Daniela Merklinger

Daniela Merklinger is Professor of German Didactics in Primary School at the University of Erfurt's Faculty of Education. She holds a professorship specifically focused on German language instruction in primary education settings and maintains an active research and publication profile in literacy development, writing instruction, and multilingual education.

Her research interests center on German didactics in primary school contexts, with particular emphasis on literacy development, writing instruction through dictation methods, literary learning, and multilingual education. Merklinger explores how children develop writing skills, particularly through innovative approaches like dictation, and investigates dialogic teaching methods that facilitate language acquisition and literary understanding in diverse classroom settings.

Her recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on practical applications of educational theory in primary classrooms, with a growing emphasis on multilingualism and inclusive education practices. The research trajectory shows progression from foundational work on writing development to more complex investigations of dialogic teaching, classroom observation techniques, and responses to contemporary educational challenges like migration and linguistic diversity.

Merklinger actively contributes to academic discourse through numerous publications including monographs, edited volumes, and journal articles in prominent German educational journals such as Die Grundschulzeitschrift and Grundschule Deutsch. Her work frequently appears in special issues she co-edits, demonstrating leadership in shaping discussions around primary education topics.

As an educator and researcher, Merklinger emphasizes practical classroom applications of educational theory, with particular attention to observation techniques, dialogic teaching methods, and inclusive approaches to language instruction that accommodate diverse learners in contemporary primary school settings.