For what benefit? Grammar teaching materials in upper primary Danish L1

Abstract

This article contributes new insights into grammar teaching in Danish L1 by examining the three most frequently used learning materials concerned with grammar in upper primary school in Danish L1. An analysis of the why, what and how in the three materials shows that they state a prescriptive purpose, pay particular attention to spelling and punctuation rules, and suggest a repetitive grammar teaching approach. The analysis also shows that recent pedagogical trends such as process writing and genre pedagogy are not reflected in these popular upper primary Danish L1 grammar teaching materials. Thus, the article sheds light on an under-researched content area in L1 education in Denmark, and it aims to contribute to a qualified debate about the role of grammar teaching and grammar teaching materials in L1 education, in dialogue with existing empirical research.