Describes "A Guide to Selecting Basal Reading Programs," which was developed to help textbook adoption committees select basal reading texts in elementary schools. Topics discussed include development of booklets that describe various aspects of reading instruction and the role of the guidelines in improving the quality of basal reading…

Presents abstracts of six ERIC documents selected specifically for secondary and college level history teachers. Includes sources on geography, evaluation of heroes and heroines in textbooks, images of war in the United States, alternative programs in social studies methods course design, teaching the U.S. Constitution, and global education…

Although exophoric reference is crucial to appreciating the role of context in spoken language (both to the speaker in producing meaning and to the listener in determining meaning), analysis of eight beginning German textbooks revealed that only two provided all three types (directional, pronominal, and definite article) of such reference. (CB)

Faculty members can facilitate student learning by acting as a committee to evaluate formally the available textbooks and development guidelines for their use. Committee members must review the course objectives and the role that textbooks are to play in the course. (MLW)

Presents evidence in support of Klaus Bayer's claim that present-day German has two systems of pronominal address: "Sie" and "du." The study analyzes the two systems, investigates the conflict situations between them, projects future trends, and looks at how the two are taught in the classroom. (SED)

A series of grids for the evaluation of study guides and instructional materials according to presentation and construction, supporting materials and documentation, linguistic content, notional/thematic content, and tests and evaluation methods is presented and discussed briefly. A list of references for specific aspects of materials evaluation is…

Discusses two problems encountered when a class is conducted entirely in the target language and is accompanied by a target language text. These are the students' difficulties in comprehending grammatical rules and teachers' difficulties in teaching grammatical concepts that do not exist in English. Suggests judicious use of English. (SED)

Examines the traditional criteria for evaluating first and second language reading texts. Proposes that, if reading is interaction between a text and a reader, variables related to the reader's side of the process, global textual properties, content characteristics, and rhetorical and discourse features should be considered before linguistic…

Outlines the characteristics of graded readers and their contribution to foreign language teaching and suggests uses of these readers. Analyzes the grading systems and levels of published titles in terms of their readability. Presents a bibliography of beginning to intermediate level readers and gives advice for starting a library of graded…

A person considering a textbook for possible adoption should consider the following questions: does the textbook include sufficient information on important females; does the textbook deal adequately with women's issues; do the photographs and illustrations in the textbook deal effectively with women; and does the textbook contain sexist language.…

Mathematics textbooks should encourage students to understand--as well as to memorize--problem-solving processes, to think about the reasonableness of an answer, and to "see" mathematics through real-life applications. Eight questions are given which can help schools determine whether a textbook truly emphasizes problem-solving. (PP)

Provides a check list of evaluation criteria to supplement the SMOG readability formula in choosing new content area textbooks. (Author/KS)

Articles stress the need for (1) a system to reduce the number of multiple applications to graduate programs in psychology; (2) centralized information about the status of psychology in precollege curricula; and (3) greater research experience with real-life relevance for undergraduate psychology students. (AV)

This article presents a checksheet for systematically evaluating foreign language textual materials. (CLK)

This paper discusses both the extent and manner in which the history of science is included in current secondary school physics textbooks. The study investigates what qualifies as history of science in a physics textbook; the focus, extent, and pervasiveness of the history of science content as it actually appears in a textbook; the focus of…