This article is designed to help textbook selection committees and personnel make better choices of instructional materials. It outlines the types of information selectors will need about their own districts' curriculum and characteristics and presents a chart for design analysis of this data which can be used in textbook evaluation. (SJL)

If public education is going to attempt to meet children's needs in our present and future ever-changing society, teachers must continually review the material they use in their classrooms. Considers this factor in teaching the concept of family in a social studies lesson. (Author/RK)

Presents a three-phase process for selecting instructional materials: (1) screening materials; (2) matching screened materials to identified district characteristics and needs; and (3) decision-making. Part I of this three-part article appeared in "Curriculum Review," January 1981, pp9-14. (SJL)

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…

Looks at factors in the textbook publishing industry, especially costs and censorship, which affect the quality of available reading series. Notes the problem of readability and content bias. Finally, presents a checklist of basal reader evaluation criteria. (SJL)

The main appeal of corporation-produced consumer education materials is their "free or inexpensive" aspect. But the very low price of these items may have a high cost in the form of their biased perspectives. Teachers must exercise continued care in selecting and using consumer education materials. (Author/SJL)

Discusses roles of scholars, interpreters of scholarship (instructional materials developers), and teachers in bringing appropriate instructional materials to students. The responsibility of textbook publishers to meet teachers' needs for appropriate materials with materials developed by scholars and interpreters is described, and the relationship…

Using the conceptual scheme outlined in Parts I and II of this article (appearing in the January and April 1981 issues of this magazine), the author presents guidelines for librarian/teacher cooperation in the selection of supplementary materials which coordinate with basic class texts. (Author/SJL)

Provides a comprehensive list of bilingual centers across the country that offer aid in curriculum development, materials selection, teacher training, assessment and dissemination, and antidiscrimination guidelines for linguistic minorities. (Editor)