The three major Latin textbooks published since 1968 are analyzed and they are shown to employ the latest theories of learning and of second language acquistion. (CK)

A study assessed the relationship between formal main idea statements in text and substantive material that students need to understand the key concepts in textbooks. The study addressed two questions: (1) What percentage of textbook paragraphs contains material important for understanding major textbook concepts? and (2) How important are formal…

The purpose of this study was to identify the earth science principles pertinent to current programs in general education at the junior high level, and to determine whether selected textbooks provide adequate representation of those principles. There were 121 principles identified as being essential to the understanding of these five earth science…

With the growing shortage of time and money for writing new textbooks, particularly in the seldom-taught languages, there is a premium on making effective use of what already exists. A teacher has a choice, not only of accepting or rejecting materials, but adapting or rewriting them. (The fourth possibility is often viewed both as unjustifiably…

The author suggests that quality selection of textbooks at the local level is more likely to occur when: (1) administrators involve teachers, subject-matter specialists, and others in the selection process; (2) these individuals comprise a committee which makes a regular, continuing study of textbooks; (3) they consider using materials recently…

The analyses of 31 social studies materials are based on the way the developers have dealt with the intents of the products, the organization of the contents of the products, the methodology for the use of each product, and the means of evaluation of learning that each product provides. (Author)

Aspects of textbooks' readability are discussed and some recommendations are made. The results of applying three readability tests to 13 current textbooks are presented. (Author/BB)

This article reviews the Exploring Science elementary series by Laidlaw Brothers. Evaluation is on the basis of content, format, program features, student evaluation, and teachers' edition. The program is a blend of traditional and new hands-on activities. Emphasis is more content than process oriented, especially in the upper grades. (Author/MA)

Describes that little evaluation is conducted by most textbook publishers. Suggestions for ensuring the availability of quality mathematics textbooks are given. (MNS)

Intended for the K-12 teacher wishing to incorporate study of the People's Republic of China into the curriculum, this article cites new instructional resources, discusses changing perspectives in textbooks and suggests guidelines for evaluating materials on China. It is one of several articles in this issue on China studies. (SJL)

Notes the different approaches to teaching theory found in a survey of 84 journalism and mass communication instructors. Provides a list of reviews of the 55 texts and four articles most often cited in the survey. (RL)

Argues that the original Degrees of Reading Power (DRP) test scores indicated large mismatches between the average difficulty of the textbooks used in each grade and the average ability of students in that grade. Presents a rescaling procedure to provide new, valid DRP test scores and grade equivalent scores for selecting instructional materials.…

This brief article summarizes a review of 19 textbooks to teach braille to blind adults. The review covered four parameters: general information, text organization, the braille code, and instructional characteristics. (DB)