This booklet shows teachers and administrators how their school districts can use the Reading Authority List of the Reading Information System I (I-RIS), an analytic process for making decisions about language arts curriculum materials. Following an outline of I-RIS, pages of the Reading Authority List are accompanied by guidelines for using the…

Serving as an introduction, this module is the first in a series of twelve modules designed to provide guidelines for evaluating recource materials and compiling creative strategies to promote sex equity in vocational technical education classrooms and in out-of-school learning experiences. This introductory module explains what a teacher can do…

Describes components of new elementary and secondary school textbook packages and reviews criteria for evaluating textbooks. Topics discussed include the development of teaching aids; curricular considerations; evaluating content-area textbooks; the whole language approach to instruction; and the role of librarians and media specialists in subject…

Describes reading-textbook evaluation and selection processes and argues that improved basal readers are likely to be developed if textbook adoption procedures improve. States that basal reader evaluation criteria and procedures should be developed and applied by those professionals most directly responsible for the teaching of reading. (Author/NH)

In response to the need for a system of control over the academic quality of distance education texts, this article proposes a methodological model based on criteria that evaluate written materials based on their instructional quality, design, and production. A discussion and figures evaluate educational aspects of content, communication,…

Describes the processes and techniques used to assist a suburban, lower-middle socioeconomic community's school system plan strategies to improve its students' proficiency test scores. Techniques included content analyses of the system's textbooks, the Graded Course of Study, and standardized tests for grades four, six, and eight in comparison…

This book is the third book in a series which comprise "14-19 Strategic Planning: A Practical Handbook for Schools, Colleges and their Partners". The first two books were "Broadening the 14-19 Curriculum" and "Developments in 14-19 Teaching and Learning". The main purpose of series is to present a summary for managers…

This collection of materials is designed to assist Indiana educators, administrators, and communities with the textbook selection process. Criteria for making such selections is outlined in the following articles: (1) "Laws, Rules, and Guidelines for Teaching Social Studies in Indiana" (Victor A. Smith); (2) "Indiana's Recommended…

Background, rationale, and promising practices for teaching about science-related social issues in the science and social studies classroom are presented. Material is divided into five sections, each introduced with a topical question. The first section considers the challenges associated with the pervasive influences of science and technology in…

This guide contains information and suggestions to help teachers review and evaluate textbooks and other materials for stereotypes, inaccuracies, omissions, and bias about American Indians and other Native Americans. Guidelines are presented to raise the awareness of educators and publishers about Native heritage, culture, and contemporary issues.…

High school biology content was rewritten in an attempt to reduce reading difficulties for students (N=265). After four weeks of use of reduced readability materials, no significant differences in achievement were apparent. (PB)

After reviewing criticisms of the exclusive use of readability formulas to evaluate text difficulty and describing successful efforts to broaden the traditional readability formula approach, this report presents a 20 item checklist for determining text comprehensibility based on four criteria: (1) specific objectives or outcomes expected from the…

A system for the analysis of elementary school science teacher's guides and other program materials is described. The system, which can be used with either textbook-based or activity-based programs, produces a detailed step-by-step account of "What the classroom would be like if the teacher followed the recommendations in the teacher's guide…

This second in a series of twelve modules presents sex equity guidelines for use in evaluating vocational and technical education print and non-print instructional media. The guidelines are separated into three categories: art, language, and content. The specific guidelines included within each category are illustrated using examples from various…

This revision of the 1996 publication is a tool for identifying promising drug prevention programs. This booklet is designed to help teachers, school principals, and concerned citizens determine how to spend scarce prevention dollars. Many parents assume that school prevention programs will protect their children from drugs; the information…