Textbooks are often a core element of curricula and delivery of classroom instruction and have long been a source of controversy. The textbook adoption process has become less about content and more about political/cultural pressure. Special-interest groups from the right and left exert enormous influence on textbook content through bias and…

Technological innovation is driving fundamental changes in all aspects of our lives. This is especially true of digital content, as our use of e-books, downloadable music, streaming television and movies, and online social networks has exploded. However, the explosive growth in our use of digital content seems so far to have eluded many of the 50…

Provides guidelines a board of education should follow before a censorship controversy arises. Also includes a brief list of organizations that can assist in the preparation of guidelines for the selection of textbooks and other curricular materials, and, in handling complaints. (Author/IRT)

Presents guidelines for use in examining the comprehensibility of a textbook, questions to ask about the book, and suggestions for using the guide questions. (FL)

Mathematics textbooks are critical tools for student learning in American classrooms. Teachers use them daily to plan and deliver lessons, and students use them in class to explore and learn mathematics. Given textbooks' potential to support student learning, it is important to understand how they are developed. While pressure is growing on…

The author suggests that quality selection of textbooks at the local level is more likely to occur when: (1) administrators involve teachers, subject-matter specialists, and others in the selection process; (2) these individuals comprise a committee which makes a regular, continuing study of textbooks; (3) they consider using materials recently…

Effective procedures and techniques for using a textbook along with a philosophy of textbook use in k-12 schools are given in this second issue. The social studies textbook is described as a tool to be used in conjunction with other supplementary instructional materials, such as audio-visual materials, reference books, periodicals, and lectures.…

Discusses procedures for selecting textbooks. Provided are guidelines for reviewing textbooks, analyzing content, and analyzing strategies. (SL)

Presented in this article is a set of guidelines to follow in the selection of a science textbook. Instructions on how to examine textbooks are given. Topics considered are types of experiments, appropriateness of content, definition of concepts, meaningful activities, sequence, reading level, eye appeal, and safety. (SA)

Entries in this selected annotated bibliography of instructional literacy materials are divided among three stages of prevocational or adult basic education: (1) the introductory stage (readability levels 1-3); (2) the elementary stage (Levels 4-6; (3) the intermediate stage (levels 7-9). Areas covered include English as a second language,…

Although printed instructional material is the most basic tool for classroom instruction, in the school year 1966-67 a national survey showed per pupil expenditure for textbooks to be only $4.96. Lack of guidelines for expenditures on textbooks, failure to use sound budgetary practices, inadequate teacher involvement in decisions affecting texts,…

In order to improve the treatment of minorities in United States history textbooks, the National Education Association has developed guidelines for evaluating multiethnic materials. According to the guidelines, textbooks should portray cultural pluralism as a value to respect; present sexual, racial, religious, and ethnic groups in such a way as…