Implications of Cursive Writing towards the Oral Reading of Grade Four Pupils: Basis for Aptitude Skill Development intervention Program

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Cursive writing is always looped, connected and allows the writer to make fluid, pencil paper connections. Liza Garber (2013) stated that in an age of keyboards and touch screens, some might argue that teaching cursive is a vestigial nicety in today's classroom. Even handwriting much less cursive writing is neglected in the national curriculum guidelines. This thinking and experience aided us to pinpoint the problems among our grade four pupils who displayed difficulty in reading at times of using cursive writing during class activities. The proponent noticed this, so she decided to investigate the methods used to teach learners with regards to their reading and writing performance.

METHODS

Random sampling was employed in selecting pupils. They were grouped according to their reading ability as stipulated in the result of the PHIL-IRI Oral Reading Test. They were given reading materials written in manuscript and cursive. The results were compared.

RESULTS

Most of the pupils find it hard to read words written in cursive that have a big impact on their learning output. As Grade Four pupils, the need to develop the ability to read words written in cursive arose. This was resolved through different interventions and remediation. The results showed that out of 47 pupils in class, it was found out that 20 Fast Readers came to be Average, 15 Average Readers became Slow Readers, and 2 Very Slow Readers became non-readers when the reading materials were written in cursive.

DISCUSSIONS

The study focused on the implications of cursive writing to the reading skills of 47 Grade Four pupils. As teachers, we have to do something to fix this problem immediately. Teachers struggled to find time within their busy day to focus on the writing exercises needed. Teachers and the entire school do not have a specific cursive writing curriculum to follow. Our department must emphasize this. As teachers, we must give extra time and effort to teach our pupils and use different techniques and strategies to enhance their ability to read and write legibly.