The theory and practice of political science and social studies instruction should be reformulated and reassessed in the light of political socialization studies, particularly with respect to designing curricula and selecting textbooks, planning instructional strategies, and structuring school climates and political systems. (RM)

Claims that teaching reading is one of the responsibilities of social studies teachers and suggests that teachers can incorporate reading into their regular instruction by knowing reading levels of student and textbooks, providing supplementary reading materials, and working with reading specialists. Journal available from The Social Studies…

This article describes textbook adaptations for special needs students. The article offers suggestions for detecting the compatibility of the textbook with students' reading and interest levels and presents four categories of adaptations: substitute the textbook, simplify the textbook, highlight key concepts in the textbook, and structure…

Proposing two major shifts in how to involve low readers more effectively in textbook learning, this book suggests that students, even those with low reading skills, can learn to use mainstream textbooks, and that textbooks can be designed to make them more usable for all students. The book presents a series of instructional techniques that…

This paper explains that materials on the teaching of Latin-American literature are sparse, even though most researchers in the field will dedicate much of their time to teaching. The paper adds that, in scholarly journals, little attention is given to teaching literature, and the topic is also absent from most academic congresses. The paper then…

The three papers collected in this document present opinions for and against the use of anthologies in introductory writing and literature classes at community colleges. The first paper, "College Students Must Read Book-Length Works," by Dallas E. Dillon, proposes that students, even non-traditional community college students, should be pushed to…

TENES is the acronym for Teaching English to Non-English Speakers. (RS)

This article reflects on others serialized in the same publication and the general call for a scientific pedagogy in curriculum development around the field of learning disabilities. Curriculum design, textbook adoption processes, and ongoing curriculum alignment are discussed in terms of scientific pedagogy in general and sameness analysis in…

A study involving 81 eighth-graders found that those who used a conceptually organized (C-O) history textbook which presented content more conceptually and also provided multiple means to assist student's learning of history information, did significantly better on multiple choice questions than did students using a topically organized textbook.…

The purpose of this newsletter, published six times yearly during Western Michigan University's (WMU) fall and winter semesters, is to provide a forum for the exchange of information about instruction at the university. The first of six issues collected here looks at the contribution and role of adjunct professors. This issue includes a list of…

The prevalence of sex role stereotyping in school readers, textbooks, workbooks, and reading materials used from kindergarten through college must first be recognized by students and teachers as well as by authors, illustrators, and publishers. Teachers should then work to foster environments and experiences in which females and males are equally…

Use of texts to improve language skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing at the intermediate level is discussed. Text selection is explained, and the use of several reading and writing exercises outlined. (CHK)

Asserts that most English departments are product oriented in their hiring and faculty evaluation, therefore the slow transition from product to process oriented writing instruction is not surprising. (SRT)