Sunday, January 31, 1999
Teachers take tour of texts
Publishers display wares at showcase
BY ANDREA TORTORA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
INDEPENDENCE — Selecting textbooks and instructional materials for Kentucky classrooms is not a simple — or easy — process. There are dozens of materials to review. There are testing and content requirements to be met. There are budget restrictions.
And the decision is not left solely to educators.
A team of parents, teachers, students and school administrators helps in the final selection.
But first, teachers go out and see what's available.
More than 50 textbook manufacturers promoted their materials on literature, foreign languages, health, humanities and driver's education in Northern Kentucky last week,hoping to sign contracts with schools.
“It's really hard to look at texts individually,” said Lisa Reynolds first-grade teacher at Beechgrove Elementary as she walked among rows of displays at the textbook showcase, held in the cafeteria at Summit View School.
“Coming to a showcase like this lets you make comparisons.”
Once the state approves a list of acceptable texts and programs, committees at individual schools can chose which ones they like best. Final decisions on what to purchase rest with each school's decision-making council — the parents, teachers and administrators who set policy.
Beechgrove Elementary just adopted a new reading program and Ms. Reynolds was looking for the best texts to fit with the program's goals. She brought Northern Kentucky University student teacher Nicole Moffett with her, so she'll know what to look for when she's a teacher on her own.
“I'm drawn to the colorful books because that's what the kids like. The covers and the pictures,” Ms. Moffett said. “They still judge by the covers.”
Educators judge by much more. And they have plenty of options to consider.
Houghton Mifflin touts its reading program, Invitations to Literacy, with colorful covers, bold print and free pens-on-a-string for teachers.
The pages of Totally Awesome Health from MeeksHeit look more like a magazine than the traditional school book. The idea is to appeal to the hip teen-ager.
Videos and posters from ArtSense encourage all subject teachers to teach art, not just those designated for creativity.
“This is a way for people to know we are available,” said Irene Burnett, a Houghton Mifflin consultant. “It's rather rushed and hurried, but it gives us an opportunity to see if we can visit some schools with samples.”
Most texts cost between $25 and $29 each. Classroom packages can run anywhere from $200 to more than $800.
There are also numerous state guidelines that must be met. The Education Department and the State Textbook Commission say that teachers do not have to buy one textbook for every student. They can sell old books as long as the money goes into the school's textbook and instructional materials account.
And at the high school level, schools can charge a textbook rental fee of up to $8 and a refundable deposit fee of $4.
Williamstown High School Spanish teacher Alicia Johnson went to the showcase with a particular book in mind, only to find it will be discontinued.
“Now I'm trying to find out about some new programs,” Ms. Johnson said.
One she liked: Heinle & Heinle's Ya Veras Gold. It's an advanced Spanish text with additional materials on the Internet. “The kids love computers; and if I can pair Spanish up with something else they like, that's good,” Ms. Johnson said.
Walking the aisles of book displays gives teachers an idea of what's being touted by state educators, too. Many of the reading programs were phonics-based. The art programs were geared toward integrating the subject into other lessons.
Several teachers commented on the title of MeeksHeit's Totally Awesome Health books. The style and language used in the texts would speak directly to students, several health teachers said.
Rags Gritton, a MeeksHeit representative, said all the books follow the same theme.
“The idea is that you make the decision,” Mr. Gritton said. “Sometimes there are good decisions and sometimes they are bad. But it's up to the kid to make the right one.”
There's something about Mary
A night like this? Only happens once in a blue moon
Man trapped 6 hours by ditch collapse
Kindness pours in for uninsured family
Charter reform efforts tabled
Dems' infighting scotches strong-mayor plan
At-risk children's lives improve, by inches
Foster children need help becoming independent adults
Everybody loves work on 'Raymond'
Audience contributes punch lines
First step to a maestro: Make a list
Send us your ideas for the next CSO music director
What are qualities of top music directors
Community members could help in conductor search
TV causes blindness
Kenton Co. jailer cleaning up facility, morale
Shirey's PR exec gets the word out
Dedicated worker in a political limbo
cities may join to seek grants
Dancers stay on their toes
Ft. Mitchell cleanliness on agenda
Newsmaker Q&A with Paul Booth
Parents rush to four sites to get students' magnet choices
Portman meets voters; 'the' topic untouched
Raisins to reunite for Cammys show
Sierra Club opens local office
Super Bowl means medical alert
Teachers take tour of texts
TRISTATE DIGEST
