Parents of Aspie's, I need you!?

Question

My girl is 5th grade, Aspie. She is excels in drawing & sketching, & is an avid reader. She came with an assignment that was done in class. The assignment was for the students to draw in comic strip fashion, a story that they had read that day (they had 6 blocks to draw in). The teacher told the students not to be too detailed w/ their drawings & to use stick figures/bubble people. On my girl’s comic strip, the first 4 blocks were drawing of non-stick people, and very good. The last two blocks were stick people. When I asked why her drawing was like this, she told me her teacher told her not to put detail, & to finish in stick people. I understand the teacher saying no detail, but the people she drew IS no detail for her. She is also discouraged from drawing & reading during recess & free time. I feel she was discouraged to complete her assignment to the best of her ability. She kept up w/ the class & was one of the 1st ones done. Am I wrong to questions this teacher's actions?

Answer 1

I have a daughter with Aspergers and it is such a fine balance between home and school. It sounds from your description that your daughter is a little like mine in that she is very literal and will follow the teachers instructions to the letter. From what you write in your question I think you need to go into school and make them understand your daughter's condition. They also need to know they cannot change her and if she wants to read or draw at recess she should be encouraged because that is what obviously makes her happy. This teacher is going to have to accept your daughter as she is and should be working on her strengths. You should go and have a word with the teacher and ask her to be more careful with how she phrases her questions and sets homework. As you will know people with Asperger's are never straight forward but they are if kept on task usually good scholars. I wish you well, and I do know it's very difficult. Do what is best for your daughter and don't let anyone persuade you they know what is best.

Answer 2

Am I correct that your daughter has aspberg(forgive the spelling),  I think your daughter should be in a school for kids with disability,  Regular school's can't keep up with disability and they can't teach kids with issues.  I don't think your wrong and you should talk to the teacher.  I would of already been on the phone.; Good luck terri

Answer 3

It sounds like she began with extreme motivation because drawing, sketching and reading are part of her (narrow?) interests .. her speciality .. so a comic book exercise was something she would REALLY enjoy, but then she suddenly complied with the precise instructions once the finer details hit home.

If having a narrow interest in this particular task enabled her to complete a more detailed version of it in the same timeframe as other students (not uncommon in those with ASD) then maybe the teacher should have overlooked it.  Having said that, it's important for ASD suffers to home in on the entire picture, instead of only the bits of it they're particularly interested in, so maybe the teacher really does knows best.  If you are concerned, I would talk with him/her about it.

ASD can be very misunderstood, even by the families and teachers of those affected by it.

/I have ASD btw.

Answer 4

The point of an exercise like this is for the students to rely on speech and words rather than good drawings to convey a story.  It is an exercise to expand her ability, and likely beneficial for your daughter's learning.

As long as she has other opportunities to use her artistic talent, I wouldn't be concerned that she was stifled in any way in this assignment.

Answer 5

The teacher did ask for stick figures, and has the right to expect all students to follow the directions.