Reports that workbooks and worksheets of two first grade basal reader series included more extra words in the written directional statements of their worksheets than in their workbooks. Concludes that this practice may inhibit pupils' achievement of a lesson's objectives when such materials are used for independent work. (FL)

A content analysis of primary school readers of Sierra Leone revealed that the particular modern and traditional normative aspirations expressed in the National Development Plan for 1974/75-1978/79 were also generally reflected in the children's readers. (Editor)

To help students understand cultural differences, a seventh-grade social studies teacher devised a unit on ethnocentrism among the Iroquois Indians and on textbook bias toward ethnic groups in general and toward the Iroquois in particular. Six textbook excerpts are presented and activities based on the excerpts are suggested. (DB)

The recent decline in test scores may be linked to declines in textbook purchasing. When knowledge and society are changing so rapidly, up-to-date instructional materials are crucial to the educational process. Re-using old texts because money is tight is false economy. (SJL)

This secondary level learning exercise contains two role-playing activities and a textbook analysis test which probe contemporary images and historical realities about the politics and economics of school support. Students are involved in data collection and analysis, group communication, inference making, and value clarification. (KC)

Discusses problems that students encounter in reading content area textbooks; presents learning activities in the areas of word recognition, vocabulary, comprehension, and study skills. (MAI)

The author discusses problems with available mathematics textbooks and suggests that a computer "problem bank" is a viable alternative to a textbook. (MK)

Research in the area of writing a second language is almost non-existent. Composition texts are generally poor. This article reviews the most commonly used textbooks for ESL (English as a Second Language) composition. (CFM)

Examines the different attitudes of native speakers in understanding a written genre of Modern Standard Chinese--sales letters. The study focuses on the use of formulaic components appearing in real Chinese sales letters and compares these components with the advice given in textbooks. Findings reveal a gap between business teaching and business…

Shows how encounters with unresponsive local school districts can lead parents to affiliate with conservative movements, describing cultural assumptions and fears underpinning the cultural and religious right, examining a textbook controversy that led to the formation of rightist sentiments, and discussing attempts at countering the growth of…

The revised version of the "National Standards for History in the Schools" does not differ greatly from the original document, which received so much criticism. The revised standards themselves are biased against Western culture and are not suitable as a national guide for state curricula, classroom teachers, and textbook publishers.…

Attempts to identify those dimensions lacking in most adolescent/adult English-as-a-foreign-language coursebooks whose objectives are to foster developmental language learning in instructed social contexts and to assist students in communicating in and learning English. Findings indicate that most coursebooks fail in these objectives. (27…

Explores to what extent a mother-tongue educational program can reinvigorate Taiwan's ethnic cultural identity. Content of mother-tongue materials used in Taipei county for Taiwanese, Hakka, and Ataylic students is analyzed, and interviews with members from each ethnic group are also conducted as a supplement. (JL)

Describes the Digital Learning Interactive textbook which allows instructors to customize an online textbook to meet the needs of the instructor and the students. Discusses the features and components aimed at engaging students in the Digital Learning Interactive text. (CMK)

A study of 139 textbooks written over the last 40 years. Recent texts are found to give more coverage to the psychology of later life, and many seek to present a positive image of aging and older adults. These treatments, however, often contain material that perpetuates stereotypes. (EVL)