DIOCESE OF
Name of Publisher: Mc Dougal
Littell
Subject Area: Language Arts
Title of Textbook or Series: The Language of Literature
Grade Levels: 6-8
Copyright: 2001 Edition:
RATING KEY:
4-Superior 3-Good 2-Fair
1-Poor 0-Feature Not Present
NA- Not Applicable
OVERVIEW: The
Language of Literature is a literature series that includes a student text,
teacher’s edition, an interactive reader, assessment resources, Literature in
Performance ,NetActivities CD-ROM, LaserLinks (a videodisc), Writing Coach CD-ROM, Electronic
Teacher Tools CD-ROM, test generator,
Power Presentations CD-ROM, Online Lesson Planner, ClassZone
website, and an audio library.
CONTENT
A. ALIGNMENT WITH
CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS RATING: 3.1
Content must align with the diocesan
standards.
Comments: Good balance of fiction, non-fiction,
drama, poetry and lots of writing, speaking, and listening opportunities. Could use more application of grammar to writing situations.
B. LEVEL OF
TREATMENT RATING: 2.5
The level of complexity or difficulty of content must be appropriate
for the standards, grade level, and student abilities.
Comments: There is more than can be accomplished in
one year.
C. EXPERTISE FOR CONTENT DEVELOPMENT RATING: 4
Expertise
in the content area and in education of the intended students must be reflected
in the authors, reviewers, and sources.
Comments: Selections are varied.
D. ACCURACY OF CONTENT RATING: 4
Content must be accurate in historical
context and contemporary facts and concepts.
Comments: The content seems to be accurate.
E. CURRENTNESS OF CONTENT RATING: 4
Content must be up-to-date for the academic discipline and the context
in which the content is presented.
Comments: All appears to be accurate and up to
date.
F. AUTHENTICITY
OF CONTENT RATING: 4
Content should include problem-centered
connections to life in a context that is meaningful to the students.
Comments: Real World Links ar
included in most parts.
G. MULTICULTURAL REPRESENTATION RATING: 4
Portrayal
of gender, ethnicity, age, work situations, and social groups must include multicultural fairness and advocacy.
Comments: There appears to be a balanced sampling
of authors and selections representing many different racial and ethnic groups
and reflecting our diverse society and world.
H. HUMANITY AND COMPASSION RATING: 4
Portrayal of the appropriate care and treatment of people and animals
must include compassion, sympathy, and consideration of their needs.
Comments: There appears to be a sensitive portrayal
of people and animals.
TOTAL
CONTENT RATING: 3.7
PRESENTATION
A. COMPREHENSIVENESS
OF STUDENT AND TEACHER RESOURCES RATING: 3.4
Resources must be complete enough to address the targeted learning
outcomes without requiring the teacher to prepare additional teaching materials
for the course.
STUDENT
RESOURCES Individual
Rating: 3.2
Comments: This program includes a wide variety of
student resources including access to the McDougal Littell
website, Net Activities, and an audio library. There is also a consumable
interactive reader.
TEACHER
RESOURCES Individual
Rating: 3.5
Comments: There are numerous teacher resources
including a resource management guide, unit resource books, lesson planning
guides, formal, informal, and alternative assessment strategies, skills
transparencies, copymasters, a test generator, ad
online lesson planner.
B. ALIGNMENT
OF INSTRUCTIONAL COMPONENTS RATING: 4
All components of the instructional package must align with each
other, as well as with the curriculum.
Comments: Much care seems to have been taken to
structure each unit so that all components are related and interconnected with
many opportunities for content related activities.
C. ORGANIZATION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS RATING: 3.6
The structure and format of the materials must have enough order and
clarity to allow students and teachers to access content and explicitly
identify ideas and sequences.
Comments: There are many guides showing how to use
the various components.
D. READABILITY
OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS RATING: 4 Narrative and visuals
should engage students in reading or listening.
Comments: There are many bright and eye-catching
illustrations and pictures. There is a Literature in Performance video series
and an audio library.
E. PACING
OF CONTENT RATING: 2
The amount of content presented at one time or the pace at which it is
presented must be of a size or rate that allows students to perceive and
understand it
Comments: The amount of material is overwhelming.
F. EASE OF
USE OF MATERIALS RATING: 3.5
Both print and other media formats of instructional materials must be
easy to use and replace and be durable enough for multiple uses over time.
Comments: Materials seem sturdy.
LEARNING
A. MOTIVATIONAL
STRATEGIES RATING: 2.6
Instructional materials must include
features to maintain learner motivation.
Comments:Materials are
attractive and engaging, but there is not enough feedback on student
performance.
B. TEACHING
A FEW “BIG IDEAS” RATING: 2
Instructional materials should thoroughly
teach a few important ideas, concepts, or themes.
Comments: There is too much material to cover in
one year.
C. EXPLICIT
INSTRUCTION RATING: 2.8
Instructional materials must contain clear
statements of information and outcomes.
Comments: The writing instruction is well presented
(student and professional models, use of the writing process, etc.), but there
isn’t enough application of mechanics and grammar to writing.
D. GUIDANCE
AND SUPPORT RATING: 3.4
Instructional materials must include guidance and support to help
students safely and successfully become more independent learners and thinkers.
Comments: There are both student and professional
writing models. There are many materials that address developmental differences
and various learning styles.
E. ACTIVE
PARTICIPATION RATING: 3
Instructional materials must engage the physical and mental activity
of students during the learning process.
Comments: There could be more critical thinking
activities.
F. TARGETED
INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES RATING: 4
Instructional
materials should include the strategies known to be successful for teaching the learning outcomes targeted in
the curriculum requirements.
Comments: Many varied materials and strategies are
included.
G. TARGETED
ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES RATING: 3.4
Instructional materials should include assessment strategies known to
be successful in determining how well students have achieved the learning
outcomes targeted in the curriculum requirements.
Comments: There are many different types of
assessment provided. There could be more alternative assessment strategies.
TOTAL LEARNING RATING: 3
OVERALL TOTAL RATING: 3.4
STRENGTHS:
The McDougal Littelll The Language of Literature series is a comprehensive and thorough
literature program. The authors have included a wide variety of genres and
numerous resources for both teachers and students. The series meets the
Sunshine State Standards and the standards of the Diocesan curriculum guide.
There is an interactive reader which includes a significant number of
selections from the hard cover text. The advantage of the interactive reader is
that it is smaller and the students can write in it. The program includes many
CD-ROMs and other technology components which provide for a variety of teaching
approaches. There are several teachers resources that
provide research on middle schoolers and other
important topics.
CONCERNS: There needs to be more writing applications for the grammar lessons. There is too much material to cover in one year. There doesn’t seem to be enough reinforcement and practice of skills taught.. There could be more alternative assessment strategies.
OVERALL IMPRESSION: This is an excellent literature series. It is
solidly research based and attempts to cover and include all imaginable aspects
of literature-reading, writing, grammar, literary analysis, speaking,
listening, performing.
The authors recognize and address the unique learning styles and varying
abilities and skill levels of the middle school student.