All teachers use a wide variety of materials and approaches in their classrooms. Nevertheless, the textbook usually serves as an anchor for both the teacher and the pupils. The teacher uses the textbook as a guideline for planning lessons, pupils use the textbook for language learning both in and out of the classroom. Teachers use the textbooks as a tool in their teaching of English, they do not “teach the textbook.”
All textbooks go through an approval process before they are placed on the approved list of textbooks that can be included on a school’s book list and purchased through the book lending program (השאלת ספרי למוד) or by the parents. The approval process involves several rounds of evaluation and final approval by the chief inspector. In addition, all textbooks are reviewed by the National Religious Department (חמ"ד) to ensure that they are appropriate for use in national religious schools. The department in the Ministry of Education responsible for book approvals is the Books and Materials Department (אגף לספרי לאישור ספרי לימוד וחומרי למידה). The maximum price of a textbook is also determined as part of the approval process.
The approved textbooks are pedagogically sound and are written according to the curriculum. As we are currently transitioning from the previous updated curriculum to Curriculum 2020, new textbooks aligned with the curriculum are being written and published by the various EFL textbook publishers in Israel. Since it takes between two to four years for a textbook to be written and published, it will be a number of years before all grade levels are fully covered by textbooks aligned with Curriculum 2020. Nevertheless, ALL approved textbooks are pedagogically sound, and teachers can adjust their teaching with any approved textbook to ensure that lessons are in line with curricular principles. To do so, make sure to work intensively on lexical items in each text prior to working on the text. This is true for both texts for written and spoken reception. Periodic reviews of all lexical items taught are important as well. In addition, it is vital to include more spoken production work in the classroom. Teachers working with pupils struggling with literacy acquisition at all levels need to focus on phonics and phonetic awareness as well, in a manner appropriate to the learners' age. Grammar teaching should focus on meaning rather than form. Very often, small adjustments are necessary to align lessons with Curriculum 2020 using a textbook approved according to the previous curriculum. Regional and national counselors are available to teachers for help. It is also possible to use teaching units on the ministry site as examples for lesson planning.
All textbooks are approved WITH the accompanying teacher's guide. Publishers put a great deal of thought, effort and work in producing a teacher's guide that is of use to teachers in planning lessons. These teacher's guides should be used, not only as answer keys, but also for help in planning and enriching your lessons.
In addition to textbooks, to provide teachers with additional support, if necessary, supplementary vocabulary booklets are also undergoing the approval process and are available to teachers through the books lending program.
The national counselor in charge of books and materials approval in the ministry is Miriam Ben. Feel free to contact her with any questions or issues which arise – miriambe@education.gov.il.