Summary

For first grade there is a variety of textbooks that teachers can analyze and view for use in their classrooms.  I have viewed two first grade level Social Studies textbooks.  In those textbooks, I found the content to vary. My choice over the two books is My World, published by Harcourt Brace.  The other book is Families and Friends, published by Silver Burdett Ginn.

Both textbooks reflect the essential concepts that are in the first grade Social Studies course.  They both coincide with the NC Standard Course of Study.  The Families and Friends textbook does not contain introductory statements when the chapter is introduced.  The other textbook, My World, does open up with introductory statements and also a sub heading to introduce each section of the chapter.  Not only is the My World textbook arranged topically in the scope and sequence, it is also arranged chronologically unlike the Families and Friends textbook.

The My World textbook has a good main idea development layout.  There is generally a consistent pattern of main idea development.  In Families and Friends the main ideas are not very explicit and they do not seem be very clear and go with the chapter headings.

My World offers a sensible range involving vocabulary density.  It is not over 30 and it is more than 5.  The textbook also highlights the new words that the students will need to pay close attention to.  The sentence structure of the book is simple and easy to read.  The author also asks questions to further the students minds on the topic in that chapter.  I find Families and Friends, maybe too simple and vague.

  Overall, I would choose the My World textbook for the most effective and beneficial textbook that will allow students to learn and process the concept of the book in an easy, yet challenging manner.

Bibliographies:

My World, Richard G. Boehm, Claudia Hoone, Thomas M. McGowan, Mabel C. McKinney-Browning, Ofelia B. Miramontes, first grade,    Harcourt Brace and Company, 1997.

Families and Friends, Daniel J. Gelo, Linda L. Grenow, Deborah Gray White, Becky Manfredini, first grade, Silver Burdett Ginn, 1997.