The rationale for developing this model is based on the idea that the Office of Education sponsored curriculum projects will in the near future produce a considerable number of choices for school districts across the nation. The model is meant to be used to analyze K-12 social studies curricula. It contains questions in four areas: 1) curricular…

Ways in which geographic education lags behind recent developments in the field, as well as conceptual and practical suggestions for bringing it up to date are discussed in this document. Unlike traditional geography, which rested on variations of environmental determinism, a basic interest in man and his spatial reference underlies the concepts…

A set of textbooks used in grades one through six was analyzed to determine the degree of social realism in the books. Results indicated that the selected set of textbooks was socially realistic, reflecting the diversity of cultures that exists in the United States. The texts contained stories that pictured whites, blacks, and other minorities in…

Publishers have responded to calls for more minority characters and females in basal readers, but many of the changes appear superficial. (MKM)

Three elementary social studies texts were examined to determine extent of technical vocabulary and comprehension difficulty. Results of cloze and multiple-choice tests based on reading passages indicated that Mexican-American children had more difficulty than others comprehending the textbook material. (Author/AV)

Explores the influence of textbooks and teaching practices on the self-concept of Chinese, Japanese, and Jewish children during the periods 1880-1920 and 1966-1976. From 1880-1920, Asians were detested and segregated into separate schools in some states. Jews were also considered unassimilable. During the period 1966-76, most textbooks showed only…

Examines the treatment of Native Americans in 34 elementary social studies textbooks on the adopted textbook list in Virginia. Explains how ten basic concepts are covered, what evaluative terms are used to describe Native Americans, and how Native Americans are treated in pictures in the texts. (SB)

It has been customary to simplify texts to increase their readability for young readers. Recent studies suggest that it is the predictability of texts that is the key to their readability and that simplification may actually create problems for the reader. (RBW)

A framework to be used in text selection is set out as a series of questions, divided into five broad groups. The author uses the framework to analyze four texts. (MK)

Presents findings of an examination of the representation of the sexes in an elementary level language textbook used in China. Indicates a lopsided emphasis on males and a tendency to portray women as subordinates. Identifies differences in personal characteristics ascribed to the sexes. Seeks to highlight the issue for the purpose of improving…

Discusses the contributions in each chapter of the book, highlighting the textbook analyses for each arithmetic topic presented. (MDH)

A study examined the content of eight 1989 editions of the major basal reading series--those of Harcourt Brace Jovanovich; D.C. Heath and Co.; Holt Rinehart and Winston; Houghton Mifflin; Macmillan; McGraw-Hill; Scott, Foresman and Co.; and Silver Burdett and Ginn. The study determined how and the extent to which lessons and activities that…

A study investigated the extent to which positive moral values are included in reading and social studies textbooks. Random samples of social studies textbooks (published by Harcourt Brace, D. C. Heath, Scott Foresman, Silver Burdett and Ginn, and McGraw-Hill) and reading textbooks (published by MacMillan/McGraw-Hill, Harcourt Brace, and Houghton…

Fry's Readability Graph was used to determine the readability levels of the 1981 Scott, Foresman and Co. basal textbook series for grades one through six. The readability levels were then compared to those established for the 1978 edition. In the 1981 edition, all stories were handscored. Poems, skill lessons, and plays were not examined in order…

The process of evaluating and selecting basal readers has long been a primary concern for educators. Educators directly involved with textbook adoptions have expressed several concerns, including: time pressures on evaluators; lack of training for evaluators; concerns related to publishers; and correlations with state or district curriculum.…