The Appropriateness of Grammar Courses’ Subjects In Elementary Schools for the Cognitive Levels of Children

Abstract

In this study, whether the grammar issues covered in Turkish textbooks used in the basic education grades 1.,2.,3.,4. and 5 are suitable for cognitive levels of the children in those grades has been discussed. The first five years were selected on the basis of the fact that those children are aged between 6/7 and 11/12 and they also are in concrete-operational stage. As we all know, the grammar is an abstract system and the question “Do children understand these abstract issues knowing that they are in concrete-operational stage?” needs to be answered carefully. In this study, the general features of the grammar teaching are exhibited, cognitive levels of 1 through 5 elementary education students are described, and problems in the grammar teaching are identified. As a result, it is proposed
that 1 through 5 elementary level grammar teaching should be redesigned according to students’ cognitive levels.