New laws in California have set the state on a course for some potentially significant changes to the curriculum, including a measure that revisits the matter of teaching Algebra 1 in 8th grade and another that revamps the state's textbook-adoption process and hands districts greater leeway in choosing instructional materials. The algebra-related…

Mathematics curriculum has long been a topic of keen interest in mathematics education and remains a central issue in efforts to improve mathematics learning opportunities for students. This Yearbook continues in a long line of National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Yearbooks that have addressed various facets of the changing mathematics…

Presents a procedure for curriculum change and textbook adoption using a step-by-step decision-making process. (MD)

If the textbook and material selection process is to be adequately supported in school budgets, curriculum directors, teachers, and administrators must be able to defend their requests with high-quality information. This article offers nine suggestions to help build a leadership structure and a database for making appropriate textbook selections.…

Summarizes the different spheres of drama and theatre activities in Hungary. Outlines the history of drama teaching in Hungary. Describes the achievements and problems of the present, such as the place of drama in the curriculum and help that benefits Hungarian speaking teachers elsewhere. Provides a short overview of the youth theatre of the…

Presents an historical overview of the rise of conservative pressure groups after 1980 and their association with an increase in censorship activities in schools. Discusses the influence of the Reagan administration; library materials selection; textbook selection; secular humanism; and trying to affect the curriculum rather than targeting…

Describes a method of monitoring the district curriculum during an extended maintenance period. The program audit for each subject area addresses the degree of fidelity to curriculum objectives, determines whether teachers are emphasizing the curriculum objectives, and identifies factors constraining curriculum implementation. (MJL)

This collection brings together the best minds in education to explore the literacy-science connection and to reduce the lack of understanding between the science and humanities communities. The articles cover a range of topics and perspectives, from quasitheoretical pieces and literature reviews to case studies and evaluations of particular…

Describes how the Freshman English curriculum at Ramapo College was altered to include works by non-Western authors. Focuses on problems teachers faced in choosing texts and becoming familiar with new bodies of literature in a short period of time. Reports that students enjoyed their experiences in reading and writing about non-Western literature.…

Saint Mary's College (Indiana) offers a minor program in computer science. The program's introductory computer science class traditionally taught Pascal. The decision to change the introductory programming language to C++ with an object oriented approach was made when it became clear that there were good texts available for beginning students.…

Maintains that philosophy has become an integral part of geography education at the university level. Considers the value of textbooks in teaching and learning about philosophy in geography. Reviews textbook treatment of the topic and provides a list of 25 textbooks that explore geographic philosophy. (CFR)

Argues that there are special problems associated with designing and teaching a course about authors outside of the literary canon. Traces the development of a course on Victorian women writers from initial development difficulties to final thoughts on restructuring the syllabus. Notes works used in the course. (DSK)

Traces the development of global studies in Arkansas from conception to institutionalization. Focuses on the dilemmas of textbook adoption and teacher licensure, teacher preparation, and support from the Arkansas International Committee, University of Arkansas at Monticello, and Southern Arkansas University. Addresses the role of Bill and Hillary…

In 1985, California launched a 2-year curriculum reform initiative in history and social science that could eventually bring new standards of learning in these areas. Professional studies and student surveys relate a common message: a more extensive, literature-based, issue and idea-oriented curriculum, and better teaching methods would increase…

This booklet shows teachers and administrators how their school districts can use the Reading Authority List of the Reading Information System I (I-RIS), an analytic process for making decisions about language arts curriculum materials. Following an outline of I-RIS, pages of the Reading Authority List are accompanied by guidelines for using the…