THE IMPACT OF THE ACQUISITION OF THE LETTERS IN A SYSTEMATIC LITERACY ON WRITING SKILLS

Learning letters is associated with a long-term learning. Two basic models are present in obtaining letters in a systematic literacy in Slovenia and abroad. One represents a separate acquisition of the uppercase and lowercase printed letters (sequentially) and the other deals with letters simultaneously. In practice, teachers often asked themselves, especially in times of reforms in literacy, which model of the acquisition of the letters in initial literacy is more efficient. The research focused on the effect of the two most frequently chosen procedures for acquiring letters of structured literacy in Slovenia, namely the simultaneous treatment of the uppercase and lowercase printed letters (lowercase cursive letters and upper-case cursive letters) and consecutive treatment of letters (uppercase printed letters, lowercase printed letters, lowercase cursive letters, and at last, uppercase printed letters). Furthermore, the focus of the research was on the impact of gender on the ability to write. The incidence of errors was observed in terms of selected procedures for acquiring the letters in groups and gender. At the same time, the effect of consolidation of writing individual letters (uppercase and lowercase printed letters in 2nd class, and lowercase and uppercase cursive letters in 3rd class), was examined.