Text classification and text gradation are important for language teachers. Profiling and readability studies examine textual and linguistic features that determine text difficulty. Arabic, as an under-resourced language, suffers from a lack of such studies which results in material developers and textbook writers relying on their intuitions and…

In 2009, the National Science Foundation funded the "Dynabook: A Digital Resource and Preservice Model for Developing TPCK" project through its Discovery Research K-12 program. Dynabook project leaders and the National Science Foundation (NSF) recognized that digital textbooks would soon be a primary instructional resource, and seized…

Contends that perceived weaknesses in the history profession and historical writing also are manifested by dissatisfaction with history textbooks. Describes the immediate and long-range impact of "The Rise of American Civilization," a college level textbook by Charles and Mary Beard. Contends that the book was comprehensive, well…

Family-school collaboration related to children's physical development has become increasingly important as childhood obesity rates continue to rise. The present study described the development and implementation of a literacy-based, family component of a school-based health education program and investigated its viability, acceptability, and…

Presents results from two skills surveys of Build a Book (BAB) classes in which students learn geometry by writing and editing their own textbook. Points out that this approach is reasonable and that students who had BAB classes in prior years could identify important areas of learning in addition to geometry. (ASK)

Discusses the positive and negative aspects of textbook writing, noting common pitfalls that will be encountered by new authors. The article also suggests how to become better educated about the process of textbook writing and enhance the chances of producing a quality finished product. (SM)

It is of critical importance in the Asia/Pacific region to produce quality science books which are attractive and interesting for children and youths and which can also stimulate their interest in science and provide them with accurate scientific knowledge in an easily understandable way. This publication is a report of a training course on book…

Strategies for writing a text are offered by a college professor on the basis of his own experience of writing a text on social psychology. Suggestions are given on creating an efficient office environment, researching the topic, and drafting the manuscript. One way to improve efficiency is to compress teaching into a few days, leaving the…

The rewards and perils of making the transition from classroom language teacher to developer of English-as-a-Second-Language textbooks are discussed. Issues include national and international marketing as well as the production process. (LB)

Authors of texts for instruction in English as a second language have several options for publishing: the traditinal method, dealing directly with large, well-known publishers, or with smaller, specialized houses, or with author-formed groups. This process begins with an idea, and involves making contacts and submitting proposals, review and…

Designed for braille transcribers and teachers of the visually handicapped, this document presents three short articles about literary braille. The first article discusses common pitfalls that occur on trial manuscripts, such as misformed characters, missing and added dots, incorrect title pages, and incorrect word divisions. The second article…

Maintains that a discussion of the Eurocurrency market is now a regular feature of most money and banking textbooks. Explains that the demand for Eurocurrency deposits stems, in part, from a transactions motive and recommends that this approach be added to textbook presentations on the subject. (CFR)

Examines the impact of the new California History Social Science Framework on the development of new textbooks. Provides an outline of this K-12 framework and discusses the question of whether the program will falter if textbook development is not adequate. (KO)

The development of "English for Occupational Purposes" (EOP) by a team of seven authors and two project directors for EOP classes at Ngee Ann Polytechnic in Singapore is described. Aspects included the prewriting stage; analyses of the teaching, learning, and target situations analysis; writing and editing; and postwriting stage. (LB)

Three short articles about large type transcribing are provided for braille transcribers and teachers of the visually handicapped. The first article explains section IV-B-2 of the National Braille Association Manual for Large Type Transcribing. The second article presents the results of a survey on the kinds of typewriters, types of…