Хорижий филология
№2, 2019 йил
117
IMPROVING WRITING SKILLS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Abdurazzoqova Sabohat Abdurazzoq qizi,
Master student of Samarkand State Institute of Foreign Languages
Keys words:
writing, elementary school, ICT, ideas, disorganization, and disconnection,
writing activities.
The attention in learning English today
is gaining a higher speed in the world as well
as in Uzbekistan. The main factors for this
phenomenon
include
expanding
communication with the world after gaining
the independence and increasing speed and
scope of information exchange in the global
village. Teaching English as a foreign
language or a second language to school
children is a difficult process. Especially
primary school‘s pupils think that English as
simply another subject that they have to study
at school or that their parents make them to
learn English. At this point, they may not
know the importance of these classes. They
might consider English classes as simply
another fun daily activity. Even teachers can
encourage the pupils who are at this early age
to develop an interest in learning English.This
interest will stay with them long after they
have finished these classes. So teachers
should pay attention to every pupil attentively
in order to encourage everyone to participate.
Teachers should make these lessons relaxed
and fun. Then pupils have an aim to study this
subject.
Writing — it is an important form of
communication and a key part of education.
Hence, to teach writing skills should start
from elementary schools. Depending on the
level of students writing skills should be
taught from simple to difficult. If it begins
from elementary schools‘ children these
children will not come across many
difficulties in writing in the future. ―Writing
is widely used in schools for assessment
purposes, and for evaluating students‘
knowledge. In order for students to become
more proficient in writing, it must be used
more for engaging students in reasoning skills
across the curriculum. Writing experts agree
that during writing, students are actively
engaged
in
the
topic
and
examine
relationships among ideas. Writing also
contributes to formulating new knowledge,
developing an in-depth understanding of the
content, cultivating concepts, and developing
higher order thinking skills‖.
It is known that at an elementary
school‘s period pupils first learn how
language
functions.
Teachers
expect
understanding vocabulary, grammar, and
spelling completely from pupils while
simultaneously expressing and conveying
ideas and discussions in a concise, organized
way. It is hard to develop writing skills in a
child but it is a necessary skill should begin
from early age for pupils. Elementary school
time plays an important role in a child‘s
development, and at this periodstudent learn
and achieve exceptionally fast. When students
reach middle or high school, they are
expected to write multi-paragraph essays
including formal introductions, arguments
with supporting facts, and conclusions.
Information
and
communication
technology makes communication easier,
simpler, and more convenient than ever
before. Young children in elementary school
are receiving an outside education in the art of
modern writing and communication. The
main problem is that many students are
learning habits at a crucial age that may help
them choose the perfect emoji or GIF for a
social situation, but it will not help them learn
the appropriate forms of ―your,‖ ―you‘re,‖ and
―yours.‖
The lack of formality in modern
communication leaves educators unsure of
how to teach writing to elementary students.
No one outside of the classroom writes essays
anymore. Instead, students write articles and
blog posts, sms-chats. Therefore, teaching
elementary students to write essays correctly
Хорижий филология
№2, 2019 йил
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can seem like an impossible task, especially
when
they
spend
so
much
time
communicating with one another via other
mediums.
―At The Graide Network, some tips
are provided in order to help teachers and
schools better educate their students:
•
Data
on
elementary
student
writing levels
•
How to help kids with writing
•
How to develop your students‘
writing skills in fun ways
According to reports from the National
Center for Education, SAT mean scores in
writing dropped from 497 to 484 over nine
years (2006-2015). Furthermore, during this
period, the number fell every year. With
roughly only 25 percent of students testing as
proficient in writing, it can be easy to point
the finger at social media and constant access
to screens. However, the issue starts in the
classroom. In 2016, 40 percent of students
who took the ACT writing exam lacked the
reading and writing skills necessary to
complete a college-level English composition
class.
The problem is that language is a huge
area, and with so many exceptions to the rule,
students often have such a strong emotional
effect and stop trying. Students often come
across a variety of difficulties when it comes
to writing, whether in the classroom or at
home. From grammar to organization, these
are the most common difficulties:
•
Grammar
•
Spelling
•
Lack of topic ideas
•
Lack of structure leading to
disorganized thoughts
•
A feeling of disconnect from the
task.
When it comes to writing, the actual
words students use and how they use those
words is essential, but putting ―pen to paper‖
is the last step of a long process that demands
plenty of practice and planning. There are
more signs that student is struggling with their
writing than poor sentence-level mechanics.
Whether you are a new teacher or not, you
know that the signs of a struggling student go
beyond the quality and grading of their tasks.
Therefore, to improve their writing you need
to address each area.
You can express a student that is
trying very hard with their writing by paying
main attention to their work and how they
behave in the classroom. Many students who
struggle to exhibit such signs as:
•
Poor spelling and grammar
•
Lack of organized thoughts and
structure
•
An unwillingness to participate in
a task
•
Sometimes the student does not
feel they are prepared enough to complete it.
Now teachers think about the issues in
writing and how to notice them, how to
prevent them and provide students with a
positive solution that will increase their
writing efficiency. Young students, especially
those in elementary school do not benefit
from long attention spans. In fact, a 2015
study found that adults have an attention span
that lasts about eight seconds. Keeping your
students engaged while teaching them better
writing skills is no small task.
During teaching to write using
classroom activities can lead good results.
Activities can motivate students to work
together and accomplish the task. According
to The Graide Network‘s information these
activities are divided into three sections that
each of them is related to common issues:
Ideas, disorganization, and disconnection
from the assignment. These activities are very
useful when to teach writing skills topupils.
Lack of Ideas
•
Orally share ideas in groups before
having students write.
Allowing your students to create ideas,
opinions in a group and brainstorm is an
effective tool. If a student is unable to answer
on an idea, hearing what others say can create
inspiration. Additionally, if multiple kids are
unable to answer on an idea, a group setting
allows them to feel less alone from their lack
of an idea. To my mind to use this activity
with young learners is effective. Sharing ideas
in a group can enlarge pupils‘ background.
•
Writing together in a group.
Allow your students to work on a task in
pairs, groups, or as a whole class. Similar to
Хорижий филология
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sharing ideas out loud, this method gets your
students to better think about how to structure
an essay and share their writing styles. It is
truth when pupils write together on a one
paper they share their ideas; they correct their
mistakes.
•
Giving students a sentence starter.
A writing prompt or starter sentence does
not allow your student to claim they do not
know what to write about and forces them to
begin while guiding them.
•
Giving students a writing warm-up.
Allow your students to free write for a
few minutes and encourage them to disregard
structure and grammar (for now). Free writing
is an excellent method for getting the creative
juices going. From this method teacher can
identify pupils‘ background, outlook, level
and interest.
Disorganized and Lack of Structure
•
Organize assignments and include
visual aids.
Instead of making students write a five-
paragraph essay all at once, break each part of
it into sections. Provide students with a
graphic breakdown of each section that
includes helpful tips for writing and structure.
•
Provide models of good writing
Give your students an example of what
you are looking for and provide explanations
for different sections.
•
Mini-Lessons
Instead of paying attention on an essay as
a whole, teach smaller pieces of the essay and
its structure. Take 10 - 15 minutes to pay
attentiononly on lead sentences or transitional
phrases. In my opinion writing an essay is
difficult for elementary school‘s pupils. If
they write a simple story it will not be more
difficult than essays.
•
Give your students a toolbox.
A writing toolbox can include anything
you think may help to struggle students
improve their writing. Include resources like a
list of transitional words or phrases, a list of
words to avoid, and a grammar cheat sheet.
Disconnected from the Assignment
•
Give your students a topic choice.
Either let your students choose from a list of
approved topics or give them the option to
choose their own for approval. Often, students
who feel invested in a subject are more likely
to write more and try harder.
•
Give them a greater purpose.
Writing an essay for a grade is not always
enough to get some students engaged,
especially if they are trying already. Raise the
stakes and give them a greater purpose by
creating unique assignments. For example,
have them write a blog post they have to share
with the class or a travel brochure to their
favorite destination.
•
Conference with your students
Whether in small groups or one-on-one, it
is necessary for teachers to pay attention to
each student and identify where they are
trying hard. When students feel disengaged, it
may be because they think they have no the
skills to do well. Make sure to target different
areas for each student.
Teaching kids writing skills at home
as in the classroom is essential because it
shows kids multiple methods and ways to
write. Writing at home also keeps what child
learned in school fresher in their minds. At
home, they feel free themselves than in a
class. Because in a class they may be afraid of
their teacher or they may be shy with their
classmates. Knowing how to help kids with
writing is not always easy. Here are given
some ways parents can help at home:
• Task your child with writing
instructions for taking care of the family pet.
• Dictate to your child what you need
on your shopping list and have them write the
items down.
• Have them spend five minutes after
school journaling about their day.
• Write an online review of
something they like.
If
parents
use
these
following
instructions to teach writing pupils can
achieve in writing. Hence, parents are
expected to pay attention to their children.
Parents should create a placeat home where
their child will feel comfortable doing
homework and other writing exercises. When
doing exercises with them, parents should not
be afraid of making it fun with crayons,
colored pencils, and markers.If parents enjoy
reading to their child, they should try to write
a story together. By reading and writing
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together, they will help their child develop
ideas more efficiently, which will translate to
their performance in the classroom.
Improving young students‘ writing
skills may seem like a difficult task, but by
doing a little planning yourself and finding
the individual needs and problems of each
student, you will be able to transform your
classroom into a great writer‘s workshop.
Literature:
1.
Van Drie, J., Braaksma, M. & Van Boxtel, C. ―Writing in history: the effects of
writinginstruction on historical reasoning and text quality.‖
Journal of Writing Research, 7
(1),2015.
—P.123-156.
2.
https://www.thegraidenetwork.com/blog.
Абдураззакова С. Совершенствование навыков письма в начальных школах.
Данная
статья рассматривает улучшение навыков письма в начальных школах.
Aбдураззоқова С. Бошлан
ғ
ич мактабларда
ѐ
зиш к
ў
никмаларини ошириш.
Ушбу
мақола бошланғич мактабларда ѐзиш кўникмаларини оширишни кўриб чикади.
