THE ROLE OF READING AND WRITING IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION: OVERCOMING CHALLENGES AND PROMOTING THE FORMATION OF CRITICAL AND AUTONOMOUS SUBJECTS

Abstract

This article addresses the importance of reading and writing in elementary education as essential practices for the cognitive, social, and cultural development of individuals. Reading is presented as a tool for accessing knowledge and constructing meaning, while writing is analyzed as a means of expression, communication, and organization of thought. The research discusses the main challenges faced in the literacy process, as well as effective pedagogical practices to stimulate the development of these skills. It can be concluded that reading and writing, when approached in a contextualized and meaningful way, contribute to students' intellectual emancipation and to their conscious integration into society. Through a reflective and observational theoretical approach, the text discusses how these skills complement and strengthen each other in the learning process, highlighting the role of municipal elementary schools, the teacher's role, and the social environment in overcoming challenges and promoting the formation of critical and autonomous individuals as readers and writers. The study also analyzes the challenges faced in the teaching-learning process, such as learning gaps, student demotivation, and ineffective pedagogical practices, and proposes strategies that value students through teacher mediation and the use of active and appropriate methodologies.