Reviews 38 recent texts, supplements, kits, and professional references for teaching about China. Special sections are devoted to folk literature, cultural activities (games, songs, fine arts), and young adult reading. A directory of Asian Resource Centers is included. One of several articles on China studies in this issue. (SJL)

Reviewed are 23 texts, kits, programs, and supplements on health education for the secondary grades. Special sections are devoted to running and jogging, drug education, and athletic fitness. (SJL)

Issues of concern in the area of teaching health education are outlined including the need for clear definitions of terms in health education, the choice and use of classroom materials, and recognition of the limitations of available resources. (JMF)

Instructional materials are a powerful mechanism for providing students with a vision of what is important in the world around them. Examines the ways that women have been stereotyped in instructional materials and suggests evaluation criteria for preventing use of stereotyped textbooks. (Author/RK)

Presented is a detailed look at some published materials showing the widespread nature of the misuse of genetics terminology. Suggests that similar problems can be found in any genetics text. Concludes with a plan for urgent action and suggestions for improvement. (Author/CW)

Discusses teaching about Christopher Columbus and the contact between the Americas and the Old World. Suggests that most history texts are correct in the information they include but leave much out. Describes a museum exhibit focusing on disease, corn, the potato, the horse, and sugar as agents of change resulting from the Columbian contact. (DK)

Presents results from an evaluation of several textbooks used in secondary and postsecondary technology education programs. Evaluation criteria included readability scores (grade level equivalencies), human interest, and writing style. A table depicts the results for 15 widely used textbooks. (AEF)

This report offers a critique, from a linguistic viewpoint of the approach to grammatical description and prescription found in commonly used Australian school textbooks in 1987. Attention was directed solely towards grammatical content. A review of 41 primary and secondary level texts was conducted. All texts were published in Australia, and all…

This document describes in detail the processes by which curriculum frameworks are developed and instructional materials are evaluated and recommended for adoption at the state level in California. The document is organized around two major processes--the process of curriculum framework development at the state level and the process for the…

A study investigated the use of verbo-visual content in geography textbooks of various countries. Secondary school geography textbooks from Australia, Greece, Japan, Sweden, and the United States were examined. For each of the selected books, empirical data about the amount of texts, pictures, maps, and tables was gathered; contents were assessed;…

The characteristics and components of scientific literacy are reviewed and analyzed in this report. Perspectives are given on textbook use, content, emphases and applications of the dimensions of scientific literacy. The distinctive features of the curriculum reform projects of the l960's and l970's are also discussed and their impacts are…

Although there are many college freshman writing textbooks on the market, the selection of a textbook can be made simpler by following a number of guidelines. Teachers should examine textbooks they consider using to make certain the books contain the following elements: (1) appropriate readability for users; (2) textual features, such as self-help…

The purpose of this booklet is to assist local schools in making thorough assessments of instructional materials for textbook adoption. The booklet contains a checklist for evaluating instructional materials, a checklist summary sheet, and an appendix explaining readability analyses. The checklist is divided into eight sections: physical features…

Teachers of all subjects at all levels are constantly searching for helpful new materials, and many corporations and special interest organizations have responded by preparing and distributing free or low-cost materials for "educational" purposes. However, a teacher should preview such materials carefully before using them to determine whether…