Calls for new textbooks to teach Russian literature. Complains of inappropriate wording for young people, officious and boring content, and a lack of humanistic themes in existing textbooks. Suggests that a text be compiled from among the best literary and critical articles to develop in students a love and understanding of literature. (DK)

Analysis of the cultural content of 12 business French texts identified 3 distinct levels: economic or basic-level culture; socioeconomic or second-level culture; and patterns-of-living or third-level culture. The importance of addressing both language and culture in such texts is discussed. (20 references) (CB)

Researchers examined whether there were differences in the way elementary history textbook and trade book passages were structured. Analyses of text structure in topic-similar passages from both types of books indicated trade books were more comprehensible than history textbooks by being better structured and more coherent. (SM)

Describes an approach, called "Questioning the Author," that is targeted toward getting young readers to engage with their textbooks--to really consider ideas deeply. Notes that the approach attempts to actualize the presence of an author, understand the author as a fallible transmitter of ideas, and transform author's ideas into readers' ideas.…

Compares a content analysis of 60 college introductory psychology textbooks published or revised between 1969 and 1975 with another analysis of 52 texts published or revised between 1980 and 1989. Finds recent texts more voluminous and more comprehensive, yet more readable than their predecessors. (CFR)

Describes the development of a course to teach undergraduates the historian's craft through the use of short, provocative books. Lists the books used in the course and how they were used. Discusses student writing assignments using archival materials that allow students to put their learning into practice. (DSK)

Debates points raised by S. G. Grant and Kathryn Tzetzo in their critique of the authors'"Handbook on Teaching Social Education," particularly claims that the book gives mixed messages to teachers regarding content, teaching methods, and the definition of issues-centered education, and that it leaves related questions unanswered. (DSK)

Analyzes three popular series of primary textbooks to provide a picture of how the current curriculum contributes to the roles of establishing proficiency in arithmetic and proceptual thinking as a foundation for learning algebra. Shows that textbooks emphasize procedural knowledge and neglect developing a conceptual understanding of mathematics.…

Describes the results of an analysis of Spanish high school chemistry textbooks (n=58) published from 1974 to 1998 for their treatment of metallic bonding. Reports on what aspects of metallic bonding are usually taught, how it is taught, and the potential that textbooks have to create meaningful learning in students. Contains 104 references.…

Investigated Ethiopia's secondary physical sciences curriculum, emphasizing practical work and describing intentions and realizations of the science curriculum in terms of that intended by policymakers and curriculum developers and that implemented by science teachers. Data from interviews, observations, and document analyses indicated that the…

Summarizes research for teaching writing to students with learning problems. Develops, from the literature review, a checklist of instructional features and uses of the checklist to examine two fifth-grade basal textbooks. Concludes by recommending modifications: add modeling to the instruction, make parts of the instruction more explicitly…

Reports on a content analysis of data graphs in introductory level and upper level psychology textbooks. Explains that upper level and introductory textbooks did not differ on the frequency and variability of data graph presentation. Presents the results and discusses implications for teachers of psychology. (CMK)

Reports on a study that involves the analysis of chemistry textbooks at the college freshman level to determine the degree to which they address developments in the history and philosophy of science. Twenty-three textbooks were evaluated on eight criteria. Contains 108 references. (DDR)

An examination and comparison of reading materials intended for elementary and intermediate Italian second-language instruction looks at these aspects: the role of the "ancillary" reader in language instruction; selecting readers that facilitate achievement of the Standards of Foreign Language Learning; the dichotomy between literary and cultural…

Investigates the portrayal of disability in 25 introductory sociology textbooks that were published between 1996 and 1998. Focuses on textual representation and pictorial depiction of individuals with disabilities using content analysis. Reveals that the textbooks provide a limited amount of information on disability. (CMK)