This publication contains guidelines and suggestions to assist teachers of English as a second language in conducting programs that are oriented toward Americanization and literacy. (It is particularly directed toward those newly assigned teachers who do not have a background in teaching English as a second language.) The authors present points to…

This bibliography lists and evaluates some of the current and readily available sources of information that might be of use to the student and/or the teacher of an introductory film course. Although not all of the books being considered were designed for use at the introductory level, they are evaluated with regard to their suitability for a…

Alternatives for working within a regionally adopted framework for selecting an elementary school science program are considered in this paper. The alternatives are ranked on a scale from 0 to 5 in increasing levels of modifying a set instructional pattern: Level 0, typified by indifference to any consistent program in science; Level 1, a complete…

Examines validity of claims made for the Mannheim Rating (of teaching texts for German as a foreign language), as well as its criteria for judging textbooks. The nonexistence of a comprehensive grammar of contemporary German makes it difficult to discuss grammar; therefore, some ratings are seen as too harsh. (IFS/WGA)

Presents a summary review of 36 introductory college level astronomy textbooks for nonscience majors. References to more detailed reviews published elsewhere are provided where they exist. (SL)

Presents an annotated bibliography of new editions of writing textbooks for 1987-88. Classifies textbooks as developmental, freshman, advanced, and professional. (JK)

Compares professors' ratings of the pedagogical quality of 43 introductory psychology texts with measures of 29 objective features such as manuscript length and number of references. Regression analysis showed that the 29 features predicted substantial portions of the variance in the professors' ratings. States that the comparative data may be…

School districts should identify those whom new textbooks will affect--including teachers, students, administrators, and support personnel--and determine the needs of each, then negotiate a legally binding service guarantee with the textbook publisher to ensure that services and materials will be provided to meet the determined needs. (PGD)

How content analysis schemes which focus on inquiry can be used by science teachers in the selection of science textbooks is discussed. The meanings of the concept inquiry are clarified, and why inquiry should be a major concern of science educators is explained. (RM)

The author focuses on two areas of textbook evaluation: the appropriateness of content for the course for which it is intended and the effectiveness of the book's content organization or layout as a stimulus to student interest and learning. She discusses the table of contents, introductory paragraphs, photographs and diagrams, and terminology.…

Examines the quality of basal readers and textbooks, discusses some of the forces affecting textbook quality and selection, and offers suggestions for coping with less-than-adequate reading materials. (FL)

The "skills trace" is a textbook evaluation process by which an evaluator isolates one skill and reads every reference listed in the index of the teacher's manual. The evaluator then observes how that skill is introduced, taught, practiced, and tested throughout the grades. (Author/DCS)

Presents guidelines for use in examining the comprehensibility of a textbook, questions to ask about the book, and suggestions for using the guide questions. (FL)

A checklist of procedural guidelines for selecting new and replacement textbooks, films, tapes, kits, anthologies, and other instructional materials. (DD)