Centre for Research in Language and Literacy news archive 2017-2021
![](/media/universityofexeter/collegeofsocialsciencesandinternationalstudies/education/research/centres/writing/languages-group-16_9sml.jpg)
Debra Myhill attends first 'face to face' meeting of Languages Project group
Researchers met at the University of Oslo and it provided an opportunity to plan and discuss the way forward for the project.
'Parents, don’t worry if your child knows more about grammar than you do'
Debra Myhill's opinion piece in The Guardian.
![](/media/universityofexeter/newsarchive/researchgeneral/featurebox/web_Parents_questionnaire_feat_218x115.jpg)
Talking about grammar is a crucial tool in literacy teaching, study shows
Discussion between teachers and children about writing is a crucial tool to help pupils learn about grammar, a new study shows.
![](/media/universityofexeter/newsarchive/researchgeneral/featurebox/web_grammar_feat_218x115.jpg)
Natural world and fantasy helps young children use sophisticated language, study shows
The natural world and fantasy helps young children use sophisticated words such as “slithering” and “abracadabra”, one of the largest studies to measure pupils’ language skills has found.
![](/media/universityofexeter/newsarchive/researchgeneral/featurebox/web_Grammar_teaching__feat_218x115.jpg)
Grammar teaching leaves children confused, research shows
Children can be left confused and unable to write accurate sentences because of “uncertain” grammar teaching, experts have warned. But confident teachers can enable students to use their grammar knowledge to help them craft and create their writing and positively support children’s development as writers.
![](/media/universityofexeter/newsarchive/researchgeneral/featurebox/web_Teacher_Writing_feat_218x115.jpg)
New study to develop teachers’ skills as creative writers
Experts will help teachers develop their own skills as creative writers so they can help boost children’s confidence in writing.
![](/media/universityofexeter/newsarchive/researchgeneral/featurebox/web_girl_writing_feat_218x115.jpg)
Biggest ever archive of children’s writing created to help experts assess language skills
Experts will collect the most extensive archive to date of children’s school work as part of a major project seeking to track how the way they use language changes as they get older.