, he's addicted. He came downstairs and said "Mom, did you know Oliver has Asperger's? Mom, did you know that Oliver only has one friend, just like me. Mom, did you know that Oliver is super smart just like me?" Then add to it that Oliver started middle school just like Vic this year added to the enjoyment. Victor has a problem with reading new books period. He's 11 years old and still loves Magic Tree House books. They have a bit of mystery to them also but they have reference books that go along with each fiction story. We've gotten to where Victor HAS to get a fiction book that his teacher picks and then he gets one that he likes. We also bribe him with books he enjoys. His current series that he likes is How to Speak Dragonese ( and other books) by Cressida Cowell. So our deal is if he reads books based on his lexile range at school ( his lexile range is higher than books that his dad and I read.) If he reads the books and takes the tests and passes them, we go to the bookstore and get him a new book of his choice. This way we encourage him to enjoy reading still but he understands that he has to read other books he might not enjoy for school.


Alexis