Teaching primary school students their mother tongue scientifically
Kattakurgan State Pedagogical Gogika Institute “Pedagogy” Faculty of Primary Education
G’ulomova Rukhshona Po’lat’s daughterTel: (+998) 94- 688-24-20E-mail: gulomovaruxshona007@gmail.com
Annotation
This article examines the origins and development of mother-tongue teaching methodology in primary education. It identifies the core principles of the field and analyzes effective lesson-organization methods. The article highlights how modern pedagogy increases children’s interest in language learning, develops literacy skills, strengthens grammatical competence, and improves oral and written communication. The effectiveness of using interactive strategies, innovative technologies, and age-appropriate instructional approaches is emphasized. Practical recommendations are provided for primary school teachers, methodologists, and students specializing in pedagogy.
Keywords: primary education, mother tongue, teaching methodology, interactive instruction, literacy, grammatical competence, pedagogical technologies, student engagement, lesson effectiveness.
Introduction
The mother tongue represents the national consciousness, cultural identity, and spiritual heritage of every nation. Therefore, teaching the native language in primary school is a matter of fundamental importance. At the early stages of education, mother-tongue instruction shapes a child’s linguistic, cognitive, social, and aesthetic development. It is in this period that pupils acquire the foundational skills of accurate, fluent, and meaningful speech.
In contemporary educational practice, the purpose of teaching the native language is not limited to memorizing linguistic forms or transmitting isolated grammatical rules. The core task is to develop independent thinking, enable learners to express their ideas clearly, and foster a culture of speech and love for their mother tongue. Therefore, mother-tongue lessons should actively engage students in the learning process, motivate them to think critically, and encourage meaningful communication through modern methods and technologies.
In modern primary education, effective teaching requires a balanced integration of traditional approaches alongside interactive techniques, ICT tools, game-based activities, and creative tasks. Such approaches enhance lesson quality, increase student activity, and strengthen independence, creativity, and communicative skills. Improving the methodology of native-language teaching in primary grades is therefore one of the current strategic objectives of the educational system. Through mother-tongue education, learners not only master linguistic norms, but also learn to express opinions freely, communicate effectively, and apply creative reasoning.
Consequently, the introduction of advanced pedagogical technologies, practical life-based tasks, and student-centered instruction is considered essential for improving the quality and effectiveness of teaching mother-tongue science.
Review of Literature
The methodology of teaching the mother tongue in primary education—its principles, core concepts, and effective lesson-organization strategies—has been widely studied by contemporary scholars and methodologists. Research has focused on increasing children’s interest in language learning, developing literacy, strengthening grammatical competence, and improving oral and written communication skills through modern pedagogical technologies and innovative approaches.
Kholboev emphasizes that native-language methodology in primary grades has both theoretical and practical significance. He argues that language acquisition is inseparably connected with thinking, and that speech cultivation directly supports the development of cognitive abilities. According to him, applied pedagogy should not only transmit linguistic knowledge but also develop analytical and communicative skills in learners.
Matchonov and his colleagues present a systematic framework for native-language instruction in primary grades. They identify three foundational principles: ensuring consistency and continuity of lesson content; integrating literacy (reading–writing) with speech development; introducing grammatical concepts gradually through text-based examples to build strong conceptual foundations. Their studies highlight that active work with texts, interactive exercises, and classroom-based communication make lessons more systematic and practical.
Gulomova and co-authors propose that working with authentic texts (reading, analysis, re-expression) and purposeful dictionary work enhance learners’ vocabulary, support semantic understanding, and develop oral speech skills through activities such as role-play and game-based tasks. This makes lessons more interactive and facilitates vocabulary acquisition in meaningful contexts.
Yolandeva promotes a competency-based approach to teaching native language in primary school. She concludes that lessons should not focus solely on memorizing theoretical facts; rather, they should develop learners’ skills in independent thinking, analysis, communication, and information processing. According to her, practical tasks, analytical questions related to real-life situations, and student-designed problem-solving activities significantly increase the effectiveness of grammar instruction.
In summary, the literature demonstrates that methodological research in native-language education prioritizes the development of language competence, improvement of speech skills, and modernization of teachers’ methodological training. Therefore, further integration of advanced pedagogical technologies remains a relevant requirement for strengthening the quality of instruction in this field.
Analysis and Results
Within the scope of this research, the effectiveness of modern methodologies for teaching the mother tongue to primary-grade students was examined. The study was conducted among 3rd–4th grade pupils during the 2025–2026 academic year. The primary aim was to determine how the use of interactive techniques, phonetic-analysis exercises, text-based strategies, and game-based approaches influence the development of students’ language competence.
The experiment consisted of three sequential stages: Preparatory stage. Baseline diagnostic assessment was conducted to determine students’ initial level of linguistic knowledge, reading fluency, written speech skills, and spelling accuracy. A total of 48 students participated in this phase.
Practical stage. In experimental classes, instruction was delivered through didactic games, role-play tasks, text analysis strategies, chained word-building exercises, and speech-development activities. In contrast, the control classes continued to use traditional teaching methods.
Final stage. Mid-term and summative assessments were administered to evaluate students’ final learning outcomes and academic progress.
Research Findings
Data analysis revealed measurable improvements in the experimental group. Average reading speed increased by 25–30 percent, and reading comprehension improved by 28 percent. The number of spelling errors in written speech decreased from an average of 14 errors per 100-word text to 6 errors per text. These findings confirm that interactive, text-oriented, and game-based methodologies significantly enhance literacy skills, grammatical accuracy, and communicative competencies in primary school students.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the methodology of teaching the mother tongue in primary grades plays a crucial role in shaping children’s speech, thinking, and spiritual development. Through mother-tongue lessons, learners not only acquire grammatical structures and written language norms, but also internalize national values, cultural heritage, and literary tradition. Therefore, instruction in the native language forms the foundation of a child’s personal and intellectual maturation.
Modern methodology requires the use of interactive, communicative, and competency-based approaches that go beyond traditional instruction. These approaches foster independent thinking, logical reasoning, and the confidence to express ideas clearly. Effective lesson design must take into account pupils’ age-related and psychological characteristics, because only developmentally appropriate instruction can yield meaningful results.
Furthermore, the integration of high-quality textbooks, visual resources, multimedia tools, and digital platforms enhances students’ motivation and engages them as active participants in the learning process. The teacher’s pedagogical competence, speech culture, and innovative mindset remain central determinants of educational quality.
Therefore, continuous scientific research, dissemination of advanced experiments, and systematic modernization of methodological approaches in mother-tongue education remain urgent tasks of contemporary pedagogy.
List of references used
1. Kholboev G. Methodology of teaching mother tongue in elementary grades methodological and scientific foundations of science. – Tashkent: Uzbekistan Publishing house of the Ministry of public education of the Republic, the year is not indicated.
2. Matchonov S. Methodology of teaching the native language in primary grades.- Tashkent: “O’qituvchi” Publishing House, year not specified.
3. Ghulomova M. Effective mother tongue lessons in primary education organization methodology. – Tashkent: Enlightenment, the year is not indicated.
4. Yolandeva S. Language skills in primary school students formation methodology. – Tashkent: Science and Technology, year not shown.
5. Kadyrova F. Grammar in primary school students methodology for the formation of concepts. – Tashkent: TDPU publisher, 2018.
6. Yo’ldoshev Q. Theory and methodology of teaching the native language. – Tashkent: “Fan”, 2015.
7. Shodmonova Sh. Speech cultivation classes in primary education method-ology. – Tashkent: “economics-finance”, 2017.