The instructional textbooks for history-social science, K-8 grades, recommended for adoption in the state of California are described in this report. The rationales for recommendation of particular texts are provided, as well as those behind the decision not to recommend other materials. A number of special issues dealt with by the adoption…

In the fall of 1984, the Education Commission of the States (ECS) was awarded a grant from the U.S. Secretary of Education's Discretionary Fund to identify alternative state roles for improving instructional materials in mathematics. To help state leaders define an appropriate and effective role in upgrading these materials, ECS proposed first to…

The California State Board of Education is responsible for adopting textbooks and instructional materials for use in kindergarten through grade eight. The purposes of the instructional materials program are to: (1) establish clear standards for the educational and social content of texbooks and instructional materials; (2) evaluate instructional…

The preparation of spelling skills indices, which may be used to describe the spelling content commonly taught in textbooks and the performance modes used to practice this content, is outlined in this paper. Separate sections discuss the preliminary analysis that was performed; the establishment of a Content Index that specifies major categories…

Addresses the problem of the scarcity of instructional materials for teaching Italian and contemporary Italian culture to beginning college students. Looks at current practices and materials. Argues the need for preassessing cultural content of structural materials and suggests some criteria for devising supplementary cultural materials, along…

History and government textbooks provide basic sources of information about the United Nations' (UN's) role in international relations, its programs and activities throughout the world, what it stands for, and what it does. The UN embodies a vision of international cooperation that transcends domestic politics and acts as a worldwide foundation of…

Investigates both the explicit and implicit sociocultural messages conveyed by language textbooks. Twelve Arabic textbooks used in the junior high schools in the Hebrew educational system in Israel were examined. Findings indicate that Arab society is presented in a partial, subjective, and unbalanced manner. (Author/JL)

Demonstrates the following four-stage procedure for adapting foreign-language texts to improve college students' Spanish reading proficiency: selecting specific objectives for each section; selecting the linguistic elements needed to realize objectives; stating the type of control that is expected (conceptual, partial, or full); using appropriate…

Describes a 10-stage process approach to teaching technical students "definition." Includes an assignment that encourages the use of the defining process. Discusses advantages of the approach. (PRA)

Contends that the standard description of the relationship between the long-run marginal cost curve and the short-run marginal cost curve is often misleading and imprecise. Asserts that a sampling of college-level textbooks confirms this confusion. Provides a definition and instructional strategy that can be used to promote student understanding…

Determines the extent physics textbooks contribute to physics teaching objectives and knowledge acquisition in Libya. Analysis of seventh- through ninth-grade physics textbooks and cognitive demand shows a limited effect of textbook content on knowledge acquisition and educational objectives. Suggestions are made for promoting the acquisition of…

Examines the growing influence and developments of other country's mathematics education and reform efforts on U.S. efforts at improving mathematics education. Specifically, it discusses those reform efforts and materials currently in use in the United States that were guided by research and reform in the Netherlands. (GR)

A project is described which was carried out among Unesco member nations from 1971 to 1974 to investigate multilateral arrangements for the review of high school textbooks in the fields of history, geography, and social studies. Objectives of the project were to provide publishers with feedback about the potential of their textbooks to promote…

Describes "A Guide to Selecting Basal Reading Programs," which was developed to help textbook adoption committees select basal reading texts in elementary schools. Topics discussed include development of booklets that describe various aspects of reading instruction and the role of the guidelines in improving the quality of basal reading…

Faculty members can facilitate student learning by acting as a committee to evaluate formally the available textbooks and development guidelines for their use. Committee members must review the course objectives and the role that textbooks are to play in the course. (MLW)