Prior chemistry education research has demonstrated a relationship between student reading skill and general chemistry course performance. In addition to student characteristics, however, the qualities of the learning materials with which students interact also impact student learning. For example, low-knowledge students benefit from texts that…

This article reports on a principle-based evaluation of eight dedicated extensive reading coursebooks published in mainland China and used in many universities across the country. The aim is to determine the extent to which these coursebooks reflect a core set of nine second language acquisition and extensive reading principles. Our analysis shows…

The importance of the course books in language teaching leads the way to the evaluation of them. Evaluating the teaching materials specially course books can help teachers to understand more about language learning. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate English Results course books which are widely used at Iranian institutes. The focus…

This content analysis study examined 99 basal reading narratives from three publishers: Harcourt, SRA-McGraw Hill, and Scott Foresman. The stories were classified according to the ethnicity of the major characters. The observed frequencies were compared to expected frequencies to indicate over representation, adequate representation or under…

Over the past decade in the United States, levelled texts, or "little books" with finely graduated levelling of text difficulty, have regained their status as a literacy staple for beginning readers. Despite their resurgence, questions remain regarding the reliability and quality of these books. In this study, we conducted a detailed…

Reviews two supplementary series and four new or significantly revised basal reading series: American Readers; Houghton Mifflin Reading Program 1980; Series R: Macmillan Reading; and the Merrill Linguistic Reading Program. A chart compares features of these programs and an index cites other recent reviews of basal series in this magazine. (SJL)

One of the key requirements of the Common Core State Standards for Reading is that all students must be able to comprehend texts of steadily increasing complexity as they progress through school. By the time they complete the core, students must be able to read and comprehend independently and proficiently the kinds of complex texts commonly found…

THIS ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ADULT LITERACY AND BASIC EDUCATION MATERIALS IS DIVIDED INTO THREE STAGES -- INTRODUCTORY (LEVELS 1-3), ELEMENTARY (LEVELS 4-6), AND INTERMEDIATE (LEVELS 7-9). SUBJECT MATTER INCLUDES READING (INCLUDING COMPREHENSION), SPELLING, VOCABULARY AND GRAMMAR, ARITHMETIC, SOCIAL STUDIES, GEOGRAPHY, CITIZENSHIP AND DAILY…

New textbooks, slides, and recordings of interest to the English teacher are reviewed. (SP)

Confirms findings of other studies indicating that textbooks used by college freshmen were in most cases several grade levels above the students' reading abilities. (RB)

Referring to contributions by P. Mohr and H. G. Hoffmann, six authors discuss the problem of the content of textbooks and reading texts. (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)

The Fry Readability Graph was used to determine the validity of the publisher's recommended grade usage for four reading series at the fourth, fifth, and sixth grade levels. Three samples were analyzed from each text, and these results were compared with the publisher's stated grade levels. The majority of the basals investigated had an average…

Lists ten common flaws found in reading workbooks, kits, and other materials and provides examples of each drawn from specific commercially-prepared materials. (TO)

Condensed from "The Reading Teacher, Volume 22 (December 1968), 211-15.

The present article questions the assumption that the prime reason for the study of foreign languages is to develop the ability to cope with literary masterpeices in the original. A novel is written to be enjoyed; part of the enjoyment lies in the relaxation derived from undertaking a satisfying activity. It must be acknowledged, however, that…