Blood Pressure?

You all know I teach, right? Or try to. Today one student was a pretty big challenge. He is a fifth grader, not yet reading, lots of difficulty with other academics as well. The biggest problem is, he won't. Anything. If it looks hard or different he just hangs his head and won't try. I know its a defense mechanism and know he's scared he might not do well, but what am I to do? We tried time away. He thought he was just getting out of the work there. I tried making him sit until he does what I want, but eventually the hour is done and he gets to leave (because I need to be somewhere else). If I can't figure something out, I'm going to need a trip to the Dr for meds for high blood pressure!