• Teacher examination at the University of Cologne and Hamburg (1966)
• Doctor of philosophy, University Hamburg, Germany (1969)
• 1969 – 1975 Assistent at the University of Hamburg, Germany
• 1975 – 1981 Professor of Preschool Education at the Pedagogical University of Berlin, Germany
• 1981 – 1992 Professor of Education at Freie Universität (FU) Berlin, Germany
• 1992 – 2008 Professor of Primary-School Education at Humboldt University (HU) of Berlin, Germany

Distinctions and Awards

• William S. Gray Citation of Merit Award from the International Reading Association, 2005
• Inducted into the “Reading Hall of Fame”, 2000
• Reading Research Fellowship Award from the International Reading Association, 1974