This report is intended to be used as a tool to aid educators in selecting basic instructional materials that are best suited to their elementary social studies curricula and, especially, to the teachers and learners who will use them. In all, this volume contains comprehensive analyses of ten social studies programs now on the market that…

Presents guidelines for evaluating computer trade books for children. Includes results for 47 books evaluated using the "Yawn index." (HTH)

Examined the number and types of classroom writing experiences in which elementary teachers and children in grades one, three, and five were engaged. Two major influences on instructional practices also were analyzed: teachers' perceptions of writing instruction and textbook guidelines. (DST)

Readability formulas typically yield results stated as a number or grade equivalent. However, results of one formula may not be compared to another because formulas use different criteria to measure readability. A description of eight popular formulas illustrate this point. Suggests that other factors be considered when selecting reading…

Stresses the importance of recognizing bias in written language (often referred to as critical thinking/reading) and suggests activities to help elementary school social studies teachers improve their bias recognition skills. A multiple choice quiz is presented in which teachers are directed to analyze bias in quotations from newspapers and social…

A perusal of seven elementary mathematics textbooks published in the 1870's indicates "the metric system seems to have been riding a crest of popularity--at least among textbook authors--at the end of the 1870s." (MK)

Compares textbooks in England with those in Switzerland and Germany termed "continental" in order to assess the possibility that better textbooks might raise English schooling performance in mathematics. Differences include introducing calculators in primary school, which is regarded as risky by Continental educators, and the precedence of mental…

Investigates whether analogical reasoning is included in four major basal reading series and, if so, the nature of such instruction. Finds that three of the four series examined taught analogical reasoning directly, but that the nature and extent of each series' instructional recommendations varied widely. (RS/JAD)

A review of existing K-8 science curriculum materials, carried out under the National Science Curriculum Project for High-Ability Learners, found that existing basal textbooks fail to meet new science curriculum standards for all students but particularly for high-ability learners. Modular programs and supplementary materials were generally…

Focuses on books, booklets, and position papers that would be useful reading for educators involved in making decisions about selecting materials for schools. Discusses guidelines for judging and selecting textbooks and studies and readings on textbooks. (PRA)

Thirty-two mathematics programs are described and evaluated in a standard format that permits comparison of the instructional design of the products. (MLF)

The evaluation and selection of basal reading materials should be a thorough process that ensure the success of the school's reading program. The ten areas of a basal series that should be made priorities, weighted, and evaluated include the skills programs, composition and readability, concepts, balance, literary value, testing program, teacher's…

This booklet is comprised primarily of the summaries of computerized readability assessments of sample passages from each story or chapter in a reading textbook series for grades one through eight. Introductory chapters offer discussions of the computerized readability assessment program used, the various uses of readability information about a…

Major investigations have shown that children care little for social studies as a school subject. Therefore, a closer look was taken at social studies textbooks in order to ascertain if the reading difficulty of the texts was an important cause behind the children's dislike. This study evaluated the reading levels of 41 social studies texts…