This article delves into the issue of incorporating sociolinguistic aspects of language and culture into the current primary English textbooks in Vietnam. The authors first provide an overview of primary English teaching in the Vietnamese setting and then evaluate the current primary English textbooks in relation to the objectives of foreign…

This study, focusing on inverse relations, examines how representative U.S. and Chinese elementary textbooks may provide opportunities to learn fundamental mathematical ideas. Findings from this study indicate that both of the U.S. textbook series (grades K-6) in comparison to the Chinese textbook samples (grades 1-6), presented more instances of…

Evaluates 10 new elementary social studies methods texts in 10 areas: topicality, "basics" affect, balance of theory and pragmatic ideas, new social studies ideas, realism, special groups, action learning, broad scale evaluation, and usefulness in service. Three texts are recommended. (AM)

Presents guidelines for evaluating computer trade books for children. Includes results for 47 books evaluated using the "Yawn index." (HTH)

Examined the number and types of classroom writing experiences in which elementary teachers and children in grades one, three, and five were engaged. Two major influences on instructional practices also were analyzed: teachers' perceptions of writing instruction and textbook guidelines. (DST)

Provides British elementary and middle grade teachers with guidelines for teaching about minorities, as well as for judging and taking action on bias in school books. (Editor/SJL)

Analysis of instructional recommendations for mainstreamed students with disabilities provided in teachers' manuals of three elementary science textbook series revealed that there was a limited number of disability categories addressed, a poor match between recommendations and student needs, lack of consistency across grades, and inappropriate…

A review of the Cohen study (1969) of the structural analysis methods used in spelling book exercises, and an update on the exercises contained in current texts. (DD)

The authors review literature on conventional and special approaches to arithmetic instruction with emphasis on applying these approaches to the teaching of elementary learning disabled students with disorders in the area of arithmetic. Section I focuses on the instructional context of arithmetic. It is suggested that generalization teaching…

An analysis of elementary social studies textbooks published between 1970 and 1980 showed that few of the innovations resulting from the "new social studies" movement found their way into social studies texts. The profit motive of publishing companies is blamed. (RM)

Using the Fry Readability approach and a ten percent random sample of all reading materials from each grade level within a program, readability data were collected on six popular elementary science textbook series. Fry readability averages and ranges for the six programs surveyed are reported by grade level. (Author/MK)

Ways in which geographic education lags behind recent developments in the field, as well as conceptual and practical suggestions for bringing it up to date are discussed in this document. Unlike traditional geography, which rested on variations of environmental determinism, a basic interest in man and his spatial reference underlies the concepts…

This study proposed to analyze the teaching of grammar nationally in grades three through eight by a qualitative analysis of textbooks used and a questionnaire survey of actual teaching practices, policies, and procedures. The textbooks were analyzed for their approaches to sentences, parts of speech, and word usage; their page allotments to…

A study examined three recent language arts textbook programs for grades one through six to determine the frequency of writing activities, the nature of the writing tasks, and the frequency of process-approach activities such as selecting topics, prewriting, sharing, revising, and publishing. The programs analyzed were Scott, Foresman's "Language:…

Describes how in the 1960s and 1970s critics of the schools as well as the transitory interests of the schools themselves were the greatest forces for change in basal reader programs. Discusses how current demand for high test scores has influenced those who prepare basal material. (Author/NH)