Creative Writing in Montenegrin Schools
Creative Writing in Montenegrin Schools
Abstract
The paper presents and analyzes the results of a detailed research of teaching
written language production in primary schools in Montenegro. The aim of the
research was to determine how, from the perspective of pupils, the process of
teaching and learning takes place in primary schools when the creative language
production of pupils is concerned. In order for pupils to be successful in the above
area, it is important that teachers apply varied and meaningful activities that will
prepare pupils for such an act. Therefore, during the research, by using the survey
technique and questionnaire, we sought to find out pupils’ interest in the subject of
mother tongue and literature, discussing how the creative writing activity, i.e. text
creation, positions on that list. After that, we tried to determine what activities are
particularly suitable for pupils as preparation for written language production and,
finally, what actually happens in their classes, that is, whether pupils assess these
exercises as useful. The hypotheses have been confirmed because the pupils in the
seventh, eighth and ninth grade (third cycle), in different percentages, recognize the
presence of a variety of activities offered as a useful preparation for their successful
written expression. Based on the analysis of the obtained results, a number of
conclusions have been drawn that can be merged into one that reads: in the phase
of preparing primary school pupils for written language production, teachers apply
different and purposeful activities concerning the themes and structure of written
composition.
Key words: creative writing; preparation; teaching; text; writer.
585
Popović: Preparing Pupils for Creative Language Production
complexity of the literary works, their power to enchant the reader, to engage him/
her on all fronts - mentally, emotionally, cognitively, and even physically - encouraged
the scientists of various authorities to deal with their emergence. All the more so that
the latest research in the field of neuroscience shows that reading can cause actual
changes in the brain that can be measured, and that, besides the already known
immersion in the world of the novel or character, while reading, something happens at
the biological level as well (Berns, 2013). It is not surprising that the scientists around
the world, especially at a time when the technological measuring of effects of various
factors is possible, notwithstanding the effect of reading, are continually occupied by
the power of text creator and the text itself. Where does this inspiration come from,
what triggers it, what is the role of talent and what of hard work and learning – are
some of the questions that have not been answered with certainty to this day. How can
we then teach children and young people this complex activity? What can we offer
them? And, above all, how do we prepare them for such an act?
The complexity of writing as a language activity is described by its interdisciplinary
foundation, i.e. it being founded in several language disciplines: orthography, grammar,
lexicology, and stylistics and text linguistics. The text is a result of cognitive processes,
what the writer knows about what he writes, as well as his attitude towards the content
he creates (Rosandić, 2002). Although certain level of creativity can be manifested in
the process of creating non-artistic texts, creating artistic text is almost impossible
without a considerable share of creativity. Therefore, the act of creation of fiction
has occupied writers and philosophers from antiquity to the present day, and the
explanations of that act have ranged from divine powers and divine inspiration (Plato),
through the idea of mimicking the subject world by different means, by which then the
individual artistic forms differ - with what techniques and actions the artist achieves
his goal (Aristotle), to the sum of the talent, knowledge and skills with special, even
divine inspiration, i.e. the combinations of the above-mentioned interpretations
through different styles in literature (Baroque, Classicism, Romanticism, Realism,
etc.) until the present day.
In the 19th and 20th century, the interest in the very process of the creation of
literary work has become even more expressed, and using different ways (interviews,
records, letters to loved ones, special books about the process of creation...) writers
communicated their inspiration, their hesitation, contemplation, problems they
encountered when creating, as well as the ways in which they were resolving the
problems in that process. Such materials led to an easier knowledge of their explicit
poetics and methods of their work. In historical sequence, it is equally important that
the mentioned field has become a specialized discipline within the theory of literature
by which it is possible to determine the identity of some work of literary creation and
give its interpretation (Vučković, 2008).
Dealing with this issue and its highlighting from different viewpoints led to the
view that, in addition to a talent that one carries in him, extensive knowledge and
586
Croatian Journal of Education, Vol.20; No.2/2018, pages: 585-620
erudition, and above all continuous reading of literary works of art, are necessary
for the successful creation of a literary artistic text. Part of this paradigm is the
possession of theoretical knowledge in the field of literary studies (Vučković, 2016),
historiography and other similar materials, as well as other specifics of what (or
whom) the creator intends to write. At the very beginning of the book about his own
writing Eco points out that the old saying states that the inspiration should be counted
for with a small percentage, i.e. a genius is “ten percent inspiration and ninety percent
of work” (Eco, 2013, p. 13).
Regardless of the fact that the artistic text is, ultimately, a product of genius supported
by talent and knowledge and stimulated by deep inspiration, it is clear that during the
process of teaching writing such objectives are neither possible nor desirable to set. An
adult who has decided to write about something (being a writer or not!) is run by a
certain motivation and inspired by some internal or external factors and needs. In the
process of teaching writing, during regular classes, the decision on whether to write,
when and what to write is conditioned by curricula and its outcomes, therefore, it
somehow comes from the outside. To that extent, the teacher’s task to initiate creative
forces in each individual in the class is more difficult. That is why preparation for the
creation and production of text cannot be accidental, individual or immediate. It has
to be planned, continuous, and professionally guided; it must motivate and inspire a
group of children or young people to whom it is intended.
Preparation for creative writing begins, in fact, with the act of reading artistic texts
- mastering strategies of reading such texts, therefore, by their reception. Human
culture is a global system of signs, and the first instance system would be a natural
language. Other systems of culture (mythology, religion, art, science) would represent a
second level systems. Specificity of the literary artistic text, relative to the first instance
sign system, is that it is encoded twice - this means that one code is contained in the
natural language expression, and the other is a literary artistic. As twice encrypted,
such a text is sent to a slower acceptance by consumers than the plain text, but its
informative fullness is increased (Lotman, 2004). The language of literature becomes
more complex precisely because of the emergence of sub-codes: to understand the
modern novel just a general code of literary language is not enough, nor is the novel
code sufficient – it requires a special sub-code of the modern novel and requires special
knowledge such as the knowledge of contemporary psychoanalysis and anthropology,
so that there are sub-codes for prose, poetry, etc. (Solar, 2012). “Language Arts starts
with the attempt to overcome the basic characteristic of the word as an artistic symbol
- unmotivated connection between the expression plan and the content plan – and to
build linguistic art model, as in the visual arts, based on the iconic principle” (Lotman,
1976, p. 94).
Every record, be it conscious intention of its creator or not, was created to be
read by someone. From this perspective, it is inevitable to observe the triad: the
writer as the sender of the message, the text as a transmitter and the reader as a
587
Popović: Preparing Pupils for Creative Language Production
588
Croatian Journal of Education, Vol.20; No.2/2018, pages: 585-620
589
Popović: Preparing Pupils for Creative Language Production
a deep understanding of the research process involved in the very act of creative
writing (Sharp, 2016). Also, they need to understand that it is not good to create an
environment in the classroom, which requires that every writer follows a mechanical
form on which to create his/her own text (Dyson & Freedman, 2003).
In teaching writing skills, as well as knowledge pertaining to this field, it is necessary
to avoid the stereotypical thinking that subject-area teachers require mainly knowledge
of subject area and to a very small extent pedagogical and knowledge in teaching
methodology, while primary classroom teachers, considering the age of pupils, need
a lot more of such knowledge. This attitude reflects a lack of understanding of the
role and mission of the teaching methodology and the importance of the teaching
competence (Bežen, 2008), and undermines the efforts of teachers to instruct pupils
in creative work in a functional and efficient manner.
1
The presentational approach is part of the traditional approach to teaching in which the teacher provides
instruction for writing on the selected topic, announces the organization of the text, its stylistic characteristics
and forms of expression. Within the interactional approach, pupils in small groups work on specified exercise,
discuss important stages in the creation, composition and content of the text, and share their thoughts with the
group, class and teacher. The instructional approach refers to instruction that takes a longer period of time, and
is focused on three main stages in the writing process: planning and organization of the text content, drafting the
text, rewriting what has been written and publishing. In the context of free approach, the pupil individually creates
a text asking for guidance from teachers and help from peers when s/he estimates that s/he needs it. The process
writing model was introduced by Dyson (1992), and before him the model was presented by Graves (1982) and
Murray (1985). This approach was worked out in a writing workshop of the Project Reading and Writing for Critical
Thinking, and it proposes teaching writing through five stages: 1. preparation (making plans and gathering material),
2. writing draft version, 3. correcting 4. editing, 5. publishing (Steel, Meredith, & Temple, 2002, p. 6). The realization
of such a process requires a longer period of time, which in terms of class-time organization of teaching needs
careful planning. The objective of teaching the creation of texts is not for all to become writers - but to reach the
highest possible level of competence in relation to oneself. The process approach to writing in Montenegro was
applied through the project Step by Step, Reading and Writing for Critical Thinking (RWCT) and How to help students
to successfully produce oral and written, artistic and non-artistic texts (Popović, 2013).
590
Croatian Journal of Education, Vol.20; No.2/2018, pages: 585-620
In a number of occasions, Težak (1996, 1998) especially dealt with the area of oral
and written expression and in his books discussed different kinds of compositions,
the ways of motivation, as well as the very procedures in the creation of the text using
a form selected for the expression. Written exercises, as Rosandić (2002) emphasizes,
serve to develop writing techniques, adopting graphemic system, the aesthetic design
of letters (calligraphy), the acquisition of spelling habits, adopting grammatical norms,
enriching vocabulary, the development of style, adopting the rules and laws of text
formatting, organizing and finding content, etc.
Nikolić (2010) advocates an opinion that preparing for the written essays is realized
continuously through timely and valid previous work in several areas, noting that
linguistic skills are acquired and developed by speaking, writing and reading. In
the preparation for successful writing he includes continuous lexical and semantic
exercises that contribute to enriching pupils’ vocabulary.
Gudelj-Velaga (1990) suggests exercises for the development of pupils’ vocabulary
(lexical exercises and lexical games), followed by exercises with sets of words in a
sentence, exercises with sentences and the order of words in a sentence. In the field
of style those are exercises related to the meaning and expression of the statements
and exercises in creation.
Visinko (2010) proposed exercises related to writing motivated by a literary text:
storytelling exercises motivated by literary-theoretical compositions (time and place
of the events, characters, plan of the story - the creation of a joint story according to
the stimulus; connecting with linguistic skills - arranging a series of words, composing
of a story), then exercises of creative storytelling and retelling associated with the
features of prose text (distorted story), the exercise of creating shorter and longer
discussion texts (problem, critical); exercises for the composition of the text and
its parts, as well as exercises of language forms of expression in relation to the type
of composition. With isolated exercises, realized at the level of words or phrases,
pupils cannot improve the skill of creating a text and therefore all kinds of exercises
should be carried out through the writing of a comprehensive text or its parts, which
is particularly effective. Therefore, examples of exercises that she states in her book
“are dealing with pragmatic unity, that is, with compiling textual units (such as the
introduction or the conclusion) of the whole texts” (Visinko, 2010, p. 131).
To create a metatext a group of authors list specific examples of teaching
methodology system and its associated factors which describe and propose ways of
organizing pupils’ independent work, as well as work in groups to solve problems
(e.g., highlighting the main characters and main events) for the purpose of text
shortening, where the literary work is the starting point for pupils’ spoken and written
production. The pupil can work independently with a literary work and restructure
its components, and find new information relevant to the activity in which s/he
participates (Bežen et al., 2012).
Finally, we should not forget the technical aspects of writing which are particularly
important for pupils, and to which teachers need to devote the necessary time and
591
Popović: Preparing Pupils for Creative Language Production
Research Aim
The study which follows is part of a wider study of written language production of
primary school pupils2. The results provided in this paper refer to the texts that are
created modeling upon literary-artistic texts, i.e. written production in which creativity
is dominant. Also, they refer to the pupils as a target group, because we are interested
in how they see their teachers’ activities in this field and how they see those activities
as relevant for themselves.
The goal of the wider research was to determine, from the perspective of pupils, the
process of teaching and learning in primary schools with reference to pupils’ written
production. The research question with which we deal in this work is whether teachers
in primary school apply various and meaningful activities in the process of preparing
pupils for the production of written language. In relation to the established research
problem we have formulated three assumptions: 1) pupils are moderately interested
in the activity of creating written texts in the subject Mother tongue and literature; 2)
pupils recognize activities which in preparation for creating their own text are most
appropriate for them; 3) in preparation for creating written texts, teachers implement
exercises which pupils estimate as useful.
Data obtained were systematized, quantitatively processed and interpreted trying to
determine existing connections and relationships. Systematizing the obtained results,
and through statistical analysis, the following conclusions were made.
2
Broader research related to the teaching of written expression in primary schools in Montenegro was implemented
during the second semester of the 2015/2016 school year. The aim was to determine the ways of learning and
teaching in this area in primary schools, in order to isolate the good sides, but also to suggest ways for its
improvement. The questions referred to the ways of motivating pupils to written expression, the starting points
for this activity, the choice of themes and titles, the difficulties that pupils encounter, ways they present their written
language production, self-rating themselves as creators, as well as on topics that we deal with in this paper. The
survey technique and a questionnaire as an instrument were used (structured in 10 questions - two open type
and eight multiple-choice questions with the possibility of commenting or adding one’s own attitude). The results
were used for the analysis of teaching written expression and preparation for teacher training, but have not been
published as a whole.
592
Croatian Journal of Education, Vol.20; No.2/2018, pages: 585-620
Research Methodology
The Research Sample
The basic research sample (broader definition) comprised all the pupils of the
third cycle of primary school in Montenegro. From a broader set we extracted a
representative sample consisting of pupils from 14 primary schools from all three
regions of Montenegro. From the central region of Montenegro, we incorporated
schools from Podgorica (4) and Nikšić (3), from the northern region schools from
Bijelo Polje (2), Berane (1) and Rožaje (1) and from the southern region schools from
Bar (2) and Budva (1). The selected schools are placed in regional centers, that is,
municipalities that have the highest number of schools and pupils. The central region
is represented by the largest number of schools in proportion to the number of pupils
and schools in that area (51 out of total 163 primary schools in the country). The
study included 70 representatives of each grade, a total of 210 pupils, of which 61.42%
female and 38.57% male respondents. The average age of the pupils was 13 years. In
each school, representatives of grades from various classes were selected, as well as
pupils of different achievement (excellent, very good, good, satisfactory) in the subject
Mother tongue and literature.
Table 1
The basic research sample
593
Popović: Preparing Pupils for Creative Language Production
For the subject of our discussion, we singled out and analyzed the answers to three
multiple-choice questions. On the basis of the analysis of the three extracted questions,
we tried to determine the extent to which text creation as an activity is attractive
to pupils in the third cycle (seventh, eighth and ninth grade), i.e. how they rank it
in comparison with other activities taking place in the subject Mother tongue and
literature, which of the activities offered are most convenient to pupils in the course
of preparing for the creation of a written text, and what activities teachers actually
implement in lessons as a preparation for text creation.
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
We read and We read We talk (create We write (create We do spelling
analyze artistic and analyze an oral text) a written text) and grammar
texts. nonartistic on a given topic. on a given topic. exercises.
texts.
Figure 1. In Mother tongue and literature lessons, I like the most when…
Most of the pupils ranked reading and analysis of literary texts very high
(44.44%). Having in mind the nature of literary and artistic text and its characteristic
that, as a layered formation where emotional, fantasy, associative and thought webs are
interlaced (Rosandić 2005, p. 215), it evokes the aesthetic experience, and tendency (or
habit!) of teachers to deal in more detail with literary and artistic text as, until recently,
the only type of text in which, in addition to the traditional analysis, reading strategies
were developed, language issues discussed and materials in the field of grammar and
spelling were learned - it is not unusual for pupils to have chosen significantly this
activity over others.
594
Croatian Journal of Education, Vol.20; No.2/2018, pages: 585-620
Non-artistic texts are ranked as the lowest (0.65%), although a considerable number
of hours should be dedicated to them3, in accordance with the current curriculum
in Montenegro, with which we want to point out a realistic possibility to help pupils
understand and recognize the importance of such use of language as well. This is
especially true of science writing which includes interesting topics from the field
of natural and social sciences, and develops an important competence of learning
through reading. Based on this data, we can assume that the work of the non-artistic
texts has not sufficiently taken hold in language teaching, although it is extremely
important for the development of reading literacy in its entirety.
Pupils favor the creation of written text (18.30%), while a smaller percentage opted
for the creation of oral text (10.46%). The reason for this may be favoring written
language production by teachers, even in a situation where the program suggests that
each linguistic activity (listening, speaking, reading and writing) should be given 25%
of the total number of hours dedicated to this subject. We assume that teachers make
this decision because of the complexity of the written text and an estimation that
this type of production takes a lot more time than the verbal. Not only teachers, but
also methodologists usually prefer written expression. “That our culture gives more
attention to written expression than oral expression, is evident in the fact that the
number of papers dealing with written expression far exceeds the number of papers
dealing with verbal expression ...” (Ilić, 1998, p. 536).
In relation to the previously observed, we can safely say that there are more reasons
for insufficient recognition and understanding of the importance of working with
non-artistic texts, as well as the balanced development of all four components of
language. These might be important areas that some future research studies need to
be directed to.
3
The subject curriculum intended for teaching language and literature consists of two areas: the teaching of language
and teaching of literature. In the context of language teaching non-artistic texts of different types are being read,
texts modeled upon the read texts (oral and written expression) are being created and grammar and spelling are
being studied. Literature teaching includes the reading and interpretation of literary-artistic texts, creation of texts
modeled upon the read texts (oral and written expression), and the adoption of literary theory terms (in accordance
with age). In the first year, teaching language and literature teaching are given 50% of the total number of hours,
while from the second to ninth grade, language teaching is given 60% and the teaching of literature 40% of the
number of hours per year. Curricula have clearly stated objectives (Curriculum for Mother tongue and literature,
2005; Curriculum for Montenegrin language and literature, 2011) and outcomes (Curriculum for Montenegrin-
Serbian, Bosnian, Croatian language and literature, 2017) referring to the steps in developing reading strategies of
non-artistic texts and the types of texts that should be studied in a particular grade (e.g., Grade 6, the educational
outcome 2: At the end of learning, after listening and reading and analysis of non-artistic texts, the pupil will be able
to extract key concepts and related important data, to classify them, compare and complement them, then remember
and use them in new situations (learning by reading). Learning outcomes - while learning the pupil will be able
to: read, understand and analyze non-artistic texts; determine the basic characteristics of scientific and popular
texts, related to the contents of other subject areas (description of life of peers, games, crafts, sports; description
of the environment, human life in the past and now, events in nature, plants; description of the development of
man and animals; description of objects, products, machinery); to determine the subject matter of the text and
its purpose; to give oral and written answers to the teacher’s questions about the content of the text; to single out
the required data from the text; to extract from the text the key concepts and related important data, and to enter
them into prepared conceptual map; concepts: scientific and popular texts related to topics of other subject areas.
595
Popović: Preparing Pupils for Creative Language Production
In addition to the activities that make up the backbone of the subject offered in the
questionnaire, pupils were able to, if they wanted, add some other activity that they
found interesting and it concerned this teaching area. This possibility was used by a
very small percentage of respondents (0.05%), and the activities that have been cited,
although they may be part of the teaching of mother tongue and literature belong
more to multiple sections and extracurricular activities, so that we do not consider
them relevant for this research.
Spelling and grammar exercises are another category that a significant percentage of
pupils chose as an interesting one (26.14%). The high positioning of these activities
may be due to the fact that the final request for any written work is its grammatical
and spelling accuracy.
The next task was related to the choice of one type of preparation that suits the
individual pupil best when creating his/her own text. Pupils were offered six activities
of which they were to choose one.
25
20
15
10
5
0
I rely on a I rely on a In the I have a I talk to I have more When I
previously picture, classroom draft (plan) someone time than choose the
read text. film, the we talk of the text. about what just one title for the
content about a I've class. topic I will
of other topic that prepared to write about.
subjects ... we are to say or write.
write about.
Figure 2. While creating an oral or written text what suits me the most is when ...
The offered responses did not carry the information on the type of the text they
refer to, but if we make a connection with the answers to the previous task, we can
quite reasonably consider the impact of literary-artistic text on pupils’ creativity. Thus,
the literary-artistic text as a prototext many times was and is the motivation and
support of artistic creation and the starting point of new meanings in intertextual
concatenation, the emergence of text and metatext even to experienced writers, and
is therefore to be expected that the pupils recognize it as an important starting point
and support for new creations (23.38%).
The text read in the lesson has always been used as a starting point for pupils’
language production, both written and oral. There are many ways for the literary-
artistic text to be an effective stimulant in the phase of teaching pupils to create their
own text, thus teaching creative writing. The way in which the young reader actualizes
it as an ambiguous creation is very important, and especially important is the teacher’s
role in the process of understanding of all its constituents. Teacher leaves space for
596
Croatian Journal of Education, Vol.20; No.2/2018, pages: 585-620
those parts that the pupils have pointed out themselves - as their personal interest
and active participation in the process of creating the meaning of text (Grossman,
2010). In addition to understanding the text, also important are summarizing and
retelling exercises in order to practice forms of linguistic expression and recognize
text structure, i.e. its basic elements (Bežen, Budinski, & Kolar Billege, 2012).
It is customary that after reading and interpretation of a particular literary work
or its part, pupils are offered several titles that relate to the theme of work, its place
and specifics in relation to the literary-historical and literary-theoretical context and
background. Analyzing the characters and their actions, events and their sequence
and connection, as well as the value of the ideas that can be found in the work, opens
multiple and interesting starting points for reflection on many important issues and
dilemmas. Such texts or its parts therefore can serve as a model for a specific way
of expression - description, narration, the dialogue and the like. Getting to know
the language of the work or specific style of each creator separately is also very
important in understanding the overall impact of literature on pupils’ creativity. It is
not surprising then that the highest percentage of pupils gave the highest ranking
precisely to this possibility of preparing for their own production of a written text.
Unlike text, products of other arts (paintings, movies), and the contents of other
subjects as a starting point for creating text, were ranked by pupils as highest in the
lowest percentage (7.79%). It is obvious, however, that even this kind of starting point
for the creation is especially inspiring for the shown percentage of pupils, which, when
it comes to individualization, is significant.
A significant percentage of pupils (12.99%) ranked high the possibility of talking
about the topic in class while drafting the plan of the text is preferred by only 8.44%
of pupils. Low percentages given for drafting the plan of text does not mean that
the pupils consider it unimportant, but that at a certain moment they prefer other
activities.
Almost identical percentage of pupils point out the importance of discussion about
the first version of the text (14.29%) and the time that the creators have for creation
(14.94%).
A highly ranked category (18.18%) is the ability to choose the topic title, which gives
the pupils an opportunity to write about its dimensions of which they have formed the
most notions, whether through their own or indirectly acquired experience (Popović
& Novović, 2016).
Pupils did not add a category of their choice to this question.
Once we got information on what suits them best when it comes to writing, we
wanted to find out what, in their estimation, is actually happening in the class. Pupils
were asked to confirm, deny, or mark as temporary the offered activities of preparing
for the writing (Figure 3). According to the pupils’ responses, teachers implement
all of the given activities, wherein the analysis and the verification of what is written
and giving appropriate guidelines (33.86%) is indicated as the most common. Other
597
Popović: Preparing Pupils for Creative Language Production
Figure 3. For the creation of a written exercise / assignment the teacher prepares us through...
We felt it was important to ask pupils whether one of the ways to prepare for creating
the text is to use exercises, which they estimate to be useful, that is, which are aligned
with their needs. The question was of a general type, and it could apply to different
types of exercise: language, style and grammar, developing the ability for a different
kind of expression, composing the task in accordance with the basic rules and the
application of the principles4 of text plan creation in accordance with age, proper
choice of words and proper formulation of sentences, formation and development
of paragraphs and their functional connection within the text body and alike. Pupils
estimate that exercises the teachers prepare for them are adapted to their needs in
a percentage less than one-third (24.47%), while the view that they are occasionally
adapted is reported by 15% of pupils. The fact that 60.53% of them think that there
are no such exercises, can mean that they are not applied at all, or we can assume
that they are not in accordance with the needs of individuals in different schools and
classes. In any case, such a result obliges teachers to thoroughly think about this when
teaching language and literature is in question.
4
Three basic principles that must be followed when drafting the text plan: the principle of unity, the principle of
progression and the principle of equability (Živković, 2001).
598
Croatian Journal of Education, Vol.20; No.2/2018, pages: 585-620
599
Popović: Preparing Pupils for Creative Language Production
addition to the basic compositional structure of the text (the introduction, elaboration,
conclusion), it is good to also practice rearrangement of materials within these units,
particularly the elaboration. Directly related to this is the art of making the text plan
with which, in fact, selected material is structured and its rearrangement is planned.
Joint drafting of the text plan as a way of preparation for writing was recognized by
21.12% of pupils while 54.88% of them stated that such preparation does not happen
in their classes. Of the total sample of participants, 24% claimed that it happened
occasionally. We have focused on the question of drafting a joint plan in order to get
as much information about the extent to which this step is left for pupils in the third
cycle to engage in on their own. In the process of creating a text, whether the topic is
same for all pupils or not, for the age in question, it is logical to expect that each pupil
writes an individual plan, i.e. plan for his/her own text. A joint plan is done in the
practice phase at an early school age (1st and 2nd cycle). The fact that in the examined
sample joint planning of text is happening in the stated percentages may mean that the
classes are individualized in accordance with the age and ability of pupils. However, it
is always possible and necessary to practice this step in text creation with a particular
group of pupils, and that is probably why they recognize it both as permanent and
casual way of preparation for writing.
A pupil begins to design one’s own text and properly organizes selected material
already after the first reading and analysis of texts by renowned authors that s/he
reads in school, recognizing their composition and creating a plan as a chronological
sequence of events. “We apply composition exercises in regular lessons every time we
are defining parts of the text we read” (Visinko, 2010, p. 160). Based on the joint plan,
pupils can easily make their own, individual, plan for their task. With an individual plan,
a pupil expresses an attitude towards the collected material, personal understanding of
the topic and his/her own view of its nature. We believe that the exercises of drafting
the plan should be carried out continuously at all ages, but insisting on drafting one’s
own plan (for all ages) is a particularly important step for young creators. Making a
plan for other people’s texts is a kind of exercise to observe the composition, but also
mastering the skills of drafting a plan for one’s own text. The aim of such training is
that through other people’s texts, pupils learn to perceive the order of ideas, their mutual
organization and subordination, to recognize the main idea and its development using
related information and, to perceive the core of the issue specified by topic.
The essential features of the text, which determine the composition plan to
some extent, are its cohesion and coherence. Relationships between elements of the
text, grammatical and lexical ties that combine sentences into text provide for text
cohesion. The coherence of the text other than the language, points to extra-linguistic
circumstances in which a particular statement appears, i.e. what the reader recognizes
in the linguistic message and which is necessary for its interpretation (Badurina, 2008).
The structure of the text can be conditioned by its function in the communication
act. The function of the text, together with situational and media conditions,
determines the structure of the text, i.e. its construction in the thematic and
600
Croatian Journal of Education, Vol.20; No.2/2018, pages: 585-620
Conclusions
By positioning preparatory writing activities through the assessment of their
relevance in relation to oneself, by choosing the most convenient ones and, finally, by
the assessment to which extent they are actually present in class, we found that the
preparation of pupils for the written language production in primary schools mostly
happens through different and meaningful activities.
Pupils in the third cycle of primary school are moderately interested in oral and
written language production as an activity during Mother tongue and literature lessons.
This can be explained by the complexity and the requirements of these activities, and
is somewhat expected. For students, oral and written language production is less
important than reading and interpretation of literary-artistic texts, and they position
this activity high as a special preparation for the creation of their own text. It is clear,
therefore, that teachers carry out this activity, but it is necessary to examine how and
how much, and in what ways they can be improved by purposefully exploiting pupils’
motivation by literary-artistic text.
601
Popović: Preparing Pupils for Creative Language Production
Special interest of pupils for grammar and spelling exercises opens up the possibility
of continuing work on attaining the standard language in school and its precise usage
in oral and written language expression. Although, in accordance with the curriculum,
the grammar categories and concepts are taught with non-artistic texts, they can also
be identified and analyzed in artistic texts where they are usually given special features
of literary-artistic style (expressiveness, allegorical meaning and the like).
As an important factor of creativity, pupils recognize a certain freedom of the author
in the sense of expressing their own individuality through choosing a title for topics
according to their interests and experiences, as well as the ability to create a text in
a time interval longer than one school lesson. Pupils prefer individual over group
consultations (in class) on what was written, so it is necessary to provide time and
opportunity for such activity. This shows that the methodological guidance by teachers
during the creation of a written composition is desirable and important regardless of
grade level in primary school.
Pupils in a large percentage state that the creation of texts is not preceded by
discussion on the topic they will write about, which can directly affect both the process
of creating (inadequate choice of material, non-functional text plan, etc.), and the final
product, i.e. text (possible deviation from the topic, inadequate compositional structure,
the arrangement of the main and secondary ideas in the text, the choice of motifs and
their development, characters, story time and space, etc.). Therefore, teachers should
analyze their practices and determine the presence or absence of the aforementioned
activity, and prevent the consequences by timely planning functional exercises.
In the process of long-term preparation for writing, it is necessary to include a
number of different exercises related to the needs of the group that the teacher is
working with, and which are proposed by teaching methodologists.
It is necessary to continuously develop the skill of text composition with the
expansion of knowledge about the collection of certain materials, and valuing and
selecting the data collected, as well as their organization, depending on the age and
individual needs of pupils.
Checking and analyzing what has been written, or the assessment and evaluation
of pupils’ work is the activity that pupils recognize as the most frequently used in the
process of preparation for future writing. Given that pupils receive specific suggestions
for their work, it is necessary to apply it during the very process of creation (individual
consultations). Checking and analyzing what has been written is an important activity
in the process of teaching writing.
The focus of future research can be directed to the forms of preparation for text
creation that pupils particularly highlight, in order to determine their specific impact
on improving their creative language production. In addition, research should include
activities for which pupils claim that they are not implemented in their lessons, having
in mind the fact that such activities are basic for acquiring knowledge and skills in
the field of oral and written expression of pupils.
602
Croatian Journal of Education, Vol.20; No.2/2018, pages: 585-620
References
Aristotel (n.d.). Retorika. Zagreb: Naprijed.
Badurina, L. (2008). Između redaka: Studije o tekstu i diskursu. Zagreb: Hrvatska sveučilišna
naklada.
Berns, G. S., Blaine, K., Prietula, M. J., & Pye, B. E. (2013). Short-and long-term effects
of a novel on connectivity in the brain. Brain Connectivity, 3(6), 590–600. https://doi.
org/10.1089/brain.2013.0166
Bežen, A. (2013). Metodike u suvremenom odgojno-obrazovnom i znanstvenom sustavu. In
D. Milanović, A. Bežen, & V. Domović (Eds.), Metodike u suvremenom odgojno-obrazovnom
sustavu (pp. 26-76). Zagreb: Akademija obrazovno-odgojnih znanosti Hrvatske.
Bežen, A., Budinski, V., & Kolar Billege, M. (2012). Što, zašto, kako u poučavanju hrvatskoga
jezika. Metodički praktikum nastave hrvatskoga jezika u nižim razredima osnovne škole.
Zagreb: Učiteljski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu and Profil.
Dyson, A. H., & Freedman, S. W. (2003). Writing. In J. Flood, D. Lapp, J. R. Squire, & J. M.
Jensen (Eds.), Handbook of research on teaching the English language arts (2nd, ed., pp. 967-
992). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Čop, M. (1975). Pismene vježbe i sastavci u mlađim razredima osnovne škole, II izdanje. Zagreb:
IBG Tiskara „Zagreb“.
Eko, U. (2013). Ispovest mladog romanopisca. Beograd: Službeni glasnik.
Europska Komisija/EACEA/Eurydice (2012). Developing Key Competences at School in
Europe: Challenges and Opportunities for Policy. Eurydice Report. Luksemburg: Ured za
publikacije Europske unije. Retrieved from http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/education/eurydice/
documents/thematic_reports/145HR.pdf
Glovacki-Bernardi, Z. (2004). O tekstu (Second edition). Zagreb: Školska knjiga.
Grosman, M. (2010). U obranu čitanja, čitatelj i književnost u 21. stoljeću. Zagreb: Algoritam,
Traduki.
Gudelj-Velaga, Z. (1990). Nastava stvaralačke pismenosti. Zagreb: Školska knjiga.
Ingarden, R. (1971). O saznavanju književnog umjetničkog djela. Beograd: SKZ.
Ilić, P. (1998). Srpski jezik i književnost u nastavnoj teoriji i praksi. Novi Sad: Zmaj.
Iser, W. (1992). Theorie der Literatur – Eine Zeitperspektive. Konstanz: Universitätsverlag
Konstanz.
Jeffrey, B., & Craft, A. (2004). Teaching creatively and teaching for creativity: distinctions
and relationships, Educational Studies, 30(1), 77-87.
Lešić, Z. (2008). Teorija književnosti. Beograd: Službeni glasnik.
Lotman, J. M. (1976). Struktura umetničkog teksta. Beograd: Nolit.
Lotman, J. M. (2004). Kultura i eksplozija. [Translated from Russian by Dobrilo Aranitović].
Beograd: Narodna knjiga-Alfa.
Nikolić, M. (2009). Metodika nastave srpskog jezika i književnosti (Fifth edition). Beograd:
Zavod za udžbenike.
Novaković, J. (2007). Radionica pisanja fikcije. Zagreb: Algoritam.
Nastavni predemet Maternji jezik i književnost, Predmetni program – srpski, crnogorski, bošnjački
i hrvatski jezik i književnost - I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII i IX razred osnovne škole [Curriculum
603
Popović: Preparing Pupils for Creative Language Production
for Mother tongue and literature – Serbian, Montenegrin, Bosnian and Croatian language and
literature]. (2005). Podgorica: Ministarstvo prosvjete i nauke, Zavod za školstvo.
Predmetni program Crnogorski jezik i književnost, I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII i IX razred osnovne
škole [Curriculum for Montenegrin language and literature]. (2011). Podgorica: Ministarstvo
prosvjete i sporta, Zavod za školstvo.
Predmetni program Crnogorski-srpski, bosanski, hrvatski jezik i književnost, I, II, III, IV, V, VI,
VII, VIII i IX razred osnovne škole [Curriculum for Montenegrin-Serbian, Bosnian, Croatian
language and literature]. (2017). Podgorica: Zavod za školstvo.
Popović, D. (2013). Put stvaraoca ili kako stvarati tekst. In D. Popović (Ed.), Kako učenicima
pomoći da uspješno stvaraju usmene i pisane, umjetničke i neumjetničke tekstove – prvi koraci
(pp. 10 – 22). Podgorica: Zavod za školstvo.
Popović, D., & Novović, T. (2016). Teaching Writing Skills - How To Start Writing a Text.
Croatian Journal of Education, 18(4), 1235-1273.
Rosandić, D. (2002). Od slova do teksta i metateksta. Zagreb: Profil.
Rosandić, D. (2005). Metodika književnog odgoja. Zagreb: Školska knjiga.
Sharp, L. A. (2016). Acts of Writing: A Compilation of Six Models that Define the Processes
of Writing. International Journal of Instruction, 9(2), 77-90. https://doi.org/10.12973/
iji.2016.926a
Solar, M. (2012). Teorija književnosti sa rječnikom književnoga nazivlja. Beograd: Službeni
glasnik.
Težak, S. (1996). Teorija i praksa nastave hrvatskoga jezika 1. Zagreb: Školska knjiga.
Težak, S. (1998). Teorija i praksa nastave hrvatskoga jezika 2. Zagreb: Školska knjiga.
Tošović, B. (2002). Funkcionalni stilovi. Graz: Instutut fur Slawistik der Karl-Franzens-
Universität.
Visinko, K. (2010). Jezično izražavanje u nastavi hrvatskog jezika. Pisanje. Zagreb: Školska
knjiga.
Vučković, R. (2008). Pisac, delo, čitalac. Beograd: Službeni glasnik.
Vučković, D. (2016). Montenegrin Teachers’ Perception of the Acquisition of Literary Terms
in Primary School. Croatian Journal of Education, 18(2), 419–446. https://doi.org/10.15516/
cje.v18i2.1601
Wray, D. (1993). What do children think about writing? Educational review, 45(1), 67-77.
Živković, D. (2001). Teorija književnosti sa teorijom pismenosti, priručnik za nastavnike i
učenike. Beograd: IK Draganić.
Dušanka Popović
University of Montenegro, Faculty of Philology,
Department for Montenegrin Language and South Slavic Literature
Danila Bojovića b.b., 81400 Nikšić, Montenegro
[email protected]
604
Croatian Journal of Education, Vol.20; No.2/2018, pages: 585-620
605
Popović: Preparing Pupils for Creative Language Production
606
Croatian Journal of Education, Vol.20; No.2/2018, pages: 585-620
5
Naziv „učitelj“ u tekstu odnosi se na učitelje razredne nastave i učitelje materinskoga jezika i književnosti u
predmetnoj nastavi.
607
Popović: Preparing Pupils for Creative Language Production
svoju krajnju aktualizaciju, pa je čin recepcije koji obavlja čitatelj gotovo jednako
aktivan kao i čin njegove proizvodnje (Lešić, 2008). Spoznaja da će tekst koji piše čitati
još netko osim njega samog i učitelja, kako u procesu stvaranja tako i nakon završetka,
otvara neke nove i obavezujuće perspektive kod malih i mladih stvaratelja. To je,
također, točka gdje se nastava usmenog i pisanog izražavanja i nastava književnosti
u školi tijesno dodiruju – iz pozicije čitatelja, onog koji kritički promatra, analizira,
promišlja, doživljava, uživa ili mu nije lagodno, učenik postaje kreator izazova za
buduće čitatelje! I o tome treba misliti kada se učenici uvode u područje pisanja i
kada se pripremaju za tu aktivnost, posebno po ugledu na književnoumjetnički tekst.
608
Croatian Journal of Education, Vol.20; No.2/2018, pages: 585-620
609
Popović: Preparing Pupils for Creative Language Production
6
Prezentacijski pristup dio je tradicionalne nastave u kojoj učitelj daje upute za pisanje o odabranoj temi, priopćuje
ustrojstvo teksta, njegove stilističke karakteristike i oblik izražavanja. U okviru interakcijskog pristupa učenici
u manjim grupama vježbaju, raspravljaju o važnim fazama u stvaranju, o kompoziciji i sadržaju teksta, a svoja
promišljanja dijele s grupom, odjelom i učiteljem. Instrukcijski pristup odnosi se na poučavanje koje traje duže
vremena i usmjereno je na tri glavne faze u procesu pisanja: planiranje i organizacija sadržaja teksta, sastavljanje
teksta, prepravljanje napisanog. U okviru slobodnog pristupa učenik samostalno stvara tekst tražeći upute od
nastavnika i pomoć od suučenika kada procijeni da mu je potrebno. Model procesnog pisanja uveo je A. H. Dyson
(1992), a prije su ga zastupali D. H. Graves (1982) i D. M. Murray (1985). Pristup je razrađen u okviru radionice
za pisanje u projektu Čitanje i pisanje za kritičko mišljenje i njime se predlaže poučavanje pisanja u pet faza: 1.
priprema (izrada plana i sakupljanje građe), 2. izrada radne verzije, 3. popravljanje 4. uređivanje, 5. objavljivanje
(Steel, Meredith, Temple, 2002). Za realizaciju takvog procesa potrebno je duže razdoblje koje je u uvjetima
razredno-satne organizacije nastave potrebno brižljivo planirati. Cilj poučavanja oblikovanja tekstova i nije da
svi postanu pisci – već da dosegnu najvišu moguću razinu te kompetencije u odnosu na same sebe. Procesni
pristup pisanju u Crnoj Gori primjenjivao se u projektima Korak po korak, Razvoj kritičkog mišljenja (RWCT) i
Kako učenicima pomoći da uspješno stvaraju usmene i pisane, umjetničke i neumjetničke tekstove (Popović, 2013).
610
Croatian Journal of Education, Vol.20; No.2/2018, pages: 585-620
Cilj istraživanja
Istraživanje koje slijedi dio je obimnijeg istraživanja o pisanoj jezičnoj proizvodnji
učenika osnovnih škola u Crnoj Gori7.
7
Šire istraživanje odnosilo se na nastavu pisanog izražavanja u osnovnim školama u Crnoj Gori i ostvareno je
tijekom drugog polugodišta školske 2015./2016. godine. Cilj je bio da se utvrde načini učenja i poučavanja u tom
području u osnovnim školama, kako bi se izdvojile dobre strane, ali i predložili načini za njezino unapređenje.
Pitanja su se odnosila na načine motiviranja učenika za pisano stvaralaštvo, polazišta za tu aktivnost, izbor
teme i naslova, teškoće na koje učenici nailaze, načine na koje predstavljaju svoju pisanu jezičnu proizvodnju,
samoprocjenu sebe kao stvaratelja, kao i na tematiku kojom se u ovom radu bavimo. Koristila se tehnika anketiranja,
a od instrumenata anketni upitnik koji je bio strukturiran od 10 pitanja (dva otvorenog tipa i osam pitanja
višestrukog izbora; kod pet pitanja moguće je bilo dopisati vlastiti stav). Rezultati su se koristili za analizu nastave
pisanog izražavanja i pripremu edukacije nastavnika i nisu objavljeni u cjelini.
611
Popović: Preparing Pupils for Creative Language Production
Metodologija istraživanja
Istraživački uzorak
Osnovni skup istraživanja (šire definiran) činili su svi učenici trećeg ciklusa
osnovne škole (sedmi, osmi i deveti razred) u Crnoj Gori. Iz šireg skupa izdvojili smo
reprezentativni uzorak koji čine učenici trećeg ciklusa iz 14 osnovnih škola, iz sve tri
regije u Crnoj Gori. Iz središnje regije obuhvatili smo škole iz Podgorice (4) i Nikšića
(3), iz sjeverne regije to su škole iz Bijelog Polja (2), Berana (1) i Rožaja (1) i iz južne
regije škole iz Bara (2) i Budve (1). Odabrane škole predstavnice su regionalnih centara,
odnosno općina koje imaju najveći broj škola i učenika. Središnja regija zastupljena je
s najvećim brojem škola proporcionalno broju učenika i škola u tom području (51 od
ukupno 163 osnovne škole u zemlji). U istraživanju je sudjelovalo po 70 predstavnika
sedmog, osmog i devetog razreda, ukupno 210 učenika, od kojih 61,42% ispitanica i
38,57% ispitanika. Prosječna starosna dob tih učenika bila je 13 godina. U svakoj školi
odabrani su predstavnici razreda iz različitih odjela, kao i učenici različitog uspjeha
(odlični, vrlo dobri, dobri, dovoljni) iz predmeta materinski jezik i književnost.
Tablica 1
612
Croatian Journal of Education, Vol.20; No.2/2018, pages: 585-620
razred) učenike uopće privlači, tj. kako je oni rangiraju u odnosu na druge aktivnosti
koje se odvijaju na satima materinskoga jezika i književnosti, zatim koja aktivnost
od ponuđenih učenicima najviše odgovara prilikom pripremanja za izradu pisanoga
sastavka, te koje aktivnosti učitelji zaista provode u razredu kao pripremu za njegovu
izradu.
Rezultati i rasprava
Motiviranost učenika za angažiranje na satima jezika i književnosti i njihovo
promišljanje o sadržajima koji se usvajaju uvjetovano je, između ostalog,
zainteresiranošću za određenu aktivnost. Zato smo, prije svega, istražili koje aktivnosti
učenici trećeg ciklusa preferiraju na satima jezika i književnosti. Ponuđene kategorije
oni su rangirali kako je prikazano na grafikonu 1.
Grafikon 1
Čitanje i analizu književnoumjetničkih tekstova većina učenika rangira veoma
visoko (44,44%). S obzirom na prirodu književnoumjetničkog djela i njegovo svojstvo
da, kao slojevita tvorevina u kojoj se prepleću emocionalni, fantazijski, asocijativni
i misaoni spletovi (Rosandić, 2005), pobuđuje estetski doživljaj, kao i sklonost (ili
naviku!) učitelja da se detaljnije bave književnoumjetničkim tekstovima kao, doskora,
jedinom vrstom teksta na kojoj se, osim ustaljene analize, razvijala strategija čitanja,
razmatrala su se jezična pitanja i savladavalo se gradivo iz područja gramatike i
pravopisa – nije neobično da učenici tu aktivnost u velikoj mjeri odvajaju od ostalih.
Neumjetnički tekstovi rangirani su na posljednjem mjestu (0,65%) iako bi njima, u
skladu s aktualnim programom u Crnoj Gori, trebalo posvetiti priličan broj školskih
sati8, čime želimo istaći stvarnu mogućnost da učenici razumiju i prepoznaju obilježja
i takve jezične upotrebe. To se posebno odnosi na znanstveno-popularne tekstove u
kojima se obrađuju zanimljive teme iz područja prirodnih i društvenih znanosti, i
čitanjem razvija veoma važna kompetencija učenja. Na osnovi tog podatka možemo
8
Predmetni program namijenjen nastavi materinskog jezika i književnosti u Crnoj Gori sastoji se od dvaju
područja: nastave jezika i nastave književnosti. U okviru nastave jezika čitaju se neumjetnički tekstovi različitih vrsta,
stvaraju tekstovi po ugledu na one koji se čitaju (usmeno i pisano izražavanje) i proučavaju gramatika i pravopis.
Nastava književnosti obuhvaća čitanje i interpretaciju književnoumjetničkih tekstova, stvaranje tekstova po ugledu
na one koji se čitaju (usmeno i pisano izražavanje) i usvajanje književnoteorijskih pojmova (u skladu s uzrastom).
U prvom razredu nastavi jezika i nastavi književnosti namijenjeno je po 50% ukupnog broja sati, a od drugog do
devetog razreda nastavi jezika namijenjeno je 60%, a nastavi književnosti 40% od ukupnog broja sati na godišnjoj
razini. U programima su jasno istaknuti ciljevi (2005, 2011) i ishodi (2017) koji se odnose na korake u razvijanju
strategije čitanja neumjetničkih tekstova i navedene su vrste tekstova koje u određenom razredu treba obraditi
(npr. šesti razred, obrazovno-odgojni ishod 2: Na kraju učenja učenik će biti sposoban da nakon slušanja i čitanja
i analize neumjetničkih tekstova izdvoji ključne pojmove i sa njima povezane važne podatke, klasifikuje ih, uporedi i
dopuni, zatim zapamti i koristi u novim situacijama (učenje putem čitanja). Ishodi učenja – tokom učenja učenik će moći
da: s razumijevanjem čita i analizira neumjetničke tekstove; odredi osnovne odlike naučno-popularnih tekstova,
povezanih sa sadržajima drugih predmetnih područja (opis života vršnjaka, igre, zanata, sporta; opis okoline, života
ljudi nekad i sad, događaja u prirodi, biljaka; opis razvoja čovjeka i životinje; opis predmeta, proizvoda, mašina);
odredi temu teksta i njegovu namjenu; usmeno i pisano odgovori na nastavnikova pitanja o sadržaju teksta; iz
teksta izdvaja zahtijevani podatak; iz teksta izdvaja ključne pojmove i s njima povezane važne podatke i unosi ih
u pripremljenu pojmovnu mapu; pojmovi: naučno-popularni tekstovi povezani sa temama iz drugih predmeta.
613
Popović: Preparing Pupils for Creative Language Production
614
Croatian Journal of Education, Vol.20; No.2/2018, pages: 585-620
Čitani tekst u školskoj nastavi oduvijek se koristio kao polazište za učeničku jezičnu
proizvodnju, bilo usmenu bilo pisanu. Postoji mnogo načina da književnoumjetnički
tekst bude učinkovit stimulans u fazi podučavanja učenika za stvaranje vlastitog teksta,
odnosno kreativno pisanje. Pri tome je jako važan način na koji ga mladi čitatelj
aktualizira kao višeznačnu tvorevinu, a osobito je važna uloga učitelja u procesu
razumijevanja svih njegovih sastavnica. Učitelj ostavlja prostor i za one dijelove koje
su učenici sami istaknuli – kao njihov osobni udio i aktivno sudjelovanje u procesu
oblikovanja značenja teksta (Grosman, 2010). Osim razumijevanja teksta, važne
su i vježbe njegova sažimanja i prepričavanja kako bi se uvježbavali oblici jezičnog
izražavanja i uočavala struktura teksta, tj. njegovi osnovni elementi (Bežen i sur., 2012).
Uobičajeno je da se, nakon čitanja i interpretacije određenog djela ili njegova
odlomka, učenicima ponudi nekoliko naslova koji se odnose na tematiku djela,
njegovo mjesto i posebnosti u odnosu na književnopovijesni i književnoteorijski
kontekst i pripadnost. Razmatranja likova i njihovih postupaka, događaja i njihova
slijeda i povezanosti, kao i vrijednosti ideja koje se u djelu pronalaze, otvaraju
višestruka i zanimljiva polazišta za promišljanje o mnogim životno važnim pitanjima
i nedoumicama. Takvi tekstovi ili njihovi dijelovi mogu biti uzor za određeni način
izražavanja – deskripcija, naracija, dijalog i sl. Upoznavanje jezika djela, odnosno
posebnosti stila svakog stvaratelja osobno, također je važna stavka za razumijevanje
sveukupnog utjecaja književnosti na stvaralaštvo učenika. Ne čudi zato što je najveći
postotak učenika najviši rang dao upravo toj mogućnosti pripremanja za vlastitu
proizvodnju pisanoga teksta.
Za razliku od teksta, proizvode neke druge umjetnosti (slike, filmove), kao i sadržaje
drugih predmeta kao polazišta za stvaranje teksta, učenici u najmanjem postotku
visoko rangiraju (7,79%). Očigledno je, međutim, da je i ta vrsta polazišta za stvaranje
posebno inspirativna za prikazani postotak učenika, što, kada je individualizacija u
pitanju, nije beznačajno.
Značajan postotak učenika (12,99%) visoko rangira mogućnost razgovora o
temi u razredu, a izradu plana teksta preferira svega 8,44% učenika. Nizak postotak
namijenjen izradi plana teksta ne mora značiti da ga učenici smatraju nevažnim, već
da u određenom trenutku daju prednost nekim drugim aktivnostima.
Gotovo identičan postotak ističe značaj razgovora o prvoj inačici teksta (14,29%) i
vremena koje stvaratelji imaju na raspolaganju (14, 94%).
Visoko rangirana kategorija (18,18%) jest mogućnost izbora naslova teme, čime se
učenicima otvara mogućnost da pišu o onoj njezinoj dimenziji o kojoj imaju najviše
formiranih stavova, nastalih vlastitim ili posredno stečenim iskustvom (Popović,
Novović, 2016).
Mogućnošću da dopišu kategoriju po svom izboru kod tog pitanja učenici se nisu
koristili.
Nakon što smo dobili informaciju o tome što im posebno odgovara kada je u
pitanju pisanje, željeli smo saznati što se, po njihovoj procjeni, u razredu zaista i
događa. Učenici su imali zadatak da ponuđene aktivnosti pripremanja za pisanje
615
Popović: Preparing Pupils for Creative Language Production
potvde, negiraju ili ih označe kao povremene (grafikon 3). Sudeći po odgovorima
učenika, učitelji provode sve aktivnosti koje smo naveli, pri čemu je provjera i analiza
napisanoga i davanje odgovarajućih smjernica (33,86%) označena kao najčešća.
Ostale aktivnosti zastupljene su u postotcima na sljedeći način: stvaranje teksta o
temama o kojima se prethodno razgovaralo (29,61%), upućivanje u kompoziciju
zadatka (21,82%), vježbanja usklađenosti s potrebama učenika (24,47%) i na kraju
zajednička izrada plana teksta (21,12%). Iako postotci koji pokazuju postojanje
određene aktivnosti u nastavi nisu visoki, povoljna okolnost jest što se u zbroju s
kategorijom „povremeno” uspostavlja određena ravnoteža u smislu njihova postojanja
i nepostojanja.
Grafikon 3
Smatrali smo da je važno učenike pitati je li jedan od načina pripreme za stvaranje
teksta realizacija vježbanja koje oni procjenjuju korisnim, odnosno usuglašenim
s vlastitim potrebama. Pitanje je bilo općeg tipa, pa se moglo odnositi na različite
vrste vježbi: jezične, stilske i pravopisne, razvijanje sposobnosti za različite oblike
izražavanja, oblikovanje zadatka u skladu s osnovnim pravilima i primjena načela9
izrade plana teksta u skladu s uzrastom, zatim valjan izbor riječi i pravilno oblikkovane
rečenice, oblikovanje i razvoj ulomaka i njihovo funkcionalno povezivanje u tkivo
teksta i sl. Učenici procjenjuju da su vježbe koja im učitelji pripremaju usklađene s
njihovim potrebama u postotku manjem od jedne trećine (24,47%), a stajalište da su
povremeno usklađene zastupa 15% učenika. Podatak da 60,53% učenika procjenjuje
da takvih vježbi nema, osim što možemo tumačiti kao da se uopće ne primjenjuju,
možemo pretpostaviti da nisu usklađene s potrebama pojedinaca u različitim školama
i odjelima. U svakom slučaju, takav rezultat obavezuje na promišljanje kada je u pitanju
nastava jezika i književnosti.
Učenici se u sadržaj zadatka, odnosno u temu o kojoj će pisati, uvode različitim
motivacijskim postupcima. Takvi postupci obično su usmjereni na razvijanje
intrinzične motivacije prema ovladavanju (ili iskazivanju) sadržajem govora (Gudelj-
Velaga, 1990). Razgovorom o temi o kojoj će učenici pisati otkriva se građa potrebna za
nastanak teksta i pokreću učeničke emocije, odnosno afektivna dimenzija stvaranja. U
pripremnoj fazi stvaranja važno je krenuti od misaonog obuhvaćanja teme, razmotriti
što učenik zna u vezi s temom, što bi trebao znati i što želi saznati, gdje da nađe
potrebne informacije i građu, te što bi i kako želio o tome pisati (Visinko, 2010).
Poznavanje teme, odnosno sadržaja o kojem treba pisati, bilo da se odnosi na učenikov
osobni ili društveni život, prirodu i zavičaj ili na pročitani književnoumjetnički tekst
(stvaranje metateksta), osnovno je polazište za nastanak učeničkoga sastavka.
Zanimljivo je, stoga, što svega 29,61% učenika priopćuje da se u njihovoj učionici
primjenjuje razgovor o temi prije nego o njoj počnu pisati, 21% učenika smatra da
9
Tri osnovna načela kojih se treba držati prilikom izrade plana teksta: načelo jedinstva, načelo progresije i načelo
ravnomjernosti (Živković, 2001).
616
Croatian Journal of Education, Vol.20; No.2/2018, pages: 585-620
617
Popović: Preparing Pupils for Creative Language Production
618
Croatian Journal of Education, Vol.20; No.2/2018, pages: 585-620
U prilog školskome pisanju koje je, ipak, planirana aktivnost, možemo navesti
i stajalište da se ne mora uvijek čekati nadahnuće da bi se pisalo. „Lakše je naći
inspiraciju dok pišete nego dok ne pišete, pa stoga ne morate nužno biti nadahnuti
da biste sjeli i počeli pisati” (Novaković, 2007, str. 14). Nastajanju i razvoju inspiracije
itekako može doprinijeti učitelj koji kontinuirano primjenjuje sva navedena vježbanja
i onda kada je pisanje na neki način već počelo.
Zaključak
Pozicioniranjem pripremnih aktivnosti za pisanje, procjenom njihove relevantnosti
u odnosu na sebe same, izborom one koja im najviše odgovara i, na kraju, procjenom
u kojoj mjeri u razredu zaista postoje, utvrdili smo da se priprema učenika za
pisanu jezičnu proizvodnju u osnovnim školama uglavnom odvija putem različitih i
svrsishodnih aktivnosti.
Učenici trećeg ciklusa osnovne škole umjereno su zainteresirani za usmenu i pisanu
jezičnu proizvodnju kao aktivnost na satu materinskoga jezika i književnosti. To
možemo objasniti kompleksnošću i zahtjevnošću te aktivnosti, pa je to donekle
i očekivano. Usmenoj i pisanoj jezičnoj proizvodnji oni pretpostavljaju čitanje i
interpretaciju književnoumjetničkih tekstova, pa tu aktivnost visoko pozicioniraju kao
posebnu pripremu za stvaranje vlastitoga teksta. Jasno je, stoga, da navedenu aktivnost
učitelji ostvaruju, no da je neophodno preispitati se kako i koliko, te na koje je sve
načine moguće unaprijediti i tako svrsishodnije iskoristiti tu učeničku motiviranost
književnoumjetničkim tekstom u tom području.
Posebna zainteresiranost učenika za aktivnost gramatičkih i pravopisnih vježbanja
otvara mogućnost kontinuiranog rada na dostizanju standardnoga jezika u školi
i njegovoj korektnoj primjeni u usmenom i pisanom jezičnom izrazu. Iako se, u
skladu s programom, gramatički pojmovi i kategorije proučavaju na neumjetničkih
tekstovima, oni se, također, prepoznaju i analiziraju i na umjetničkim tekstovima
u kojima dobivaju posebna obilježja književnoumjetničkog stila (ekspresivnost,
preneseno značenje i sl.).
Kao važan činitelj stvaralaštva učenici prepoznaju određenu slobodu autora u
smislu iskazivanja vlastite individualnosti odabirom naslova teme u skladu sa svojim
interesima i iskustvima, kao i mogućnošću stvaranja u vremenu duljem od jednoga
školskog sata. Učenici pojedinačne konsultacije o napisanom pretpostavljaju grupnim
(u razredu), pa je nužno osigurati vrijeme i mogućnost za takvu aktivnost. To pokazuje
da je metodičko vođenje tijekom nastanka sastavka od učitelja poželjno i važno na
svim uzrastima u osnovnoj školi.
Učenici u velikom postotku navode da stvaranju tekstova ne prethodi razgovor
o temi o kojoj će se pisati, što može izravno utjecati kako na sam proces stvaranja
(neodgovarajući izbor građe, nefunkcionalan plan teksta i sl.), tako i na konačan
proizvod, tj. tekst (moguća odstupanje od teme, neodgovarajuća kompozicijska
struktura, raspored glavne i sporednih ideja u tekstu, izbor motiva i njihovo razvijanje,
619
Popović: Preparing Pupils for Creative Language Production
likovi, prostor i vrijeme u priči i dr.). Stoga učitelji trebaju analizirati svoju praksu i
utvrditi postojanje ili nepostojanje prethodno spomenute aktivnosti, te preduhitriti
posljedice pravodobnim planiranjem funkcionalnih vježbi.
U proces dugoročne pripreme za pisanje neophodno je uključiti više različitih
vježbi usklađenih s potrebama grupe s kojom učitelj trenutno radi, a koje predlažu
metodičari.
Vještinu oblikovanja teksta potrebno je kontinuirano razvijati uz proširivanje znanja
o prikupljanju određene građe, vrednovanju i izboru prikupljanih podataka, kao i
njihovoj organizaciji, ovisno o uzrastu i individualnim potrebama učenika.
Provjera i analiza napisanog, odnosno procjena i ocjena učeničkih radova, aktivnost
je koju učenici prepoznaju kao najzastupljeniju u procesu pripreme za naredna pisanja.
S obzirom na to da učenici dobivaju konkretne sugestije za svoj rad, navedenu je
aktivnost neophodno primjenjivati i tijekom samog procesa stvaranja (individualne
konsultacije). Provjera i analiza napisanoga važna je aktivnost u procesu podučavanja
pisanja.
U fokusu narednih istraživanja mogu se naći oblici pripreme za stvaranje teksta koje
učenici posebno ističu, kako bi se utvrdio njihov konkretan utjecaj na unapređenje
njihove kreativne jezične proizvodnje. Također, istraživanjem treba obuhvatiti
aktivnosti za koje učenici tvrde da se u njihovim razredima ne ostvaruju, s obzirom
na to da su one elementarne za stjecanje znanja i vještina u području usmenog i
pisanog izražavanja učenika.
620