The purpose of this unit of work is to provide the teacher participant with some useful guidelines for evaluating and adapting written materials for specific English as a second language (ESL) classes. There is pre- and post-assessment of specific learning tasks relevant to evaluating and adapting materials as well as learning activities, which…

The purpose of this book is to chart procedures for the selection and purchase of instructional materials and related services for the public schools. Recent developments cited as having a significant bearing on the selection process are (1) the struggle of minority groups toward new status; (2) the increased political power of parents, students,…

The discrepancies between science and creationism are reflected in curriculum controversies. Students should be free to choose which theory they like, according to the creationists who view Darwinian science as incompatible with absolute moral values. (DS)

In order to derive the greatest benefit from French texts, instruction should be in three phases: Discovering the text and collecting information; sorting and practicing language items; integrating old and new vocabulary and language. Examples of discussion and test questions relating to certain texts are included. (CHK)

Publishers are compelled by public policies and practices to produce textbooks that confuse students with non sequiturs, mislead them with misinformation, and bore them with pointlessly arid writing. Recommendations for textbook policy are proposed. (BJV)

Describes components of new elementary and secondary school textbook packages and reviews criteria for evaluating textbooks. Topics discussed include the development of teaching aids; curricular considerations; evaluating content-area textbooks; the whole language approach to instruction; and the role of librarians and media specialists in subject…

Describes reading-textbook evaluation and selection processes and argues that improved basal readers are likely to be developed if textbook adoption procedures improve. States that basal reader evaluation criteria and procedures should be developed and applied by those professionals most directly responsible for the teaching of reading. (Author/NH)

Provides various definitions of censorship; describes a case of censorship in New Brunswick, Canada; explains what happens to materials that have been challenged; and provides a challenged materials policy and a list of books that have been challenged in Canada. (SRT)

Study showed that undergraduate psychology teachers are actively involved in fashioning the discipline by selecting that which is taught. Teacher and institutional characteristics play an important part in determining the selection factors which affect what constitutes conceptual tradition in the field. (RM)

An analysis of a random sample of first- and second-year Spanish textbooks reveals that language textbooks fall short of achieving the affective goals learners and teachers value most, the aspect of culture that focuses on philosophical perspectives involving meaning, value, attitudes, and ideas. Moreover, most textbooks treat culture as products…

This case study of three content area teachers in one middle school and two high schools examined their use of multiple texts in the classroom. The teachers represented three content areas: physics, history, and English. Data were collected via surveys, e-mail exchanges, participant observations, field notes, and semistructured interviews. Data…

A survey of social studies professors in Australian colleges and universities showed that curriculum materials analysis is not a major emphasis in elementary methods courses. (RM)

Topics include: (1) the content, style, and level of physics' textbooks; (2) suggestions for in-class use; and (3) recommendations for upgrading current texts. (SK)

Vocational agriculture teachers can assist the poor reader by matching the reading ability of the student with the reading level of the textbook or reference. There are a variety of methods for rating the reading level of printed subject matter, and through their use teaching effectiveness can be increased. (LRA)

Argues that, as a matter of constitutional law, public school boards of education do not possess unrestricted authority to exclude material from the curriculum on the basis of ideological content, and explores the rights of students and parents to challenge such exclusions. Available from Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review, Harvard…