Outlines methods for teaching social psychology in an interdisciplinary one-semester course. Stresses teaching theoretical perspectives, methods, and concepts. Makes suggestions for classroom application, reviews instructional materials, and suggests students participate in an experiment, survey, or observation study as a basis for discussion.…

Discusses the strengths and weaknesses of Middle Eastern history textbooks appropriate for college instruction. Reviews the textbooks in terms of coverage, how current is the information, and style and content. Provides a wealth of background information. (MJP)

This qualitative study is a two-part analysis of first year algebra textbooks adopted for use in South Carolina. Part 1 examines the five books selected in the 1984 adoption. This comparison of first year algebra textbooks examined: (1) whether the textbook authors had adjusted the traditional context of math texts at this level to reflect…

A study investigated the content of commonly-used English-as-a-Second-Language textbooks used in Japanese nursing education and compared this information with the expressed language needs of nursing students. Seven English textbooks analyzed, all aimed at nursing students, presented instrumental language based on a situational approach to English…

Five current social studies methods textbooks were examined to determine how writing and literature are presented to prospective teachers. The results of the examination show that only one of the methods textbooks offered a positive and informative explanation of how literature can be used to learn the social studies. Three of the textbooks were…

Reflecting a collaboration in terms of content areas, levels, and audience, this volume represents the efforts of science teachers and reading teachers to understand and help one another fine tune their craft. Chapters in the volume include: (1) "Metacognition, Reading and Science Education" (Linda Baker); (2) "Science and Reading:…

This bibliographic essay and research review investigates four areas: (1) the characteristics of elementary writing instruction prior to the 80s; (2) the factors which changed writing instruction in the 80s; (3) the characteristics of elementary writing instruction in the 80s: and (4) the place of elementary and pre/in-service textbooks in the…

To determine the factors accounting for children's growth in decoding skill, a study examined school entering characteristics--age, sex, ethnicity, and developmental abilities--and school-influenced skills and characteristics--phonemic awareness, letter-name knowledge, basal text, and place in series--of approximately 100 grade one students.…

The Kanawha County textbook controversy of 1974 sparked profound changes in the American political landscape and American education. The roots of this controversy go back to the 1960's, when drug use, women's liberation, violence, and sex education convinced conservatives that America was in moral decline. Parents in Kanawha County fingered school…

Ten essays discuss federal democracy, the form of government of the United States. The first essay discusses the origins of American federalism. The second examines why we have a federal system, the functions federalism serves, and the consequences of federalism for the American political system. Federalism in the Constitution and constitutional…

The ten articles in this volume focus on the challenges of reading in the 1980s. Specific topics discussed in the articles include (1) the freely selected books of fourth and sixth grade students, (2) a student author project that served to integrate the language arts, (3) communication apprehension and its implications for communication…

Extracts from a journal kept by a French-speaking adult student in an intensive German language class are presented here. It is a critique of the audio-visual method, texts, teaching techniques, and students' reactions during the two parts of the course at the University of Berne. The extracts deal particularly with a comparison of the texts used…

Conference participants, who are members in the 14 federally funded Instructional Materials Centers and the Council for Exceptional Children-Educational Resources Information Center, present papers on instructional materials. George M. Olshin discusses the challenge and opportunity of evaluation, Richard A. Dershimer speaks on evaluation and…

Results of a survey of 234 schools, placing special emphasis on the role of linguistics and the recommendations of linguists in their language programs, are presented. A questionnaire gathered information on the number of class meetings per week, the length of class time, the number of students per section, and whether class materials were…

LIBRARIANS AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS MUST LEARN TO UNDERSTAND CENSORSHIP ATTEMPTS AND THE METHODS OF OPPOSING THEM. CENSORSHIP GROUPS, THROUGH LIMITING ACCESS TO PARTICULAR WORKS, AIM AT UPHOLDING WHAT THEY FEEL ARE THE TRUE AMERICAN VALUES. THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF CENSORSHIP IS UNCERTAIN, AND THE PREMISE UNDERLYING LEGAL CENSORSHIP--THAT READING…