[Violence prevention in secondary schools: the Faustlos-curriculum for middle school].

PubMed

Schick, Andreas; Cierpka, Manfred

2009-01-01

Schools and kindergartens are particularly suitable for the implementation of violence prevention programs. Many German schools and kindergartens have securely established the violence prevention curriculum Faustlos. The Faustlos programs for kindergartens and elementary schools are now complemented with the version for middle schools. As the kindergarten- and elementary school versions the middle school program too focuses on the theoretically profound, age group-tailored promotion of empathy, impulse control and anger management. These dimensions are subdivided into the five themes "understanding the problem" "training for empathy"; "anger management", "problem solving" and "applying skills" and taught stepwise, highly structured and based on several video sequences in 31 lessons. US-American evaluation studies proof the effectiveness and the violence prevention potential of the program. With the curriculum for middle schools a comprehensive Faustlos program package is now made available to sustainably promote core violence prevention competences of children and adolescents on a developmentally appropriate level and with a consistent didactic approach.

Recruiting and Retaining African American Students for Gifted Education and Accelerated Programs in Middle School: A Qualitative Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Roberson, Ivory S.

2017-01-01

Recruiting and retaining African American students in middle school gifted education continues to be challenging in American schools. African American students continue to be underrepresented in middle school gifted education and accelerated programs, even when they qualify to be gifted education participants. The case study that follows focuses…

Effects of Participation in after-School Programs for Middle School Students: A Randomized Trial

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gottfredson, Denise; Cross, Amanda Brown; Wilson, Denise; Rorie, Melissa; Connell, Nadine

2010-01-01

This study assessed the effects of attending an after-school program (ASP) on a range of outcomes for middle school youths. The program operated for 9 hr per week for 30 weeks and included attendance monitoring and reinforcement, academic assistance, a prevention curriculum, and recreational programming. Participants were 447 students randomly…

Investigating Stakeholder Attitudes and Opinions on School-Based Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Programs

PubMed Central

Nodulman, Jessica A.; Starling, Randall; Kong, Alberta S.; Buller, David B.; Wheeler, Cosette M.; Woodall, W. Gill

2015-01-01

BACKGROUND In several countries worldwide, school-based human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programs have been successful; however, little research has explored US stakeholders’ acceptance toward school-based HPV vaccination programs. METHODS A total of 13 focus groups and 12 key informant interviews (N = 117; 85% females; 66% racial/ethnic minority) were conducted with 5 groups of stakeholders: parents of adolescent girls, parents of adolescent boys, adolescent girls, middle school nurses, and middle school administrators throughout the 5 public health regions of New Mexico. RESULTS All groups of stakeholders lacked knowledge on HPV and HPV vaccines. Stakeholders were interested in—but apprehensive about—the benefits of HPV vaccination. Despite previous literature showing the benefits of using middle schools as an HPV vaccination site, stakeholders did not deem middle schools as a viable site for vaccination. Nurses reported that using the school as an HPV vaccination site had not occurred to them; parents and adolescents stated they were uncertain about using this type of program. School administrators indicated that they lacked implementation authority. CONCLUSIONS Our study uncovered barriers to using middle schools as a site of HPV vaccination. Resources should be directed toward increased support and education for middle school nurses who function as opinion leaders relevant to the uptake of HPV vaccination. PMID:25846308

The Relationship of Mentoring on Middle School Girls' Science-Related Attitudes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Clark, Lynette M.

2013-01-01

This quantitative study examined the science-related attitudes of middle school girls who attended a science-focused mentoring program and those of middle school girls who attended a traditional mentoring program. Theories related to this study include social cognitive theory, cognitive development theory, and possible selves' theory. These…

A New Extension Model: The Memorial Middle School Agricultural Extension and Education Center

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Skelton, Peter; Seevers, Brenda

2010-01-01

The Memorial Middle School Agricultural Extension and Education Center is a new model for Extension. The center applies the Cooperative Extension Service System philosophy and mission to developing public education-based programs. Programming primarily serves middle school students and teachers through agricultural and natural resource science…

The Impact of Elementary Gifted Mathematics Programming: Moving into Middle School Research Using the ECLS-K Database

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zayac, Joanne M.

2013-01-01

With tightened school budgets, school administrators need to know the short term and long range effects of providing gifted programs at the elementary level. Programming opportunities in elementary school have direct impact on middle school and this, in turn impacts high school and college course selection. This study used the Early Childhood…

Desks, Dollars, and Deficits: Managing a Middle School during a Recession.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Merrill, Adeline B.

1992-01-01

A brief history of East Ridge Middle School in Connecticut illustrates the strong economic and demographic pressures that can work against a middle school. The principal plays a crucial role in preserving both the structure and the programs of an effective middle school. Points out strategies to protect and develop middle schools in tough economic…

The Boston Middle School-Corner Store Initiative: Development, Implementation, and Initial Evaluation of a Program Designed to Improve Adolescents' Beverage-Purchasing Behaviors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hoffman, Jessica A.; Morris, Vivien; Cook, John

2009-01-01

The Boston Middle School Corner Store Initiative (CSI) brought together schools, businesses, and community partners to develop, implement, and evaluate a multicomponent pilot program designed to promote healthier beverage purchasing at corner stores among 3,500 middle school students living in Boston, Massachusetts. Healthy drinks were defined for…

STEM integration in middle school career and technical education programs: A Delphi design study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu-Rorrer, Billy Ray

The purpose of this qualitative method study with a Delphi research design sought to determine how STEM programs can be effectively integrated into middle school career and technical education programs by local, state, and national educators, administrators, directors, specialists, and curriculum writers. The significance of the study is to provide leaders in CTE with a greater awareness, insight, and strategies about how CTE programs can more effectively integrate academics into career and technical education programs through STEM-related programming. The findings will increase the limited amount of available literature providing best practice strategies for the integration of STEM curriculum into middle school CTE programs. One basic question has guided this research: How can STEM programs be effectively integrated into middle school career and technical education programs? A total of twelve strategies were identified. The strategies of real-world applications and administrative buy-in were the two predominant strategies consistently addressed throughout the review of literature and all three sub-questions in the research study. The Delphi design study consisted of pilot round and three rounds of data collection on barriers, strategies, and professional development for STEM integration in middle school career and technical education programs. Four panelists participated in the pilot round, and 16 panel members not involved in the pilot round participated in the three rounds of questioning and consensus building. In the future, more comprehensive studies can build upon this foundational investigation of middle school CTE programs.

Exploratory Programing in Georgia's Middle Schools.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Warren, Louis L.; Allen, Michael G.

This study surveyed the nature and extent of exploratory programming in intermediate schools. A 22-item questionnaire was sent to all 285 of the state's middle and junior high schools. Of the 163 respondents, 160 indicated that they had some form of exploratory programming. The latter number included: (1) 155 schools with traditional exploratory…

A Community-Based Volunteer After-School Activity Program Created for Middle School Students.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Greaser, Thomas C., Jr.

This practicum was designed to provide an after-school activity program to middle school students not engaged in interscholastic sports. Utilizing community volunteers, an enrichment-prevention program that featured 19 different activities in 2 class sessions per week over a 10-week period was developed and implemented. Activities included…

Creating Healthy Active Minds for Personal Success (CHAMPS) in Middle School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shawley, Jessica

2016-01-01

The purpose of this article is to provide support for middle school physical education programs that meet the developmental needs of students while providing for student choice. With its health and physical education program called Creating Healthy Active Minds for Personal Success (CHAMPS), Moscow Middle School is striving to cultivate student…

The Impact of Mentoring Programs on Teachers in Urban Middle Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wider, Beyonka Shantel

2012-01-01

Retaining teachers is a pressing issue facing many urban middle schools in the southern US. Urban middle schools continually face increased teacher turnover rates in spite of state mandated induction and mentoring programs. Drawing from Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory, the purpose of the qualitative case study was to examine urban middle…

Impact of a Comprehensive Safety Program on Bicycle Helmet Use among Middle-School Children

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Van Houten, Ron; Van Houten, Joy; Malenfant, J. E. Louis

2007-01-01

A bicycle helmet program was evaluated in three middle schools using a multiple baseline across schools design. Two of the three schools had histories of enforcement of helmet use. During baseline many students riding their bikes to and from school did not wear their helmets or wore them incorrectly. A program that consisted of peer data…

Indicators of Middle School Implementation: How Do Kentucky's Schools to Watch Measure Up?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cook, Christopher M.; Faulkner, Shawn A.; Kinne, Lenore J.

2009-01-01

High-performing middle schools are a critical link in the educational continuum. In an effort to stimulate the sluggish reform efforts of middle schools, the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform established the Schools to Watch recognition program. Using responses of school personnel to a statewide survey, this study examined the…

Satisfaction of Middle School Lunch Program Participants and Non-Participants with the School Lunch Experience

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Stephanie; Cunningham-Sabo, Leslie; Auld, Garry

2015-01-01

Purpose/Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine middle school students' satisfaction with the school lunch experience, using two validated surveys; the Middle/Junior High School Student Participation Survey and the Middle/Junior High School Student Non-Participation Survey, both developed by the National Food Service Management…

Woodbridge Middle School: Getting Better Together

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Principal Leadership, 2012

2012-01-01

This article features Woodbridge Middle School, a middle school in Woodbridge, Virginia, which has always celebrated a tradition of excellence. Today's Woodbridge Middle School in no way resembles the school that existed in 2005. Then, the students were mostly White and few qualified for the free and reduced-price meals program; today, there is no…

Body Power! School-Based Weight Management for Middle School Adolescents. Leader's Manual.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dennee, Phyllis M.; And Others

This leader's manual contains the materials required to present a school-based weight management curriculum that may be offered both in school and outside the school setting for middle-school adolescents. The first section contains instructor information regarding the following topics: need for the program; program objectives; timeline and…

School Climate in Middle Schools: A Cultural Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schneider, Stephanie H.; Duran, Lauren

2010-01-01

In 2007-08 and 2008-09, 2,500 randomly-selected middle school students completed an annual survey on school climate and character development. In examining differences based upon grade, gender, race/ethnicity, school, and length of program participation, significant differences were found for all but length of program participation. Responses of…

How Middle School Personnel Perceive an Antibullying Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lester, Robin Rawlings

2013-01-01

Bullying has become a nationwide concern at the K-12 level. Despite the target middle school's antibullying program, the incidence of bullying increased during the 1st and 3rd year of the program implementation. By identifying the perceptions of school personnel about this problem, district school leaders will be better equipped to select and…

The Baltimore City Schools Middle School STEM Summer Program with VEX Robotics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mac Iver, Martha Abele; Mac Iver, Douglas J.

2015-01-01

In 2011 Baltimore City Schools submitted a successful proposal for an Investing in Innovations (i3) grant to offer a three year (2012-2014) summer program designed to expose rising sixth through eighth grade students to VEX robotics. The i3-funded Middle School Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Summer Learning Program was…

In the Beginning of the Middle: Curriculum Considerations for Middle School General Music

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Giebelhausen, Robin

2015-01-01

Middle school general music is an experience that numerous music educators feel underprepared to teach. Because many undergraduate programs spend little time on this teaching scenario and because the challenges of middle school general music are different from those of elementary general music or middle school ensembles, teachers often lack the…

Are They All Language Learners?: Educational Labeling and Raciolinguistic Identifying in a California Middle School Dual Language Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hernandez, Sera J.

2017-01-01

This manuscript draws from a 2-year multiple-case ethnography on the educational experiences of Mexican immigrant families with California middle schools. The article explores the influence of the political landscape and raciolinguistic ideologies surrounding the nature and implementation of a middle school dual language bilingual program, and it…

Challenges Inherent in the Design and Implementation of After-School Intervention Programs for Middle Grade Underachieving Readers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Velten, Justin; Mokhtari, Kouider

2016-01-01

In this brief report, we share three challenges we encountered when designing and implementing an after school intervention program for an ethnically diverse group of middle grade underachieving readers. We also offer practical solutions to help guide middle school teams in anticipating and addressing potential problems when putting in place…

The Effect of an Experiential Learning Program on Middle School Students' Motivation toward Mathematics and Science

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weinberg, Andrea E.; Basile, Carole G.; Albright, Leonard

2011-01-01

A mixed methods design was used to evaluate the effects of four experiential learning programs on the interest and motivation of middle school students toward mathematics and science. The Expectancy-Value model provided a theoretical framework for the exploration of 336 middle school student participants. Initially, participants were generally…

Improving the Transition of Students Moving into Sixth-Grade through a Middle School Orientation and Peer Helper Program.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pettit, Nancy

An orientation and peer helper program was developed at a public middle school in a rural community to reduce the problems associated with sixth-grade students transferring into the school during the school year. Transfer students and their parents or guardians were provided with a video and brochure that explained the school's services, programs,…

The Role of the Middle School Counselor in Teacher-Advisor Programs.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Henderson, Phyllis; La Forge, Jan

1989-01-01

Discusses three roles of the middle school counselor in developing, coordinating, and implementing a teacher-advisor program: (1) assessing and reporting the school's readiness for such a program; (2) establishing a teacher advisory committee; and (3) training teachers for their role as teacher-advisors. (TE)

Building the pipeline: programs to introduce middle school, high school, medical, and veterinary students to careers in epidemiology and public health.

PubMed

Cordell, Ralph L; Cordeira, Kelly L; Cohen, Laurence P; Bensyl, Diana M

2017-11-01

This report describes Centers for Disease Control and Prevention programs that expose students to epidemiology and public health sciences (EPHS). The Science Ambassador workshop targets middle and high school teachers and promotes teaching EPHS in the classroom. The National Science Olympiad Disease Detectives event is an extracurricular science competition for middle and high school students based on investigations of outbreaks and other public health problems. The Epidemiology Elective Program provides experiential learning activities for veterinary and medical students. As of 2016, 234 teachers from 37 states and territories and three other countries participated in SA workshops. Several are teaching units or entire courses in EPHS. The National Science Olympiad Disease Detectives event exposed approximately 15,000 middle and high school students to EPHS during the 2015-2016 school year. The Epidemiology Elective Program has exposed 1,795 veterinary and medical students to EPHS. Students can master fundamental concepts of EPHS as early as middle school and educators are finding ways to introduce this material into their classrooms. Programs to introduce veterinary and medical students to EPHS can help fill the gap in exposing older students to the field. Professional organizations can assist by making their members aware of these programs. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Citizen Schools: An After-Hours Adventure--Professionals Mentoring Middle-Grades Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cavanagh, Sean

2007-01-01

Citizen Schools is an apprenticeship program offered outside school hours that seeks to build students' academic and leadership skills by connecting them with professionals from various fields. Launched in Boston in 1994, the program targets what some say is an underserved population in after-school education--middle school students--through a…

Preventing Academic Disengagement through a Middle School-Based Social and Emotional Learning Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McBride, Amanda Moore; Chung, Saras; Robertson, Anne

2016-01-01

Behaviors that warrant school discipline (e.g., fighting, victimizing peers) is detrimental to school climate and the learning process. This study examines the effectiveness of preventing school disciplinary incidents in middle school through an experiential, social and emotional learning (SEL) program. A community youth development organization,…

Effect of Nutrition Changes on Foods Selected by Students in a Middle School-Based Diabetes Prevention Intervention Program: The HEALTHY Experience

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mobley, Connie C.; Stadler, Diane D.; Staten, Myrlene A.; El Ghormli, Laure; Gillis, Bonnie; Hartstein, Jill; Siega-Riz, Anna Maria; Virus, Amy

2012-01-01

Background: The HEALTHY primary prevention trial developed an integrated multicomponent intervention program to moderate risk factors for type 2 diabetes in middle schools. The nutrition component aimed to improve the quality of foods and beverages served to students. Changes in the School Breakfast Program (SBP), National School Lunch Program…

Youth Empowerment Solutions: Evaluation of an After-School Program to Engage Middle School Students in Community Change

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zimmerman, Marc A.; Eisman, Andria B.; Reischl, Thomas M.; Morrel-Samuels, Susan; Stoddard, Sarah; Miller, Alison L.; Hutchison, Pete; Franzen, Susan; Rupp, Laney

2018-01-01

We report on an effectiveness evaluation of the Youth Empowerment Solutions (YES) program. YES applies empowerment theory to an after-school program for middle school students. YES is an active learning curriculum designed to help youth gain confidence in themselves, think critically about their community, and work with adults to create positive…

An Examination of Middle School Agricultural Education and FFA Programs: Survey Results from State FFA Executive Secretaries.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rossetti, Rosemarie; McCaslin, N. L.

A study collected information from 52 of the 53 state Future Farmers of America (FFA) executive secretaries who were sent questionnaires on middle school student enrollment in agricultural education and membership in the national FFA organization. Results showed that 30 states have agricultural education programs in the middle school level, with a…

Graduate Student Fellowship Program Effects on Attitude and Interest toward Science of Middle School Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lindner, James R.; Rayfield, John; Briers, Gary; Johnson, Larry

2012-01-01

The purpose of this study was to describe the effects of a graduate student fellowship program on middle school students' attitude toward science and their interest in science. Using a descriptive and correlational research design, data were collected from 588 middle school students (grades 6, 7, and 8). Participants completed a pretest and a…

Shared use of school facilities with community organizations and afterschool physical activity program participation: a cost-benefit assessment.

PubMed

Kanters, Michael A; Bocarro, Jason N; Filardo, Mary; Edwards, Michael B; McKenzie, Thomas L; Floyd, Myron F

2014-05-01

Partnerships between school districts and community-based organizations to share school facilities during afterschool hours can be an effective strategy for increasing physical activity. However, the perceived cost of shared use has been noted as an important reason for restricting community access to schools. This study examined shared use of middle school facilities, the amount and type of afterschool physical activity programs provided at middle schools together with the costs of operating the facilities. Afterschool programs were assessed for frequency, duration, and type of structured physical activity programs provided and the number of boys and girls in each program. School operating costs were used to calculate a cost per student and cost per building square foot measure. Data were collected at all 30 middle schools in a large school district over 12 months in 2010-2011. Policies that permitted more use of school facilities for community-sponsored programs increased participation in afterschool programs without a significant increase in operating expenses. These results suggest partnerships between schools and other community agencies to share facilities and create new opportunities for afterschool physical activity programs are a promising health promotion strategy. © 2014, American School Health Association.

Outdoor Education Opportunities for Middle School Students: Academic and Social Impacts of Adventure Programs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gordon, Lisa

2011-01-01

This study examines components of outdoor adventure programs for middle school students, using a school with a successful program as a model. Outdoor education is often left out of these years for financial and safety reasons, however the benefits of adventure programs are both measurable and profound to self-concept, confidence, identity growth,…

Prevalence of School Policies, Programs, and Facilities That Promote a Healthy Physical School Environment

PubMed Central

Everett Jones, Sherry; Brener, Nancy D.; McManus, Tim

2003-01-01

Objectives. We examined the extent to which schools in the United States have health-promoting policies, programs, and facilities. Methods. We analyzed data from the School Health Policies and Programs Study 2000. Results. We found that public schools (vs private and Catholic schools), urban schools (vs rural and suburban schools), and schools with larger enrollments (vs smaller schools) had more health-promoting policies, programs, and facilities in place. On average, middle schools had 11.0 and middle/junior and high schools had 10.4 out of a possible 18 policies, programs, and facilities. Conclusions. Although some schools had many healthy physical environment features, room for improvement exists. Resources are available to help schools improve their health-promoting policies, programs, and facilities. PMID:12948982

Predictors of Middle School Students' Interest in Participating in an Incentive-Based Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program in Connecticut

PubMed Central

Morean, Meghan E.; Camenga, Deepa R.; Kong, Grace; Cavallo, Dana A.; Schepis, Ty S.

2014-01-01

Behavioral incentives have been used to encourage smoking cessation in older adolescents, but the acceptability of incentives to promote a smoke-free lifestyle in younger adolescents is unknown. To inform the development of novel, effective, school-based interventions for youth, we assessed middle school students' interest in participating in an incentive-based tobacco abstinence program. We surveyed 988 students (grades 6–8) attending three Connecticut middle schools to determine whether interest in program participation varied as a function of (1) intrapersonal factors (i.e., demographic characteristics (sex, age, race), smoking history, and trait impulsivity) and/or (2) aspects of program design (i.e., prize type, value, and reward frequency). Primary analyses were conducted using multiple regression. A majority of students (61.8%) reported interest in program participation. Interest did not vary by gender, smoking risk status, or offering cash prizes. However, younger students, non-Caucasian students, behaviorally impulsive students, and students with higher levels of self-regulation were more likely to report interest. Inexpensive awards (e.g., video games) offered monthly motivated program interest. In sum, middle school students reported high levels of interest in an incentive-based program to encourage a tobacco-free lifestyle. These formative data can inform the design of effective, incentive-based smoking cessation and prevention programs in middle schools. PMID:25147747

Middle School Program and Participatory Planning Drive School Design.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sullivan, Kevin

1996-01-01

Uses the example of award-winning Black Hawk Middle School in Minnesota to examine: (1) developing a middle school architecture; (2) benefits of the house concept; (3) the need for staff involvement in school design; (4) assembling houses into schools; (5) reduced discipline problems; (6) fostering teacher collaboration; and (7) measuring success.…

Building Success into Your Montessori Middle School Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sutton, Ann

2007-01-01

Montessori middle schools can be immensely successful and highly beneficial to students. Traditional schools notice differences in students who come from Montessori backgrounds; they find them to be adaptable self-starters who often take on leadership roles. Prestigious high schools seek to recruit Montessori middle school graduates. As more…

Comprehensive School Reform and Standardized Test Scores in Illinois Elementary and Middle Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McEnroe, James D.

2010-01-01

The study examined the effects of the federally funded Comprehensive School Reform (CSR) program on student performance on mandated standardized tests. The study focused on the mathematics and reading scores of Illinois public elementary and middle and junior high school students. The federal CSR program provided Illinois schools with an annual…

Effective Ninth-Grade Transition Programs Can Promote Student Success

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Roybal, Victoria; Thornton, Bill; Usinger, Janet

2014-01-01

The transition from middle into high school can be perilous for some students. High school freshmen fail at an alarming rate. In a general sense, the environment, expectations, structure, and culture of high schools are different from middle schools. However, school leaders can implement transition programs that may promote success of 9th graders.…

Alignment of Hands-On STEM Engagement Activities with Positive STEM Dispositions in Secondary School Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Christensen, Rhonda; Knezek, Gerald; Tyler-Wood, Tandra

2015-01-01

This study examines positive dispositions reported by middle school and high school students participating in programs that feature STEM-related activities. Middle school students participating in school-to-home hands-on energy monitoring activities are compared to middle school and high school students in a different project taking part in…

Effect of Two Different Screen Readers' Programs on Developing Using the Internet Skills of Blind Middle School Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mostafa, Akram Fathy; Bin Mta'en, Isa Bin Yahya

2017-01-01

Research aims to know the effect of two different designs of screen readers' programs on using the internet skills of blind middle school students, and the research sample consisted of (8) students from El-thoghr middle school students (Fousol El-Noor)-Jeddah where the student has been divided into two experimental groups each of (4) students. To…

The Intersection between 1:1 Laptop Implementation and the Characteristics of Effective Middle Level Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Downes, John M.; Bishop, Penny A.

2015-01-01

The number of middle level schools adopting 1:1 laptop programs has increased considerably during the past decade (e.g., Lowther, Strahl, Inan, & Bates, 2007; Storz & Hoffman, 2013; Texas Center for Educational Research, 2009). The cornerstone practices of the middle school concept (National Middle School Association, 2010), therefore,…

Implementing an Advisory Program in the Middle School. Georgia Comprehensive Guidance Series.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Missouri Univ., Columbia. Dept. of Counseling and Personnel Services.

This manual is designed to aid school personnel to establish a student advisory program in the middle school. The rationale, definition and benefits of the program are detailed in an initial section, including areas of responsibility and the role of principal, teachers, counselors, and special services staff. The second section presents a…

Middle School Exploratory Foreign Language Programs: A Position Paper.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Council of State Supervisors of Foreign Language.

Four types of exploratory foreign language programs are described: (1) the language overview course, (2) the trial-study course, (3) the Level I offering, and (4) the course for the non-college bound. It is largely in the middle schools (grades 6-8) and junior high schools (grades 7-9) that exploratory programs are being used. The language…

Effects of Summer Academic Programs in Middle School on High School Test Scores, Course-Taking, and College Major

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Li, Yan; Alfeld, Corinne; Kennedy, Rebecca Prince; Putallaz, Martha

2009-01-01

Through their participation in a seventh-grade talent search in 1996-1997, students qualified to attend a summer program at Duke University's Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP). of the North Carolina students in this group, some attended at least one summer program in middle school and others had qualified for but did not attend a summer…

Middle School Teachers' Perceptions of Computer-Assisted Reading Intervention Programs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bippert, Kelli; Harmon, Janis

2017-01-01

Middle schools often turn to computer-assisted reading intervention programs to improve student reading. The questions guiding this study are (a) in what ways are computer-assisted reading intervention programs utilized, and (b) what are teachers' perceptions about these intervention programs? Nineteen secondary reading teachers were interviewed…

Parental School Choices in Market-Oriented School Systems: Why Middle Class Asian Immigrants Self-Select into Specialized Academic Programs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Padilla, Hoang-Thuy

2012-01-01

This study addresses racial segregation in schools by examining the self-selecting patterns of middle class Asian immigrant parents in a public non-charter school district who enrolled their children in specialized academic programs. This phenomenological study focused on the educational history and the decision-making process of school choice in…

Helping Middle School Girls at Risk for School Failure Recover Their Confidence and Achieve School Success: An Experimental Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mann, Michael J.

2013-01-01

Middle school girls who are at risk have experienced a disproportionate number of intense and disruptive traumatic life events. Such events can adversely affect healthy development and often contribute to higher levels of school failure and problem behavior. Few programs focus on helping at-risk middle school girls achieve school success through…

Meeting the Preteen Vaccine Law: A Pilot Program in Urban Middle Schools.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Boyer-Chuanroong, Lynda; Deaver, Paul

2000-01-01

Describes the efforts, outcomes, and recommendations from an urban California school district's pilot program for vaccinating preteens in two diverse urban middle schools. Barriers and strategies included staff inexperience, educating students, informing parents, tracking vaccinations, coping with language diversity, and creating individualized…

Student Perceptions of the Transition from Elementary to Middle School.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Akos, Patrick

2002-01-01

This study sought to learn more about student perceptions during the transition from elementary to middle school. In response to students' concerns, it is suggested that school counselors implement preventive or proactive programming to assist students with the elementary to middle school transition. (Contains 22 references.) (GCP)

The Effects of an After-School Science Program on Middle School Female Students' Attitudes towards Science, Mathematics and Engineering.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ferreira, Maria M.

This study examined the impact of an after-school science program that incorporated cooperative learning, hands-on activities, mentoring, and role models on a group of minority female students' attitudes toward science, engineering, and mathematics. Eighteen African American middle school students participated in the study. Seven female engineers…

Detecting Students' Experiences of Discontinuities between Middle School and High School Mathematics Programs: Learning during Boundary Crossing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jansen, Amanda; Herbel-Eisenmann, Beth; Smith, John P., III

2012-01-01

Transitions from middle school to high school mathematics programs can be problematic for students due to potential differences between instructional approaches and curriculum materials. Given the minimal research on how students experience such differences, we report on the experiences of two students as they moved out of an integrated,…

Democracy at Work: The Struggle To Renorm One Middle Level Program.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Williamson, Ronald

Disagreement exists about the role and function of middle schools. Demand for improved student achievement, greater accountability, improved test scores, and greater responsiveness to parents characterize tensions. This paper reports on the efforts of one community to examine its middle-school program and reposition it to become more effective at…

The Read 180 Program: Analysis of Program Effect on the Reading Achievement, Motivation, Engagement, and Self-Efficacy of Sixth Grade Middle School Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lawson, Sylvia

2011-01-01

National testing standards have increased pressure on school personnel to identify and implement instructional practices that facilitate the academic achievement of at-risk students. No Child Left Behind legislation currently mandates that reading programs at the middle school level receiving federal funding must use scientifically validated…

Impact of an Afterschool Program on Middle School MAP Scale Scores for Math and Communication Arts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilson, Chris

2016-01-01

With the ever-increasing demands of Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) being placed on school districts, many are looking to afterschool programs to help students meet increasing standards. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the impact of an afterschool program on Middle School academic achievement. Principally, this study sought to…

Clinical Trial of Second Step Middle School Program: Impact on Bullying, Cyberbullying, Homophobic Teasing, and Sexual Harassment Perpetration

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Espelage, Dorothy L.; Low, Sabina; Van Ryzin, Mark J.; Polanin, Joshua R.

2015-01-01

Social-emotional learning programs are increasingly being implemented in U.S. schools to address a wide range of problematic behaviors (e.g., bullying, delinquency) and to promote academic success. The current study examined the direct and indirect impact of the Second Step Middle School Program (Committee for Children, 2008) on bullying,…

Anger Management Effects on Middle School Students with Emotional/Behavioral Disorders: Anger Log Use, Aggressive and Prosocial Behavior

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kellner, Millicent H.; Bry, Brenna H.; Salvador, Diana S.

2008-01-01

This study examined the impact of a classroom-based, 10-week, cognitive-behavioral, anger management program plus booster sessions on middle school students with emotional disorders attending a therapeutic day school. Forty-five students were in the study; 20 received the program. The program group completed significantly more anger logs compared…

Asheville Middle School: A 6-8 Community of Conscience and Intellect

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Roberts, Terry; Billings, Laura

2006-01-01

In this article, the authors talk about the Paideia program of the Asheville Middle School (AMS). Paideia is a Greek word that expresses the idea of nurturing the whole child. The Paideia Program is a systemic school transformation project based on the work of philosopher Mortimer Adler. The authors discuss the principles of the Paideia Program.…

The Impact of the Stanford Math Intervention Program and School Climate on Mathematics Achievement Levels of Female Middle School Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carwell, Tamika L.

2012-01-01

The study's focus was to determine whether or not there was a significant statistical relationship between improved student performance scores from the Education Program for Gifted Youth (EPGY) Stanford Math Intervention Program and Discovery Formative Assessment mathematics mean scores of female middle school students. An additional focus of…

School-Wide Discipline Policies: In-School Suspension in One Middle School.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chung, Gloria; Paul, Rachel

One of the more perplexing problems facing middle schools is the use of in-school suspension (ISS). So as to understand better the effects of this practice, one middle school's ISS program was studied and evaluated. Current research on ISS polices and practices is limited, and there is little evidence that supports its use or reform; however, in…

Girls Leading Outward

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hamed, Heather; Reyes, Jazmin; Moceri, Dominic C.; Morana, Laura; Elias, Maurice J.

2011-01-01

The authors describe a program implemented in Red Bank Middle School in New Jersey to help at-risk, minority middle school girls realize their leadership potential. The GLO (Girls Leading Outward) program was developed by the Developing Safe and Civil Schools Project at Rutgers University and is facilitated by university students. Selected middle…

If We Build It, We Will Come: Impacts of a Summer Robotics Program on Regular Year Attendance in Middle School. Policy Brief

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mac Iver, Martha Abele; Mac Iver, Douglas J.

2014-01-01

Recognizing the importance of both keeping middle school students engaged and improving their math skills, Baltimore City Public Schools (City Schools) developed a summer school STEM program involving not only math and science instruction but also the experience of building a robot and competing with those robots in a city-wide tournament.…

Violence Prevention in Middle School: A Preliminary Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

KIllam, Wendy K.; Roland, Catherine B.; Weber, Bill

2014-01-01

Violence in schools continues reflecting violence within society. There is a growing need for violence prevention programs within the schools that provide students with the skills needed to cope with interpersonal and relationship is-sues effectively. This study was conducted at a middle school and there were 345 middle school students (6th to 8th…

Teens, Power Tools, and Green Schools: Education for Sustainability through a University Environmental Design Program and Middle School Partnership

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Derr, Victoria

2017-01-01

This article explores the role of green schools in promoting education for sustainability by reflecting on a university-middle school partnership focused on sustainable design. Undergraduates and middle school students met weekly for a semester to learn about sustainability through simple design projects and activities that focused on…

Impact of an Immunization Education Program on Middle School Adolescents

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Glik, Deborah; Macpherson, Fiona; Todd, Wendy; Stone, Kathleen; Ang, Alfonso; Jones, Marcy Connell

2004-01-01

Objectives : To raise middle school student awareness, attitudes, and proactive behaviors about immunization, and to increase immunization rates among middle school students through implementation of a comprehensive integrated immunization promotion curriculum ( Immunization Plus! ) Methods: Evaluation used a quasi-experimental non-equivalent…

Rescuing Middle School Astronomy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mayo, L. A.; Janney, D.

2010-12-01

There is a crisis in education at the middle school level (Spellings, 2006). Recent studies point to large disparities in middle school performance in schools with high minority populations. The largest disparities exist in areas of math and science. Astronomy has a universal appeal for K-12 students but is rarely taught at the middle school level. When it is taught at all it is usually taught in isolation with few references in other classes such as other sciences (e.g. physics, biology, and chemistry), math, history, geography, music, art, or English. The problem is greatest in our most challenged school districts. With scores in reading and math below national averages in these schools and with most state achievement tests ignoring subjects like astronomy, there is little room in the school day to teach about the world outside our atmosphere. Add to this the exceedingly minimal training and education in astronomy that most middle school teachers have and it is a rare school that includes any astronomy teaching at all. In this presentation, we show how to develop and offer an astronomy education training program for middle school teachers encompassing a wide range of educational disciplines that are frequently taught at the middle school level. The prototype for this program was developed and launched in two of the most challenged and diverse school systems in the country; D.C. Public Schools, and Montgomery County (MD) Public Schools.

Integrating Districts in Comprehensive School Reform in the Middle-Grades: Lessons from Middle Start CSR

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gopalan, Pritha

2004-01-01

This report compares district leaders' perspectives on changes in school capacity, student outcomes and district policy over three years of implementation of Middle Start (MS), a comprehensive school reform program to demonstrate the potential for improving the effectiveness and sustainability of CSR at the school level through integrating…

Program Quality Review Training Materials for Elementary and Middle School Levels. Overhead Transparencies, Readings, Handouts, Samples of Student Work.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

California State Dept. of Education, Sacramento. Office of School Improvement.

This guidebook contains training materials to be used by California elementary and middle-level schools in conducting the Program Quality Review (PQR). The PQR process of curriculum self-review enables the school community to focus, through extensive discussion, on how the school's curriculum and instruction can be improved so that all students…

Curriculum-Based Vocational Assessment of Students with Special Needs at the Middle School/Junior High School Levels: The Practical Arts Evaluation System (PAES).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Swisher, Judy; Clark, Gary M.

1991-01-01

Describes the Practical Arts Evaluation System (PAES), a curriculum-based vocational assessment program for students with special needs at the middle school/junior high school level. Provides a rationale for curriculum-based assessment and occupational exploration at this level and describes benefits of the program. (Author/JOW)

Implications for School Leaders of the Impact of Math, Science, and Technology Magnet Programs on Middle School Student Achievement

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hinojosa, Lupita

2012-01-01

Although many national studies have been conducted on the effectiveness of magnet programs, there is limited research involving math, science, and technology magnet schools and their influence on student academic performance, especially at the middle school level. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a statistical difference existed…

Dating Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention with African American Middle Schoolers: Does Group Gender Composition Impact Dating Violence Attitudes?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Black, Beverly M.; Weisz, Arlene N.; Jayasundara, Dheeshana S.

2012-01-01

A dating violence and sexual assault prevention program was presented to 396, predominately African American, middle schoolers in two inner city schools in the United States. In one school the program was offered with a same-gender group composition; in the other school, the same program was offered with mixed-gender group composition. A…

The Middle School of Tomorrow. Chapter 15, The American Middle School: An Organizational Analysis.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Popper, Samuel H.

The future development of the middle school depends on its continued commitment to the social value of a differentiated early adolescent education and on its adoption of innovations aimed at the institutional integration of its values with a changing society. Flexibility of programs and self-concept development of adolescents are key middle school…

Protective Effects of Middle School Comprehensive Sex Education with Family Involvement

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Grossman, Jennifer M.; Tracy, Allison J.; Charmaraman, Linda; Ceder, Ineke; Erkut, Sumru

2014-01-01

Background: School-based comprehensive sex education programs can reduce early adolescents' risky sexual behavior. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a 3-year comprehensive sex education program in delaying vaginal sex for middle school students and whether the family component of the intervention contributes to its…

Design, Development and Implementation of a Middle School Computer Applications Curriculum.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pina, Anthony A.

This report documents the design, development, and implementation of computer applications curricula in a pilot program augmenting the regular curriculum for eighth graders at a private middle school. In assessing the needs of the school, a shift in focus was made from computer programming to computer application. The basic objectives of the…

A Bystander Bullying Psychoeducation Program with Middle School Students: A Preliminary Report

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Midgett, Aida; Doumas, Diana; Sears, Dara; Lundquist, Amanda; Hausheer, Robin

2015-01-01

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a brief, stand-alone bystander bullying psychoeducation program for middle school students. The purpose of the program was to train students to take action as peer advocates. Pre- and post-tests indicated that after completing the 90-minute psychoeducation program, students reported an increase in their…

Toward Social Justice: The Characteristics of an Effective Mathematics Intervention Program for Urban Middle School Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bowens, Bryan D.; Warren, Susan R.

2016-01-01

This two-part investigation (a) assessed the impact of the Jaime Escalante Math Program (JEMP), a structured summer mathematics intervention program, on the math achievement of urban middle school students, (b) identified the characteristics of the program that the administrators and teachers perceived to contribute to student achievement, and (c)…

Programs for Middle School Math: An Inventory of Existing Technology. Working Paper

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Saultz, Andrew

2012-01-01

In this working paper, Andrew Saultz of Michigan State University inventories the current landscape of technology programs available for middle school math. The working paper is not intended as a "consumers' guide" to technology programs, and the descriptions of some specific programs are not fully accurate or current. Readers who are interested…

"Teaching Is a Lot More than Just Showing up to Class and Grading Assignments": Preparing Middle-Level Teachers for Longevity in the Profession

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Van Overschelde, James P.; Saunders, Jane M.; Ash, Gwynne Ellen

2017-01-01

The university's teacher preparation program has implemented and continually refined a professional development school program, with extended university-school relationships in its middle-level certification program. This program offers dialogue, targeted learning activities, and intensive field-based experiences to help ease preservice teachers…

FMA Live! at Hardy Middle School

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-09-16

Leland Melvin, NASA Associate Administrator for Education and former 2x astronaut, Hardy Middle School Prinipal Patricia Pride, and Tom Buckmaster, President, Honeywell Hometown Solutions introduce "FMA Live!" at Hardy Middle School in Washington on Monday, Sept. 16th, 2013. "FMA Live!" is a program sponsored by NASA and Honeywell that teaches Newton's three laws of motion mixed with dance and music. The program travels across the country and has reached nearly 300,000 students.Photo Credit: (NASA/Jay Westcott)

FMA Live! at Hardy Middle School

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-09-16

Leland Melvin, NASA Associate Administrator for Education and former 2x astronaut,Hardy Middle School Prinipal Patricia Pride, and Tom Buckmaster, President, Honeywell Hometown Solutions introduce "FMA Live!" at Hardy Middle School in Washington on Monday, Sept. 16th, 2013. "FMA Live!" is a program sponsored by NASA and Honeywell that teaches Newton's three laws of motion mixed with dance and music. The program travels across the country and has reached nearly 300,000 students.Photo Credit: (NASA/Jay Westcott)

FMA Live! at Hardy Middle School

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-09-16

Two teachers at Hardy Middle School square off in foam suits as "FMA Live!" crew members explain Newton's third law of motion during a performance of "FMA Live!" at Hardy Middle School in Washington on Monday, Sept. 16th, 2013. "FMA Live!" is a program sponsored by NASA and Honeywell that teaches Newton's three laws of motion mixed with dance and music. The program travels across the country and has reached nearly 300,000 students.Photo Credit: (NASA/Jay Westcott)

Middle Grades Research: Not Yet Mature, but No Longer a Child.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mac Iver, Douglas J.; Epstein, Joyce L.

1993-01-01

Summarizes research on middle level schools and students that contributes to ongoing debates concerning grade span, school size, grouping of students, departmentalization, curriculum, instruction, advisory groups, interdisciplinary teaming, school-transition activities, extra-help programs, and student evaluation practices in the middle grades.…

Effects of Daily Physical Education on Physical Fitness and Weight Status in Middle School Adolescents

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Erfle, Stephen E.; Gamble, Abigail

2014-01-01

Background: In 2009, the Pennsylvania Department of Health developed the Active Schools Program (ASP) which required 30?minutes of daily physical education (PE) in middle schools to reduce childhood obesity. This investigation evaluated the ASP effects on physical fitness and weight status in middle school adolescents throughout 1 academic year.…

School Attachment Theory and Restitution Processes: Promoting Positive Behaviors in Middle Years Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Penner, Christine; Wallin, Dawn

2012-01-01

This paper presents the findings of a case study that examined school attachment and restitution strategies used in a middle years school to determine if the program had provided a viable means of promoting and sustaining positive behaviors among middle years students. Data were gathered by interviewing five teachers who had Restitution I training…

The Impact of the JostensRenaissance Program® on Overall Achievement in a New Jersey Middle School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carney-Ray, Michelle C.

2013-01-01

The purpose of this case study was to determine the perceptions of students, faculty, and parents about the JostensRenaissance Program® (JRP) on overall school climate in a New Jersey middle school. The population for this research consisted of fifth through eighth grade students who participated in the JRP during the 2011-2012 school year, as…

Explorations in Multi-Age Teaming (MAT): Evaluations of Three Projects in Fulton County, Georgia.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Elmore, Randy; Hopping, Linda; Jenkins-Miller, Minnie; McElroy, Camille; Minafee, Margaret; Wisenbaker, Joseph

Multi-Age Teaming (MAT) programs were implemented at Crabapple and McNair Middle Schools in Fulton County, Georgia, in the fall of 1993, and at Camp Creek Middle School in the fall of 1994. An important goal of these programs was the creation of school families within schools with multi-age teams of sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students. At…

Multiple Intelligences: Theory to Practice in New York City Schools. Middle School/High School. [Manual and Video Guide].

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Leopold, Marjorie

This program is a self-guided professional development experience that explains how to use multiple intelligences (MI) theory to improve teaching, learning, and achievement in middle and high school classrooms. The program consists of one manual and six VHS videos, each of which corresponds to one of the six modules listed in the table of…

The Impact of Supplemental Education Services Program on Middle School At-Risk Learners' Math and Reading Scores

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maxwell, June B.

2010-01-01

In the state of Georgia, local school systems are under pressure to increase at-risk middle school students' state scores in reading and math. At the data site, the local school system implemented a supplemental education service (SES) program for at-risk students in order to pass the Georgia Criterion Referenced Competency Test (CRCT) in reading…

Learning and Leading with Technology: A Case Study of Centennial Campus Magnet Middle School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Morris-Bryant, Edye Darlene

2012-01-01

The purpose of this single case study is to describe and document the implementation of a 1:1 laptop program for a middle school with a unique school-university partnership. The goal of this study is two-fold; one being to describe the implementation of a 1:1 laptop program and to document the lessons learned in leading a 1:1 laptop program. This…

Talent Development Middle Grades Program. What Works Clearinghouse Intervention Report

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

What Works Clearinghouse, 2013

2013-01-01

The "Talent Development Middle Grades Program" is a comprehensive reform model that transforms the structure and curriculum of large urban middle schools with the aim of improving student achievement and raising teacher and student expectations. Key features of the "Talent Development Middle Grades Program" include small…

School-to-Work and Inclusion in General Education Teacher Preparation Programs: Instructional Modules for Middle Childhood Subject Area Methods Courses.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hamill, Lee B.; Geer, Cindy H.

Six instructional modules for middle childhood subject area methods courses are designed to target students in preservice middle childhood general education programs. The modules have been developed for each of the content area methods courses to ensure all preservice teachers have ample exposure to the school-to-work (STW) philosophy and…

Teachers' Perspectives about an Anti-Bullying Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lester, Robin Rawlings; Maldonado, Nancy

2013-01-01

Bullying has become a nationwide concern at the K-12 level. Guided by the theoretical framework of social learning theory, this study explored the perceptions of secondary education teachers about the bully-proofing program in place at one target middle school. Despite the target middle school's anti-bullying program, the incidence of bullying had…

Preventing Adolescents' Externalizing and Internalizing Symptoms: Effects of the Penn Resiliency Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cutuli, J. J.; Gillham, Jane E.; Chaplin, Tara M.; Reivich, Karen J.; Seligman, Martin E. P.; Gallop, Robert J.; Abenavoli, Rachel M.; Freres, Derek R.

2013-01-01

This study reports secondary outcome analyses from a past study of the Penn Resiliency Program (PRP), a cognitive-behavioral depression prevention program for middle-school aged children. Middle school students (N = 697) were randomly assigned to PRP, PEP (an alternate intervention), or control conditions. Gillham et al., (2007) reported analyses…

Exploring strategies to promote middle school student participation in the school breakfast program

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Providing a school breakfast to students may be a practical intervention that improves energy balance, nutrient intake, and school academic achievement variables. The purpose of this pilot study was to identify the ecological factors influencing middle school student school breakfast participation a...

The Results of Teaching Middle School Students Two Relaxation Techniques as Part of a Conflict Prevention Program.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dacey, John S.; And Others

1997-01-01

Boston College Conflict Prevention Program techniques for relaxation and self-control were taught to middle-school students in two Boston schools. Preliminary results from teacher interviews revealed that students spontaneously used these methods to calm their "fight-or-flight" reactions in real conflicts. Results also indicated that…

A Longitudinal Assessment of the Effectiveness of a School-Based Mentoring Program in Middle School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nunez, Jose Carlos; Rosario, Pedro; Vallejo, Guillermo; Gonzalez-Pienda, Julio Antonio

2013-01-01

This work assessed the efficacy of a middle-school-based mentoring program designed to increase student use of self-regulated learning (SRL) strategies, self-efficacy for and the perceived usefulness of SRL as well as mathematics and language achievement. A longitudinal cluster randomized trial study design obtained evidence that found…

Helping Behaviorally At-Risk Middle School Students with the No Bad Actions Program: Winning with the N.B.A.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Slate, John R.; Jones, Craig H.

2003-01-01

Middle school boys at risk for behavior problems participated in an initiative (administered via an intramural basketball program) that taught positive skills and provided incentives for achieving academically and following rules. Participation depended on appropriate academic achievement and adherence to school rules. Participants displayed large…

Efficacy of a School-Based Treatment Program for Middle School Youth With ADHD: Pilot Data

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Evans, Steven W.; Axelrod, Jennifer; Langberg, Joshua M.

2004-01-01

The effects of a set of behavioral and educational interventions provided in a middle-school-based mental health program on the behavior and academic performance of 7 students diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were studied. The treatments included educational, social skills and family interventions designed to target…

Evaluation of a Family-based Substance Abuse Prevention Program Targeted for the Middle School Years.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Abbey, Antonia; Pilgrim, Colleen; Hendrickson, Peggy; Buresl, Sue

2000-01-01

Evaluates family-based substance abuse prevention program implemented in a rural community for families with middle school students. In comparison with nonparticipants, students had higher family cohesion, less family fighting, greater school attachment, higher self-esteem, and believed alcohol should be consumed at an older age, at one-year…

Perceptions of California Middle School AVID and Non-AVID Teachers regarding Their Partnership and AVID Program Implementation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pagano, Paul Gregory

2009-01-01

Purpose. The purposes of this study were to compare the perceptions of public middle school AVID and Non-AVID teachers regarding (a) their partnership in the AVID program, (b) the effectiveness of AVID program implementation, and (c) the factors that impede or facilitate AVID program implementation. Methodology. A descriptive, ex post facto…

Implementing a Motivational Program Using Musical Skit Development as a Technique To Improve Performance Skills of Middle School Students.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Roi, Christine S.

A pilot program was developed and implemented to improve the music performance of middle school choral students. A target group of 27 low performing students in grade seven and eight participated in the program. The program utilized four strategies for improving performance skills. Lectures were given by inspirational leaders. Small groups were…

Middle School Dropout? Enrollment Trends in the California 4-H Youth Development Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Russell, Stephen T.; Heck, Katherine E.

2008-01-01

There is a widespread belief that youth drop out of youth development programs during the middle school years. Alternative explanations for the smaller number of adolescent program participants have yet to be explored. We examine age trends in program enrollment using data from over 221,000 youth enrolled in the California 4-H Youth Development…

Solar cell and photonics outreach for middle school students and teachers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gilchrist, Pamela O.; Alexander, Alonzo B.

2017-08-01

This paper will describe the curriculum development process employed to develop a solar cell and photonics curriculum unit for students underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields. Information will explain how the curriculum unit was piloted with middle and high school teachers from public schools in North Carolina, high school students from underrepresented groups in an informal science program, and workshop settings. Measures used to develop the curriculum materials for middle school students will be presented along with program findings documenting students' urban versus rural interest in STEM, career aspirations, and 21st century learning skills in informal learning settings.

[Effects of Group Counseling Program Based on Goal Attainment Theory for Middle School Students with Emotional and Behavioral Problems].

PubMed

Jeong, In Ju; Kim, Soo Jin

2017-04-01

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a group counseling program based on goal attainment theory on self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, and school adjustment of middle school students with emotional and behavioral problems. Forty-four middle school students with emotional and behavioral problems (22 in the experimental group and 22 in the control group) from G city participated in this study. Data were collected from July 30 to September 24, 2015. The experimental group received the 8-session program, scheduled once a week, with each session lasting 45 minutes. Outcome variables included self-esteem, interpersonal relationship, and school adjustment. There were significant increases for self-esteem (t=3.69, p=.001), interpersonal relationship (t=8.88, p<.001), and school adjustment (t=4.92, p<.001) in the experimental group compared to the control group. These results indicate that the group counseling program based on goal attainment theory is very effective in increasing self-esteem, interpersonal relationship, and school adjustment for middle school students with emotional and behavioral problems. Therefore, it is recommended that the group counseling program based on goal attainment theory be used as an effective psychiatric nursing intervention for mental health promotion and the prevention of mental illness in adolescents. © 2017 Korean Society of Nursing Science

Abbott Opinions #1-5.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Education Law Center, Inc., Newark, NJ.

This document contains the following "Abbott Opinions": (1) "Early Childhood Education"; (2) "Adequate School Facilities"; (3) "Supplemental Programs and Whole School Reform in Elementary Schools"; (4) "Supplemental Programs in Middle and High Schools"; and (5) "Planning Programs and Budgets…

Effects of a prevention program for internet addiction among middle school students in South Korea.

PubMed

Yang, Sun-Yi; Kim, Hee-Soon

2018-05-01

This study explored the effects of a self-regulatory efficacy improvement program on self-control, self-efficacy, internet addiction, and time spent on the internet among middle school students in South Korea. The program was led by school nurses, and it is integrated self-efficacy and self-regulation promotion strategies based on Bandura's social cognitive theory. A quasi-experimental, nonequivalent, control group, pre-posttest design was used. The participants were 79 middle school students. Measurements included the Self-Control Scale, Self-Efficacy Scale, Internet Addiction Proneness Scale, and an assessment of internet addiction. Self-control and self-efficacy significantly increased and internet addiction and time spent on the internet significantly decreased in the intervention group compared with the control group. A program led by school nurses that integrated and applied self-efficacy and self-regulation intervention strategies proved effective for prevention of students' internet addiction. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Summer of Innovation Kick Off

NASA Image and Video Library

2010-06-09

Performers from Los Angeles Hamilton High School's Kid Tribe entertain teachers and middle school students during the kick off of NASA's Summer of Innovation program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., Thursday, June 10, 2010. Through the program, NASA will engage thousands of middle school students and teachers in stimulating math and science-based education programs with the goal of increasing the number of future scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Summer of Innovation Kick Off

NASA Image and Video Library

2010-06-09

A performer from Los Angeles Hamilton High School's Kid Tribe entertains teachers and middle school students during the kick off of NASA's Summer of Innovation program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., Thursday, June 10, 2010. Through the program, NASA will engage thousands of middle school students and teachers in stimulating math and science-based education programs with the goal of increasing the number of future scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Summer of Innovation Kick Off

NASA Image and Video Library

2010-06-09

Teachers and middle school students react to performers from Los Angeles Hamilton High School's Kid Tribe during the kick off of NASA's Summer of Innovation program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., Thursday, June 10, 2010. Through the program, NASA will engage thousands of middle school students and teachers in stimulating math and science-based education programs with the goal of increasing the number of future scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Middle School Girls' Science Motivation and Performance: Cognitive Effects of an Out-of-School Time Program with Nutrition and Fitness Components

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gatz, Jennifer

2017-01-01

Middle school is a critical period in the cognitive and academic development of young women, and a time when their performance and interest in science may decline. After school programs play a key role in engaging youth in learning by providing opportunities to increase health and wellness, set goals, and strategize problem solving. Skills…

Factors Predicting READ 180 18-Week Grades among Middle School Students: The Role of Self-Efficacy, Ethnicity, Reading and Language Skills and Socioeconomic Indicators

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brown, Rhonda M.

2014-01-01

Middle school students who struggle in reading are likely to also experience difficulty in their other subjects in school. A variety of reading intervention programs exist for schools to utilize to increase reading comprehension. The Scholastic READ 180 program is used as part of this study. This small, focused study of 160 students examined the…

Improving ISTEP Scores through Remediation: An Evaluation of the Language Arts Remediation at Chauncey Rose Middle School, Vigo County School Corporation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Emmert, Bryan E.

A study examined the effects of a remediation program initiated at Chauncey Rose Middle School, Terre Haute, Indiana, during the 1996-97 school year. After the ISTEP test was administered to the sixth-grade class, a pull-out program for remediation was started the following year using grant monies. Subjects were 14 sixth graders, selected because…

Teacher Kim Cantrell from the Edwards Air Force Base Middle School, Edwards, Calif., participating in a live uplink at NASA Dryden as part of NASA's Explorer Schools program, asks the crew of the International Space Station a question

NASA Image and Video Library

2003-07-15

Teacher Kim Cantrell from the Edwards Air Force Base Middle School, Edwards, Calif., participating in a live uplink at NASA Dryden as part of NASA's Explorer Schools program, asks the crew of the International Space Station a question.

Principals' instructional management skills and middle school science teacher job satisfaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gibbs-Harper, Nzinga A.

The purpose of this research study was to determine if a relationship exists between teachers' perceptions of principals' instructional leadership behaviors and middle school teacher job satisfaction. Additionally, this study sought to assess whether principal's instructional leadership skills were predictors of middle school teachers' satisfaction with work itself. This study drew from 13 middle schools in an urban Mississippi school district. Participants included teachers who taught science. Each teacher was given the Principal Instructional Management Rating Scale (PIMRS; Hallinger, 2011) and the Teacher Job Satisfaction Questionnaire (TJSQ; Lester, 1987) to answer the research questions. The study was guided by two research questions: (a) Is there a relationship between the independent variables Defining the School's Mission, Managing the Instructional Program, and Developing the School Learning Climate Program and the dependent variable Work Itself?; (b) Are Defining the School's Mission, Managing the Instructional Program, and Developing the School Learning Climate Program predictors of Work Itself? The Pearson's correlation and multiple regression analysis were utilized to examine the relationship between the three dimensions of principals' instructional leadership and teacher satisfaction with work itself. The data revealed that there was a strong, positive correlation between all three dimensions of principals' instructional leadership and teacher satisfaction with work itself. However, the multiple regression analysis determined that teachers' perceptions of principals' instructional management skills is a slight predictor of Defining the School's Mission only.

Extending Student Learning Opportunities in a 6-8 Middle School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Waggoner, Christine; Cline, Lisa

2006-01-01

In 2004, South Charlotte Middle School (SCMS), Charlotte, North Carolina, was named "A School to Watch" by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform. One of the program components cited as highly successful by the visiting committee representing the Forum was the provision of an enrichment period called the ninth block. Ninth…

Secondary Prevention Efforts at the Middle School Level: An Application of the Behavior Education Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lane, Kathleen Lynne; Capizzi, Andrea M.; Fisher, Marisa H.; Ennis, Robin Parks

2012-01-01

In this study we examine the impact of the Behavior Education Program (BEP; Hawken, MacLeod, & Rawlings, 2007) with four middle school students who were not responsive to a comprehensive primary prevention program including academic, behavioral and social components. To extend this line of inquiry we (a) conducted a functional behavioral…

Incorporating a Healthy Reimbursable Snack in an Afterschool Homework Program for Middle School Students: A Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nanney, Marilyn S.; Olaleye, Temitope M.; Wang, Qi

2012-01-01

Background: This study tested the feasibility and acceptability of adding a reimbursable snack that meets the Institute of Medicine nutrition recommendations to an afterschool homework program for middle school students. Methods: Snack menu was developed and administered to students attending an afterschool homework program over 12 weeks. In…

Development of an Intervention Map for a Parent Education Intervention to Prevent Violence Among Hispanic Middle School Students.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Murray, Nancy; Kelder, Steve; Parcel, Guy; Orpinas, Pamela

1998-01-01

Describes development of an intervention program for Hispanic parents to reduce violence by increased monitoring of their middle school students. Program development used a five-step guided intervention mapping process. Student surveys and parent interviews provided data to inform program design. Intervention mapping ensured involvement with the…

Selected Federal Education Programs That Can Help Middle and High School Students Get an Excellent Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alliance for Excellent Education, 2006

2006-01-01

This document presents a chart titled "Selected Federal Education Programs That Can Help Middle and High School Students Get an Excellent Education." It divides into five columns: (1) "No Child Left Behind" Programs (and Other Reauthorizations); (2) FY 2006 Final Appropriation; (3) FY 2007 Bush Budget; (4) FY 2007 House…

What Role for Middle School Sports?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McEwin, C. Kenneth; Dickinson, Thomas S.

1998-01-01

Safe, developmentally appropriate play is difficult to achieve when middle schools move into the competitive interscholastic arena. Problems associated with middle-level sports programs include students' predisposition to physical injury, psychological unreadiness, high attrition rates, improper coaching, and liability issues. Improving…

Urban Forestry Laboratory Exercises for Elementary, Middle and High School Students.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kupkowski, Gary; And Others

The curriculum in this program has been developed for the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Each level builds on the other, and forms a "thread of skills" that are upgraded at each level. The program is divided into two components. The first component is for the development of a school arboretum, tree walk, and herbarium. The second…

Middle School Students Discussing Controversial Issues to Learn about Civic Engagement: A Randomized Evaluation of the Word Generation Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lin, Alex; Lawrence, Joshua; Snow, Catherine

2014-01-01

Although past research suggests that civic education programs can be effective in helping students become more civically engaged, this study tests whether these treatment effects are generalizable across an urban school district with multiple middle school sites. This study also contributes understanding of how treatment effects may vary for…

The Impact of the Social Order to Increase Enrollment in Programs of Additional Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zolotareva, Angelina V.; Bayborodova, Liudmila V.; Lehomzeva, Elena N.; Sukhanova, Yulia V.; Razumova, Anzhelika B.

2016-01-01

The purpose of the study is to examine the social demand impact on increasing the children's enrollment of supplementary education programs. The survey has involved children of younger and middle school age (n = 2,206), high school students (n = 2,162), and parents of children of preschool (n = 313), younger and middle school age (n = 262). The…

A Computer Based Education (CBE) Program for Middle School Mathematics Intervention

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gulley, Bill

2009-01-01

A Computer Based Education (CBE) program for intervention mathematics was developed, used, and modified over a period of three years in a computer lab at an Arizona Title I middle school. The program is described along with a rationale for the need, design, and use of such a program. Data was collected in the third year and results of the program…

77 FR 61413 - Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-10-09

... Prevention's new teen dating violence prevention initiative. To address the gaps in research and practice, CDC has developed Dating Matters, teen dating violence prevention program that includes programming... participants include: middle school students age 11 to 14 years; middle school parents; brand ambassadors...

Peer Connectedness in the Middle School Band Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rawlings, Jared R.; Stoddard, Sarah A.

2017-01-01

Previous research suggests that students participating in school-based musical ensembles are more engaged in school and more likely to connect to their peers in school; however, researchers have not specifically investigated peer connectedness among adolescents in school-based music ensembles. The purpose of this study was to explore middle school…

Exploring Strategies to Promote Middle School Student Participation in the School Breakfast Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cullen, Karen Weber; Thompson, Deborah I.; Watson, Kathleen B.

2012-01-01

Purpose/Objective: Providing a school breakfast to students may be a practical intervention that improves energy balance, nutrient intake, and school academic achievement variables. This purpose of this pilot study was to identify the ecological factors influencing middle school student school breakfast participation and possible strategies to…

Protective effects of middle school comprehensive sex education with family involvement.

PubMed

Grossman, Jennifer M; Tracy, Allison J; Charmaraman, Linda; Ceder, Ineke; Erkut, Sumru

2014-11-01

School-based comprehensive sex education programs can reduce early adolescents' risky sexual behavior. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a 3-year comprehensive sex education program in delaying vaginal sex for middle school students and whether the family component of the intervention contributes to its effectiveness. This longitudinal evaluation followed a cohort of 6th graders (N = 2453) through the end of 8th grade. The design used random assignment of 24 schools into treatment and comparison conditions. The analysis included multiple-group logistic regression to assess differences in delay of sex between intervention and comparison groups. In schools where the program was taught, 16% fewer boys and 15% fewer girls had had sex by the end of 8th grade compared to boys and girls at comparison schools. Completing family activities during the first year of the program predicted delayed sexual debut for boys. Theory-based, developmentally appropriate, comprehensive sex education programs that include parent involvement can be effective in delaying vaginal sex for middle school students. Parent involvement is particularly important for boys, as family activities may encourage parents to talk with their sons earlier and more frequently. © 2014, American School Health Association.

Developing school-pharmacist partnerships to enhance correct medication use and pain medication literacy in Taiwan.

PubMed

Chang, Fong-Ching; Chi, Hsueh-Yun; Huang, Li-Jung; Lee, Chun-Hsien; Yang, Jyun-Long; Yeh, Ming-Kung

2015-01-01

To evaluate the effectiveness of the health promoting school (HPS)-community pharmacist partnership program that promotes students' correct medication use and enhances pain medication literacy in Taiwan. Pre- and post-studies and intervention/comparison group comparisons. Primary and middle schools, along with their communities, in Taiwan. In 2013, baseline and follow-up self-administered, online surveys were received from 5,373 students enrolled in intervention primary and middle schools and from 4,643 students enrolled in comparison primary and middle schools. The level of medication literacy, including correct medication use knowledge, self-efficacy, and skills. The development and implementation of the HPS-community pharmacist partnership program in primary and middle schools significantly enhanced students' knowledge, self-efficacy, and skills in correct medication use and pain medication literacy (P <0.001). The HPS-community pharmacist partnership had a positive impact on enhancing correct medication use and pain medication literacy in Taiwan.

Predictors and consequences of prescription drug misuse during middle school.

PubMed

Tucker, Joan S; Ewing, Brett A; Miles, Jeremy N V; Shih, Regina A; Pedersen, Eric R; D'Amico, Elizabeth J

2015-11-01

Non-medical prescription drug use (NMPDU) is a growing public health problem among adolescents. This is the first study to examine the correlates of early NMPDU initiation during middle school, and how early initiation is associated with four domains of functioning in high school (mental health, social, academic, and delinquency). Students initially in 6th-8th grades from 16 middle schools completed in-school surveys between 2008 and 2011 (Waves 1-5), and a web-based survey in 2013-2014 (Wave 6). We used discrete time survival analysis to assess predictors of initiation from Waves 1 to 5 based on students who provided NMPDU information at any of these waves (n=12,904), and regression analysis to examine high school outcomes associated with initiation based on a sample that was followed into high school, Wave 6 (n=2539). Low resistance self-efficacy, family substance use, low parental respect, and offers of other substances from peers were consistently associated with NMPDU initiation throughout middle school. Further, perceiving that more of one's peers engaged in other substance use was associated with initiation at Wave 1 only. By high school, those students who initiated NMPDU during middle school reported lower social functioning, and more suspensions and fighting, compared to students who did not initiate NMPDU during middle school. NMPDU initiation during middle school is associated with poorer social functioning and greater delinquency in high school. It is important for middle school prevention programs to address NMPDU. Such programs should focus on both family and peer influences, as well as strengthening resistance self-efficacy. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

In-School Suspension: Pedagogy, Praxis, and Program Effectiveness at the Middle and High School Levels for At-Risk Students and Its Affects on Academic Achievement and Retention

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shipman, Larry Douglas, Sr.

2013-01-01

Middle and high schools across America are striving to equip their students with the tools necessary for achieving their highest academic potential to become model citizens. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine the strategies and interventions available for middle and high school students referred to In-school suspension (ISS)…

A Delphi study: Practitioners' perceptions of how the science curriculum is differentiated for academically gifted students at the middle school level

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kelley, Jean Mary

The purpose of this study was to identify, analyze, and compare the perceptions of selected district science educators and teachers of middle school science students regarding the following issues: (1) Current methods of differentiating science instruction for gifted middle school students. (2) Strengths of the current methods of differentiating science instruction for gifted middle school students. (3) Weaknesses of the current methods of differentiating science instruction for gifted middle school students. (4) The types of training/experience needed to prepare teachers to effectively differentiate science instruction for gifted middle school students. (5) The steps need to develop an effective differentiated science program at the middle school level. (6) Trends for the future development of differentiated science programs at the middle school level. The panel of educators was identified using the Delphi technique and asked to participate in the study by responding to the research questions. The responses to the first round were condensed into two lists of discrete statements, and in the second round, each group of panelists was asked to rank each statement on a Likert scale. A third round was sent to each group of panel members showing the median and interquartile ranges of the second round. Panelists could adjust their responses based on the results of the second round. The analysis of the data was computed using the computer program Statistics Package for the Social Sciences. Based on the data obtained, the following results and conclusions were determined. The coordinators and the teachers both considered training of teachers, strategies for differentiation, and future trends to be the most important considerations. The areas with the most differences were those dealing with the current methods of differentiating science instruction at the middle school level. There were several limitations identified in this study. Among them were the makeup of the sample of panelists and different definitions of the same term(s). If we are to address the needs of middle school students who are academically gifted in science, teachers and coordinators need to communicate more about expectations in the classroom and what is really happening.

Students' Perspectives of Urban Middle School Physical Education Programs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dyson, Ben; Coviello, Nicole; DiCesare, Emma; Dyson, Lisa

2009-01-01

The purpose of this study was to explore and interpret students' perspectives of their experiences in four urban middle school physical education programs. Focus group interviews with 76 students were supported by field notes and researchers' reflective journals. Researchers used constant comparison methods (Lincoln & Guba, 1985) to identify seven…

An Interactive Analytical Chemistry Summer Camp for Middle School Girls

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Robbins, Mary E.; Schoenfisch, Mark H.

2005-01-01

A summer outreach program, which was implemented for the first time in the summer of 2004, that provided middle school girls with an opportunity to conduct college-level analytical chemistry experiments under the guidance of female graduate students is explained. The program proved beneficial to participants at each level.

Reclaiming Advisory: Advocacy in Action

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bennett, Cory A.; Martin, Kathryn

2018-01-01

Exemplary middle schools have a variety of programs that support students' needs and help them adjust socially and emotionally; advisory programs can be one structure to effectively provide some of this support. This article shares the story of how a group of middle level teachers and teacher leaders within a culturally diverse school reclaimed…

Effect of Vocabulary Test Preparation on Low-Income Black Middle School Students' Reading Scores

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mitchell, Ingrid; Nistor, Nicolae; Baltes, Beate; Brown, Michelle

2016-01-01

Black middle school students in the United States continue to perform poorly on standardized reading achievement tests in comparison to other racial and ethnic groups. The purpose of this research study was to examine the effectiveness of a vocabulary-focused test preparation program for Black middle school students. The theoretical framework…

India: A Myriad of Cultures. Three Learning Modules for Middle School Students.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jassim, Charlene

Three learning modules designed for middle school students by a middle school teacher are presented in this document. The three modules are designed to supplement the regular textbook program for teaching about India. They are specifically created to fulfill the needs and interests of 11- to 14-year-old students. The modules contain elements of…

Drama and Theatre in the Junior High/Middle School...Striving for New Heights and Insight.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schindel, Dorothy Napp

1989-01-01

Outlines the mission of the American Alliance for Theatre and Education's Committee on Junior High/Middle School Theatre Programs. Describes the committee's seminars and workshop activities, and mentions ideas under consideration for future projects. Invites readers to join the network of Junior High/Middle School teachers, and calls for articles…

What Works Clearinghouse Quick Review: "KIPP Middle Schools: Impacts on Achievement and Other Outcomes, Final Report"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

What Works Clearinghouse, 2013

2013-01-01

This study examined whether attending a Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) middle school improved students' reading, math, social studies, and science achievement for up to 4 years following enrollment. The study reported that students attending KIPP middle schools scored statistically significantly higher than matched students on all of the state…

Preparing for the Educational Black Hole? Teachers' Learning in Two Pathways into Middle School Social Studies Teaching

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Conklin, Hilary G.

2010-01-01

The author presents findings from the first phase of a longitudinal, comparative case study that investigates what teachers learn about intellectually demanding social studies teaching at the middle school level from two distinctive teacher education pathways: a specialized middle school teacher education program and a secondary social studies…

A Case Study of the Efficacy of Middle College on Educational Advancement

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilson, Piper

2015-01-01

The purpose of the study was to examine the role of a middle college as a viable educational alternative to the traditional school environment and as one that supported student transition from high school into post-secondary education. Middle college is a unique transitional program in which students can participate in high school and college…

Academic Achievement and Transcendental Meditation: A Study with At-Risk Urban Middle School Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nidich, Sanford; Mjasiri, Shujaa; Nidich, Randi; Rainforth, Maxwell; Grant, James; Valosek, Laurent; Chang, Walter; Zigler, Ronald L.

2011-01-01

The middle school level is of particular concern to educators because of poor standardized test performance. This study evaluated change in academic achievement in public middle school students practicing the Transcendental Meditation[R] program compared to controls. A total of 189 students who were below proficiency level at baseline in English…

Coming from Behind: A "Catch-up" Philosophy in Education. The Story of Carver Middle School.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Markham, Robert M.; Shelly, Paul

Because of the high number of at-risk students at Carver Middle School (Meridian, Mississippi), the principal developed several programs to bring student achievement to the level commensurate with other students around the nation. The Early Bird Program is a Chapter One program of individualized work in math, reading, and language arts classes to…

Middle/High School Students in the Research Laboratory: A Summer Internship Program Emphasizing the Interdisciplinary Nature of Biology

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McMiller, Tracee; Lee, Tameshia; Saroop, Ria; Green, Tyra; Johnson, Casonya M.

2006-01-01

We describe an eight-week summer Young Scientist in Training (YSIT) internship program involving middle and high school students. This program exposed students to current basic research in molecular genetics, while introducing or reinforcing principles of the scientific method and demonstrating the uses of mathematics and chemistry in biology. For…

Effective Reading Programs for Middle and High Schools: A Best-Evidence Synthesis. Educator's Summary

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Center for Data-Driven Reform in Education (NJ3), 2008

2008-01-01

What reading programs have been proven to help middle and high school students to succeed? To find out, this review summarizes evidence on four types of programs designed to improve the reading achievement of students in grades 6-12: (1) Reading Curricula (Curr), such as "LANGUAGE!," "McDougal Littel," and other standard and alternative textbooks;…

Girls in Engineering, Mathematics and Science, GEMS: A Science Outreach Program for Middle-School Female Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dubetz, Terry A.; Wilson, Jo Ann

2013-01-01

Girls in Engineering, Mathematics and Science (GEMS) is a science and math outreach program for middle-school female students. The program was developed to encourage interest in math and science in female students at an early age. Increased scientific familiarity may encourage girls to consider careers in science and mathematics and will also help…

An Investigation of the Combined Assessments Used as Entrance Criteria for a Gifted English Middle School Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lindsey, Colleen D.

2012-01-01

The purpose of this study was to determine if the four assessments for entrance into an academic middle school gifted English program were accurately predicting success, as measured by students' grades each nine-week grading period. Some students were dismissed from the program each year because they could not maintain the required minimum average…

Effects of the "TOUCHMATH" Program Compared to a Number Line Strategy to Teach Addition Facts to Middle School Students with Moderate Intellectual Disabilities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fletcher, Dale; Boon, Richard T.; Cihak, David F.

2010-01-01

The purpose of this study was to systematically replicate and extend previous studies of the TOUCHMATH program, a multi-sensory mathematics program (Bullock, Pierce, & McClellan, 1989). Three middle school students with moderate and multiple disabilities (e.g., autism and moderate intellectual disabilities) participated. Students were taught how…

Promoting Gender Equity in Middle and Secondary School Sports Programs. ERIC Digest.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Priest, Laurie; Summerfield, Liane M.

This digest provides background information about gender equity in sports and physical activity as well as specific strategies for achieving equity at the middle and secondary school levels. The paper begins by describing gender equitable sports programs as ones in which either boys or girls would be pleased to accept as its own the program of the…

Middle School Youth: Satisfaction with and Responses to a Dating Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Elias-Lambert, Nada; Black, Beverly; Sharma, Yasoda

2010-01-01

This study examined how group composition influences students' level of satisfaction with a dating violence and sexual assault prevention program. A 10- to 12-session program was presented to 396 urban African American middle school students in mixed- and same-gender groups. Both males and females were significantly more satisfied with the…

Integrating to Learn and Learning to Integrate: A Case Study of an Online Master's Program on Science-Mathematics Integration for Middle School Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Mimi Miyoung; Chauvot, Jennifer; Plankis, Brian; Vowell, Julie; Culpepper, Shea

2011-01-01

iSMART (Integration of Science, Mathematics, and Reflective Teaching) Program is an online science and mathematics integrated graduate program for middle school teachers across the state of Texas. As part of a large design-based research project, this paper describes the initial stages of the design process of the iSMART program for its first…

Neuroscience in Middle Schools: A Professional Development and Resource Program that Models Inquiry-Based Strategies and Engages Teachers in Classroom Implementation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

MacNabb, Carrie; Schmitt, Lee; Michlin, Michael; Harris, Ilene; Thomas, Larry; Chittendon, David; Ebner, Timothy J.; Dubinsky, Janet M.

2006-01-01

The Department of Neuroscience at the University of Minnesota and the Science Museum of Minnesota have developed and implemented a successful program for middle school (grades 5-8) science teachers and their students, called Brain Science on the Move. The overall goals have been to bring neuroscience education to underserved schools, excite…

Diabetes Awareness of Low-Income Middle School Students Participating in the Help a Friend, Help Yourself Youth Diabetes Awareness Education Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wroten, Kathryn; Reames, Elizabeth S.; Tuuri, Georgianna

2012-01-01

The study reported here investigated the effectiveness of the LSU AgCenter Help a Friend, Help Yourself youth diabetes education curriculum to increase knowledge and awareness of diabetes and its symptoms in low-income middle school students participating in the Boys and Girls Club after-school program. The curriculum includes four lessons with…

Opening All Options. Proceedings of the Ohio Middle School and Junior High School Career Guidance Conference (Columbus, Ohio, June 24-26, 1987).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ohio State Dept. of Education, Columbus.

This document presents the conference proceedings of a career guidance conference which focused attention on the need to develop a comprehensive career guidance program in Ohio middle and junior high schools. Papers include: (1) "Competency-Based Guidance Programs: A Model of the Future" (C. D. Johnson and Sharon Johnson); (2) "How…

A quantitative comparative analysis of Advancement via Independent Determination (AVID) in Texas middle schools

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reed, Krystal Astra

The "Advancement via Individual Determination (AVID) program was designed to provide resources and strategies that enable underrepresented minority students to attend 4-year colleges" (AVID Center, 2013, p. 2). These students are characterized as the forgotten middle in that they have high test scores, average-to-low grades, minority or low socioeconomic status, and will be first-generation college students (AVID, 2011). Research indicates (Huerta, Watt, & Butcher, 2013) that strict adherence to 11 program components supports success of students enrolled in AVID, and AVID certification depends on districts following those components. Several studies (AVID Center, 2013) have investigated claims about the AVID program through qualitative analyses; however, very few have addressed this program quantitatively. This researcher sought to determine whether differences existed between student achievement and attendance rates between AVID and non-AVID middle schools. To achieve this goal, the researcher compared eighth-grade science and seventh- and eighth-grade mathematics scores from the 2007 to 2011 Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) and overall attendance rates in demographically equivalent AVID and non-AVID middle schools. Academic Excellence Indicator System (AEIS) reports from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) were used to obtain 2007 to 2011 TAKS results and attendance information for the selected schools. The results indicated a statistically significant difference between AVID demonstration students and non-AVID students in schools with similar CI. No statistically significant differences were found on any component of the TAKS for AVID economically disadvantaged students. The mean scores indicated an achievement gap between non-AVID and AVID demonstration middle schools. The findings from the other three research questions indicated no statistically significant differences between AVID and non-AVID student passing rates on the seventh- and eighth-grade TAKS math tests or on overall attendance rates. The mean scores on the eighth-grade TAKS science test revealed some positive results in the academic performance of economically disadvantaged in non-AVID demonstration middle schools. Specifically, the results indicated that the mean passing percentage of AVID demonstration was lower than that of non-AVID middle schools. The TAKS scores showed a small achievement gap between non-AVID and AVID demonstration middle schools.

A Meta-Analysis of the Effectiveness of Interactive Middle School Cannabis Prevention Programs

PubMed Central

Lize, Steven E.; Iachini, Aidyn L.; Tang, Weizhou; Tucker, Joshua; Seay, Kristen D.; Clone, Stephanie; DeHart, Dana; Browne, Teri

2017-01-01

This meta-analysis examines the effectiveness of interactive middle school-based drug prevention programs on adolescent cannabis use in North America, as well as program characteristics that could moderate these effects. Interactive programs, compared to more didactic, lecture style programs, involve participants in skill-building activities and focus on interaction among participants. A systematic literature search was conducted for English-language studies from January 1998 to March 2014. Studies included evaluations using random assignment or a quasi-experimental design of interactive school-based substance use prevention programs delivered to adolescents (aged 12–14) in North American middle schools (grades 6–8). Data were extracted using a coding protocol. The outcomes of interest were post-treatment cannabis use, intent to use, and refusal skills compared across intervention and control groups. Effect sizes (Cohen’s d) were calculated from continuous measures, and dichotomous measures were converted to the d index. A total of 30 studies yielding 23 independent samples were included. The random effects pooled effect size for cannabis use (k=21) was small (d̄=−0.07, p<0.01) and favorable for the prevention programs. The pooled effect sizes for intention to use (k=3) and refusal skills (k=3) were not significant. Moderator analyses indicated significant differences in program effectiveness between instructor types, with teachers found to be most effective (d̄ =−0.08, p=0.02). The findings provide further support for the use of interactive school-based programs to prevent cannabis use among middle school students in North America. PMID:27785662

A Meta-analysis of the Effectiveness of Interactive Middle School Cannabis Prevention Programs.

PubMed

Lize, Steven E; Iachini, Aidyn L; Tang, Weizhou; Tucker, Joshua; Seay, Kristen D; Clone, Stephanie; DeHart, Dana; Browne, Teri

2017-01-01

This meta-analysis examines the effectiveness of interactive middle school-based drug prevention programs on adolescent cannabis use in North America, as well as program characteristics that could moderate these effects. Interactive programs, compared to more didactic, lecture style programs, involve participants in skill-building activities and focus on interaction among participants. A systematic literature search was conducted for English-language studies from January 1998 to March 2014. Studies included evaluations using random assignment or a quasi-experimental design of interactive school-based substance use prevention programs delivered to adolescents (aged 12-14) in North American middle schools (grades 6-8). Data were extracted using a coding protocol. The outcomes of interest were post-treatment cannabis use, intent to use, and refusal skills compared across intervention and control groups. Effect sizes (Cohen's d) were calculated from continuous measures, and dichotomous measures were converted to the d index. A total of 30 studies yielding 23 independent samples were included. The random effects pooled effect size for cannabis use (k = 21) was small ([Formula: see text]= -0.07, p < 0.01) and favorable for the prevention programs. The pooled effect sizes for intention to use (k = 3) and refusal skills (k = 3) were not significant. Moderator analyses indicated significant differences in program effectiveness between instructor types, with teachers found to be most effective ([Formula: see text]= -0.08, p = 0.02). The findings provide further support for the use of interactive school-based programs to prevent cannabis use among middle school students in North America.

Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle School Students

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ride, Sally

2008-01-01

Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle School Students (EarthKAM), an education activity, allows middle school students to program a digital camera on board the International Space Station to photograph a variety of geographical targets for study in the classroom. Photos are made available on the web for viewing and study by participating schools around the world. Educators use the images for projects involving Earth Science, geography, physics, and social science.

Student Selection, Attrition, and Replacement in KIPP Middle Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nichols-Barrer, Ira; Gleason, Philip; Gill, Brian; Tuttle, Christina Clark

2016-01-01

Skeptics of the KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) charter school network argue that these schools rely on selective admission, attrition, and replacement of students to produce positive achievement results. We investigate this using data covering 19 KIPP middle schools. On average, KIPP schools admit students disadvantaged in ways similar to other…

Sleep Habits of Elementary and Middle School Children in South Texas

PubMed Central

Surani, Salim; Hesselbacher, Sean; Surani, Saherish; Sadasiva, Sreevidya; Surani, Zoya; Surani, Sara S.; Khimani, Amina; Subramanian, Shyam

2015-01-01

Background. Sleep difficulties, including insufficient sleep and inadequate sleep hygiene, have been prevalent among children. Sleep deprivation can lead to poor grades, sleepiness, and moodiness. We undertook this study to assess the prevalence of sleep abnormalities among elementary and middle school students in South Texas and how the groups compare with one another. Method. After approval from the appropriate school district for a sleep education program, a baseline survey was taken of elementary and middle school students, using the Children's Sleep Habit Questionnaire-Sleep Self-Report Form, which assessed the domains of bedtime resistance, sleep onset delay, sleep anxiety, sleep duration, night awakening, and daytime sleepiness. Results. The survey was completed by 499 elementary and 1008 middle school children. Trouble sleeping was reported by 43% in elementary school, compared with 29% of middle school children. Fifty percent of middle school children did not like sleeping, compared with 26% in elementary school. Bedtime resistance, sleep onset delay, and nighttime awakening were more common among elementary school students. Daytime sleepiness was more common among the middle school children when compared to elementary school children. Conclusions. Sleep abnormalities are present in elementary school children with changes in sleep habits into middle school. PMID:26770835

Sleep Habits of Elementary and Middle School Children in South Texas.

PubMed

Surani, Salim; Hesselbacher, Sean; Surani, Saherish; Sadasiva, Sreevidya; Surani, Zoya; Surani, Sara S; Khimani, Amina; Subramanian, Shyam

2015-01-01

Background. Sleep difficulties, including insufficient sleep and inadequate sleep hygiene, have been prevalent among children. Sleep deprivation can lead to poor grades, sleepiness, and moodiness. We undertook this study to assess the prevalence of sleep abnormalities among elementary and middle school students in South Texas and how the groups compare with one another. Method. After approval from the appropriate school district for a sleep education program, a baseline survey was taken of elementary and middle school students, using the Children's Sleep Habit Questionnaire-Sleep Self-Report Form, which assessed the domains of bedtime resistance, sleep onset delay, sleep anxiety, sleep duration, night awakening, and daytime sleepiness. Results. The survey was completed by 499 elementary and 1008 middle school children. Trouble sleeping was reported by 43% in elementary school, compared with 29% of middle school children. Fifty percent of middle school children did not like sleeping, compared with 26% in elementary school. Bedtime resistance, sleep onset delay, and nighttime awakening were more common among elementary school students. Daytime sleepiness was more common among the middle school children when compared to elementary school children. Conclusions. Sleep abnormalities are present in elementary school children with changes in sleep habits into middle school.

Youth tobacco surveillance--United States, 2001-2002.

PubMed

Marshall, LaTisha; Schooley, Michael; Ryan, Heather; Cox, Patrick; Easton, Alyssa; Healton, Cheryl; Jackson, Kat; Davis, Kevin C; Homsi, Ghada

2006-05-19

Cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, accounting for approximately 440,000 deaths each year. The prevalence of cigarette smoking nationwide among high school students (grades 9-12) increased during the 1990s, peaking during 1996-1997, and then declined. Approximately 80% of tobacco users initiate use before age 18 years. An estimated 6.4 million children aged <18 years who are living today will die prematurely as adults because they began to smoke cigarettes during adolescence. The annual health-related economic cost associated with tobacco use exceeds 167 billion dollars. Because of these health and economic consequences, CDC has recommended that states establish and maintain comprehensive tobacco-control programs to reduce tobacco use among youth. This report covers data collected during January 2001-December 2002. The National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) and state youth tobacco surveys (YTS) were developed to provide states with data to support the design, implementation, and evaluation of comprehensive tobacco-control programs. NYTS is representative of middle and high school students in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. During spring 2002, a total of 26,149 students in 246 schools completed NYTS questionnaires. Weighted data for the YTS were achieved by 13 states in 2001 and by 20 states in 2002; state sample sizes varied (range: 982-38,934). This report summarizes data from the 2002 NYTS and the 2001 and 2002 YTS. Findings from the 2002 NYTS indicate that current use of any tobacco product ranged from 13.3% among middle school students to 28.2% among high school students. Cigarette smoking was the most prevalent form of tobacco use, with 9.8% of middle school students and 22.5% of high school students reporting that they currently smoke cigarettes. Cigar smoking was the second most prevalent form of tobacco use, with 6.0% of middle school students and 11.6% of high school students reporting that they currently smoke cigars. Among current cigarette smokers, 41.8% of middle school students and 52.0% of high school students reported that they usually smoke Marlboro cigarettes. Black middle school and high school students who smoke were more likely to smoke Newport cigarettes than any other brand (58.3% and 66.8%, respectively). Among middle school students aged <18 years, 75.9% were not asked to show proof of age when they bought or tried to buy cigarettes, and 63.4% were not refused purchase because of their age. Among high school students aged <18 years, 58.5% were not asked to show proof of age when they bought or tried to buy cigarettes, and 60.6% were not refused purchase because of their age. Nearly half (49.6%) of middle school students and 62.1% of high school students who smoke reported a desire to stop smoking cigarettes, with 55.4% of middle school students and 53.1% of high school students reported having made at least one cessation attempt during the 12 months preceding the survey. Among students who have never smoked cigarettes, 21.3% of middle school students and 22.9% of high school students were susceptible to initiating cigarette smoking in the next year. Exposure to secondhand smoke (i.e., environmental tobacco smoke) was high. During the week before the survey, 1) 88.3% of middle school students and 91.4% of high school students who currently smoke cigarettes and 47.1% of middle school students and 53.3% of high school students who have never smoked cigarettes were in the same room with someone who was smoking cigarettes; 2) 81.7% of middle school students and 83.7% of high school students who currently smoke cigarettes and 31.5% of middle school students and 29.1% of high school students who have never smoked cigarettes rode in a car with someone who was smoking cigarettes; and 3) 71.5% of middle school students and 57.5% of high school students who currently smoke cigarettes and 33.3% of middle school students and 29.9% of high school students who have never smoked cigarettes lived in a home in which someone else smoked cigarettes. Media and advertising influence was also noted, with 58.1% of middle school students and 54.9% of high school students who currently use tobacco and 11.0% of middle school students and 13.7% of high school students who have never used tobacco reporting that they would wear or use an item with a tobacco company name or logo on it. Although 84.6% of middle school students and 91.2% of high school students had seen or heard antismoking commercials on television or radio, 89.9% of middle school students and 91.3% of high school students also had seen actors using tobacco on television or in the movies. Health and education officials use YTS and NYTS data to plan, evaluate, and improve national and state programs to prevent and control youth tobacco use. States can use these data in presentations to their state legislators to demonstrate the need for funding comprehensive tobacco-control programs, including tobacco cessation and prevention programs for youth.

School sport participation under two school sport policies: comparisons by race/ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status.

PubMed

Kanters, Michael A; Bocarro, Jason N; Edwards, Michael B; Casper, Jonathan M; Floyd, Myron F

2013-02-01

School-based extracurricular sport remains an effective strategy to increase physical activity. However, school sport is often limited to a small number of elite athletes. Few schools provide more inclusive sport programs that offer a wider array of activities regardless of ability. The aim of this study was to examine school sport participation in middle schools (ages 11-14) with contrasting school sport delivery strategies (intramural vs. interscholastic). Data were obtained through an online survey administered to students at four public middle schools (grades 6-8) in a southeastern US city (n = 2,582). More students participated in school sports at intramural schools. Boys were more likely to participate in after-school sports at intramural schools. Low-income and Black children, two groups at greater risk of physical inactivity and other negative outcomes, had greater participation in intramural programs. After-school intramural sports in middle school is a promising strategy for increasing sport participation.

Promoting healthy computer use among middle school students: a pilot school-based health promotion program.

PubMed

Ciccarelli, Marina; Portsmouth, Linda; Harris, Courtenay; Jacobs, Karen

2012-01-01

Introduction of notebook computers in many schools has become integral to learning. This has increased students' screen-based exposure and the potential risks to physical and visual health. Unhealthy computing behaviours include frequent and long durations of exposure; awkward postures due to inappropriate furniture and workstation layout, and ignoring computer-related discomfort. Describe the framework for a planned school-based health promotion program to encourage healthy computing behaviours among middle school students. This planned program uses a community- based participatory research approach. Students in Year 7 in 2011 at a co-educational middle school, their parents, and teachers have been recruited. Baseline data was collected on students' knowledge of computer ergonomics, current notebook exposure, and attitudes towards healthy computing behaviours; and teachers' and self-perceived competence to promote healthy notebook use among students, and what education they wanted. The health promotion program is being developed by an inter-professional team in collaboration with students, teachers and parents to embed concepts of ergonomics education in relevant school activities and school culture. End of year changes in reported and observed student computing behaviours will be used to determine the effectiveness of the program. Building a body of evidence regarding physical health benefits to students from this school-based ergonomics program can guide policy development on the healthy use of computers within children's educational environments.

Evaluation Report of the Fall River Middle School Research and Development Center Title VII Program, 1973-1974.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Heuristics, Inc., Dedham, MA.

This report presents the evaluation of the 1973-1974 Fall River Middle School Research and Development Center, a project funded by ESEA Title VII as a model demonstration bilingual program beginning in 1972-1973. The evaluation focused on the assessment of the degree of accomplishment of product objectives for each component of the program. The…

The Influence of Conflict Resolution Programs on Student Conduct Violations in Middle Schools with a School Uniform Policy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Breitenbach, Edward C.

2010-01-01

School safety is a very important issue for school staff, parents, and students. When school safety is lacking, students suffer in emotional, academic, and social areas. One recent intervention middle schools are examining is the student uniform policy. In some cases, school uniforms have been shown to have a profound effect on school safety,…

Improving the Success of Middle Grade Students. Middle School Matters Program No. 2

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Belfanz, Robert; Rodriguez, Gina; Brasiel, Sarah J.

2013-01-01

A student's experience in the middle grades is a selection of classes they go through in a day. If they experience inconsistent expectations across those classes, they and the school will struggle to achieve high outcomes. Middle grade students need to have common behavioral and academic expectations, recognitions, and consequences throughout the…

Connecting with the Arts: A Workshop for Middle Grades Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Annenberg Media, 2005

2005-01-01

"Connecting with the Arts: A Workshop for Middle Grades Teachers" is a video workshop for middle school teachers of the arts and other subjects. The workshop includes eight hour-long video programs and a companion workshop guide and Web site. The workshop shows middle school teachers why and how to integrate the arts (dance, music, theatre, and…

The Effects of the Peer Tutoring Program: An Action Research Study of the Effectiveness of the Peer Tutoring Program at One Suburban Middle School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Grubbs, Natalie

2009-01-01

The results of a study that examined the peer tutoring program at a middle school are discussed in this article. In an effort to determine ways to improve the peer tutoring program an action research (AR) mixed design study was developed. AR is practitioner based research. Its purpose is to examine the work of practitioners for effectiveness and…

A Day at FIRST Lego League

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McIntyre, Nancy

2012-01-01

This article features an after-school FIRST Lego League (FLL) program at Chaminade Middle School in Chatsworth, California, USA. The after-school FLL program feeds into the high school FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) program wherein aspiring young engineers come to the high school team with several years of FLL experience. Through the FLL…

Meta-Analysis on Dating Violence Prevention among Middle and High Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ting, Siu-Man Raymond

2009-01-01

Meta-analysis was applied to study the empirical research from 1990-2007 regarding the effectiveness of the dating violence prevention programs in middle and high schools on students' knowledge and attitudes. The results show that overall the program participants improved their knowledge and attitudes towards dating violence. Implications for…

The Individualized Television Reading Program.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Solomon, Bernard

This paper describes the development of a reading program based on popular television broadcasts. The project was carried out in one inner-city middle school--seventh and eighth grades--(Rhodes Middle School, Philadelphia). The aims of the project were to use television as a means for children to read and for drawing administrators and teachers…

Middle School English Language Learner Electronic Media Usage and Its Relationship to Reading

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ramirez, Bari N.

2012-01-01

A quantitative, correlational prediction study was performed to determine the relationship between English language learner (ELL) use of electronic media and reading proficiency in a large urban middle school in Texas. The predictor variables were viewing television programs in English, viewing television programs in Spanish, using a computer for…

A True Middle School Physical Education Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tenoschok, Mike

2016-01-01

The purpose of this article is to describe the various ways in which the developmental needs of middle school students can be met in a physical education program. The themes of exploration and individualization appear throughout the article to emphasize the importance of providing a variety of sports, games and physical activity options for middle…

The Effects of a Rational-Emotive Affective Education Program for High-Risk Middle School Students.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

LaConte, Michael A.; And Others

1993-01-01

Investigated effects of participation in developmentally appropriate affective education program. Middle school students (n=23), identified as high risk for dropping out and also as learning disabled or emotionally disturbed, were assigned to experimental and control conditions. Participants in affective education group met for 15 weeks.…

Alternative Middle School Models: An Exploratory Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Duffield, Stacy Kay

2018-01-01

A Midwestern state allocated grant funding to encourage more accessible alternative programming at the middle level. Seventeen schools were approved for this grant and used the funds to supplement the operation of a new or existing program. This study provides policymakers and educators with an overview of the various types of alternative middle…

Evaluating the Effectiveness of READ 180: A Reading Program for Struggling Middle School Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Latonya R.

2011-01-01

This study was conducted using a qualitative approach to evaluate the effectiveness of READ 180 Program in improving students reading interests and achievement at West Bolivar Middle School (WBMS). A number of interviews and observations were conducted. Two teachers and nine students were interviewed, and nine classroom observations were…

Teaching and Learning K-8 Mathematics and Science through Inquiry: Program Reviews and Recommendations.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Linn, Marcia C.; Kessel, Cathy; Lee, Kristen; Levenson, Janet; Spitulnik, Michelle; Slotta, James D.

This report offers guidance for those shaping policy and designing elementary and middle school science and mathematics courses that prepare students to be lifelong users of scientific and mathematical ideas. We have reviewed programs designed to improve elementary and middle school students' understanding of science and mathematics by…

A Randomized Evaluation of the Success for All Middle School Reading Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chamberlain, Anne; Daniels, Cecelia; Madden, Nancy A.; Slavin, Robert E.

2007-01-01

This article describes a randomized evaluation of The Reading Edge, a reading program for middle school students. The Reading Edge was designed to integrate findings of research on cooperative learning and metacognitive reading strategies into a replicable reading instructional package that could be implemented effectively in Title I middle…

Opportunities for extracurricular physical activity in North Carolina middle schools.

PubMed

Edwards, Michael B; Kanters, Michael A; Bocarro, Jason N

2011-07-01

This study's purpose was to assess the opportunities for North Carolina adolescents to be physically active in extracurricular middle school environments and to compare opportunities across community types. Data were analyzed based on the results of an electronic questionnaire distributed to a sample of 431 schools with a response rate of 75.4% (N = 325). Nearly all schools offered interscholastic sports while fewer than half offered intramurals or noncompetitive activities to students. "Open gym" was offered at only 35% of schools, while 24% of schools offered extracurricular activities to students with disabilities. Overall, 43.4% of schools offered special transportation to students who participated in some extracurricular physical activities. Schools in rural areas generally offered fewer programs and had fewer supports than schools located in more urbanized areas. Over two-thirds of rural schools offered no extracurricular programs other than interscholastic sports. Schools can be important settings for physical activity. North Carolina's middle schools and its rural schools in particular, are falling short in efforts to provide extracurricular physical activity programming recommended by researchers and policy groups. Lower accessibility to extracurricular physical activities may partially contribute to higher levels of physical inactivity found in the state.

Building a Successful Middle School Outreach Effort: Microscopy Camp

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Penn, Lee R.; Flynn, Leslie; Johnson, Page

2007-01-01

Microscopy Camp program is designed to introduce acceptable representations of crystalline particles and their atomic structure to twelve-year-old middle school students at a developmental and educational stage.

Food choice, plate waste and nutrient intake of elementary- and middle-school students participating in the US National School Lunch Program.

PubMed

Smith, Stephanie L; Cunningham-Sabo, Leslie

2014-06-01

To (i) evaluate food choices and consumption patterns of elementary- and middle-school students who participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and (ii) compare students' average nutrient intake from lunch with NSLP standards. Plate waste from elementary- and middle-school students' lunch trays was measured in autumn 2010 using a previously validated digital photography method. Percentage waste was estimated to the nearest 10 % for the entrée, canned fruit, fresh fruit, vegetable, grain and milk. Univariate ANOVA determined differences in percentage waste between schools, grades and genders. Daily nutrient intake was calculated using the district's menu analysis and percentage waste. Elementary and middle schools in northern Colorado (USA). Students, grades 1-8. Plate waste was estimated from 899 lunch trays; 535 elementary- and 364 middle-school students. Only 45 % of elementary- and 34 % middle-school students selected a vegetable. Elementary-school students wasted more than a third of grain, fruit and vegetable menu items. Middle-school students left nearly 50 % of fresh fruit, 37 % of canned fruit and nearly a third of vegetables unconsumed. Less than half of the students met the national meal standards for vitamins A and C, or Fe. Few students' lunch consumption met previous or new, strengthened NSLP lunch standards. Due to the relatively low intake of vegetables, intakes of vitamins A and C were of particular concern. Effective behavioural interventions, combined with marketing, communications and behavioural economics, will likely be necessary to encourage increased vegetable intake to meet the new meal standards.

Universal Prevention Program Outcomes: Safe Schools Healthy Students in a Rural, Multicultural Setting

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harris, Elizabeth; McFarland, Joyce; Siebold, Wendi; Aguilar, Rafael; Sarmiento, Ana

2007-01-01

The Idaho Consortium for Safe Schools Healthy Students consists of three school districts in rural North Central Idaho and the Nez Perce Tribe's Students for Success Program. Universal prevention programs implemented in the elementary schools include Second Step and the middle schools implemented the Life Skills program. Each of the three…

Effective Chapter 1 Programs in Oregon.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Berrum, Phyllis

This report describes 11 effective compensatory education programs in Oregon schools funded under Chapter 1 of the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act. One high school, four middle school, and six elementary school programs are profiled. Each profile includes the following information: (1) demographics; (2) staffing; (3) parent…

Healthier Choices and Increased Participation in a Middle School Lunch Program: Effects of Nutrition Policy Changes in San Francisco

PubMed Central

Wojcicki, Janet M.; Heyman, Melvin B.

2006-01-01

In order to address overall nutritional health, including increases in numbers of overweight children and adolescents, the San Francisco Unified School District implemented a progressive nutrition policy beginning in August 2003. We review this policy and focus on its impact on school and district revenues and students’ participation in the federally subsidized school lunch program. We examined changes in menu items and the consequent effects of these changes on student eating patterns and school revenues at Aptos Middle School in San Francisco. This case study and additional district data show that provision of healthy menu options led to increased student participation in the federal school lunch program. PMID:16873747

Associations among School Characteristics and Foodservice Practices in a Nationally Representative Sample of U.S. Schools

PubMed Central

Thomson, Jessica L.; Tussing-Humphreys, Lisa M.; Martin, Corby K.; LeBlanc, Monique M.; Onufrak, Stephen J.

2012-01-01

Objective Determine school characteristics associated with healthy/unhealthy foodservice offerings or healthy food preparation practices. Design Retrospective analysis of cross-sectional data. Setting Nationally representative sample of public and private elementary, middle and high schools. Participants 526 and 520 schools with valid data from the 2006 School Health Policies and Practices Study (SHPPS) Food Service School Questionnaire. Main Outcome Measure(s) Scores for healthy/unhealthy foodservice offerings and healthy food preparation practices. Analysis Multivariable regression to determine significant associations among school characteristics and offerings/preparation practices. Results Public schools and schools participating in USDA Team Nutrition reported more healthy offerings and preparation than private or non-participating schools, respectively. Elementary schools reported less unhealthy offerings than middle or high schools; middle schools reported less unhealthy offerings than high schools. Schools requiring foodservice managers to have a college education reported more healthy preparation while those requiring completion of a foodservice training program reported less unhealthy offerings and more healthy preparation than schools without these requirements. Conclusions and Implications Results suggest the school nutrition environment may be improved by requiring foodservice managers to hold a nutrition-related college degree and/or successfully pass a foodservice training program, and by participating in a school-based nutrition program, such as USDA Team Nutrition. PMID:22963956

Dissonance-based prevention of eating disorder risk factors in middle school girls: results from two pilot trials.

PubMed

Rohde, Paul; Auslander, Beth A; Shaw, Heather; Raineri, Kate M; Gau, Jeff M; Stice, Eric

2014-07-01

Although several eating disorder prevention programs reduce eating disorder risk factors and symptoms for female high school and college students, few efficacious prevention programs exist for female middle school students, despite the fact that body image and eating disturbances often emerge then. Two pilot trials evaluated a new dissonance-based eating disorder prevention program for middle school girls with body image concerns. Female middle school students with body dissatisfaction from two sites [Study 1: N = 81, M age = 12.1, standard deviation (SD) = 0.9; Study 2: N = 52, M age = 12.5, SD = 0.8] were randomized to a dissonance intervention (MS Body Project) or educational brochure control; Study 2 included a 3-month follow-up. Intervention participants showed significant post-test reductions in only one of the six variables with both Studies 1 and 2 (i.e., pressure to be thin and negative affect, respectively), though post-test effect sizes suggested medium reductions in eating disorder risk factors and symptoms (Study 1: M d = .40; Study 2: M d = .65); reductions at 3-month follow-up in Study 2 were not evident (M d = .19). Results suggest that this new middle school version of the Body Project is producing medium magnitude reductions in eating disorder risk factors at post-test but that effects are showing limited persistence. Continued refinement and evaluation of this intervention appears warranted to develop more effective prevention programs for this age group. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

What's for Lunch? II. A 1990 Survey of Options in the School Lunch Program.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Morris, Patricia McGrath; And Others

This report provides information on the content of school lunches offered to middle school children in the public schools. A total of 163 middle schools in 42 states responded to the school lunch survey. Survey findings are given on: (1) the contents of the main course, vegetable and fruit offerings, desserts, and beverages; and (2) lunches…

Development of a School-Wide Behavior Program in a Public Middle School: An Illustration of Deployment-Focused Intervention Development, Stage 1

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Molina, Brooke S. G.; Smith, Bradley H.; Pelham, William E., Jr.

2005-01-01

School-wide behavior management systems can improve academic performance and behavior in middle schools, and they should have positive effects on students with ADHD. Unfortunately, evidence-based, school-wide behavior management systems have not been widely adopted because of problems with feasibility, acceptability, and sustainability. The…

Middle School Technology Integration Study.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hall, Grey; Mantz, Chris

This paper is a report on the development and findings of an on-going study being conducted on 126 middle schools in rural eastern North Carolina. An analysis of the technological readiness of each school is being followed with a program to offer school leaders a technology design and teacher training that will work in their schools. This includes…

Beyond the Classroom: Involving Students with Disabilities in Extracurricular Activities at Levy Middle School.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Walker, Pam; And Others

Six students in a special education classroom at Levy Middle School (Syracuse, New York) became involved in a variety of after-school activities with nondisabled students. The students participated in the school computer club, cross-country skiing, volleyball, stage crew, intramural basketball, the Spanish Club, and after-school programs at two…

School Program Selection: Why Schools Worldwide Choose the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sperandio, Jill

2010-01-01

School improvement and reform efforts frequently involve the adoption of a new curriculum program. This article examines the factors that influence program selection when schools have freedom to choose as opposed to having programs mandated by district, state, or national education authorities. Survey and document analysis are used to examine the…

1998 Winds of Change Guide to Summer Internships, Co-op and Minority School Programs.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Winds of Change, 1998

1998-01-01

Lists internships, work experience, cooperative education, and university research programs for American-Indian and minority college students, as well as summer programs for middle school and high school students. Lists 28 programs alphabetically; entries contain a short program description, prerequisites, deadlines and requirements for…

Toward Middle-Level Manpower Education for Colombia. A Report to USAID Colombia.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, B. Lamar

Education for middle-level manpower, a high-priority need in Colombia, is discussed. The current programs of five educational agencies--universities, university institutes, SENA (National Apprentice Service), industrial schools, and agricultural schools--that are providing some preparation for middle-level manpower positions are described. A…

Improving Social Competence in a Middle School.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Levinsohn, Mary; Klyap, John M.

This paper describes the implementation and evaluation of a social competence promotion program conducted in the sixth grade of a middle school. The need to increase social competence within the school arose from the results of enumerative and stakeholder data collected at the school. This paper outlines the steps of the needs assessment, program…

"Turning Points" Revisited: How Effective Middle-Grades Schools Address Developmental Needs of Young Adolescent Students.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Martin, Terry

1993-01-01

Reviews the Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development Task Force Report (1989) "Turning Points" and looks at some successful middle school programs. Some issues discussed are diversity; self-deveelopment and self-definition; student participation; school and community; social interaction; school climate; and curriculum and instruction.…

Learning Declines Linked to Moving to Middle School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sparks, Sarah D.

2011-01-01

While policymakers and researchers alike have focused on improving students' transition into high school, a new study of Florida schools suggests the critical transition problem may happen years before, when students enter middle school. The study, part of the Program on Education Policy and Governance Working Papers Series at Harvard University,…

CareerStart: A Middle School Student Engagement and Academic Achievement Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Orthner, Dennis K.; Akos, Patrick; Rose, Roderick; Jones-Sanpei, Hinckley; Mercado, Micaela; Woolley, Michael E.

2010-01-01

The school dropout rate in America is too high, especially for low-income students and those from nondominant racial or ethnic groups. For many students, the social-psychological and behavioral disengagement from school that leads to dropping out often begins in middle school. Research on early adolescents confirms that increasing the perceived…

The Impact of Achievement Goals on the Help-Seeking Attitudes, Perceptions, and Behaviors of Middle-School Science Students Participating in Inquiry-Based Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schmidt, Kimi Lynn

2010-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate how mastery-oriented inquiry-based education influences the help-seeking attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors of middle-school students after participating in a 5-week intervention program. Four eighth-grade science classes consisting of 123 students in one middle-school in the San Francisco Bay…

Substance Use and Delinquency among Middle School Girls in Foster Care: A Three-Year Follow-Up of a Randomized Controlled Trial

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kim, Hyoun K.; Leve, Leslie D.

2011-01-01

Objective: The present study evaluated the efficacy of the Middle School Success intervention (MSS) for reducing substance use and delinquency among girls in foster care, using a randomized controlled trial design. The program was designed to fill a service gap during the summer prior to the middle school transition and to prevent delinquency,…

Increasing Touch-Keyboarding Skills in the Middle School Student: "KeyWords" vs. "Type To Learn," Hand Covers vs. No Hand Covers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reagan, Steven Dallas

A computer teacher in a middle school in East Tennessee observed that his students were entering the middle school program with computer familiarity but without the touch keyboarding skills necessary to operate the computer efficiently. It was also observed that even with instruction and practice using drill and practice keyboarding software, the…

Improving academic self-efficacy, school connectedness, and identity in struggling middle school girls: a preliminary study of the REAL girls program.

PubMed

Mann, Michael J; Smith, Megan L; Kristjansson, Alfgeir L

2015-02-01

Girls struggling to be successful in middle school are often dealing with negative life experiences that affect their ability to achieve academically. Frequently, their academic failures and problem behaviors are associated with feeling overwhelmed by difficult and challenging life circumstances. In the absence of intervention, these patterns may contribute to girls chronically underperforming in school, dropping out of school, and becoming involved in delinquent and high-risk behaviors. This article describes a quasi-experimental, mixed-methods study of the REAL Girls program. REAL Girls was designed to help struggling middle school girls develop resilience--particularly academic self-efficacy, school connectedness, and identity--and achieve successful outcomes in school and life. In this study, using a crossover design, 48 girls identified as experiencing academic failure, school behavior problems, or truancy participated in one of two implementations of this 3-day intervention. Findings based on both quantitative and qualitative data suggest that REAL Girls contributed to positive increases in academic self-efficacy, school connectedness, and identity. Repeated measures analysis of variance and paired t tests suggest significant increases in each outcome variable, both immediately after program delivery and 2 weeks later, and effect size estimates suggest moderate to large program impact. Focus groups conducted 90 days after implementation of the program confirmed the quantitative findings and support the efficacy of the REAL Girls program and approach. © 2014 Society for Public Health Education.

Summer of Innovation Kick Off

NASA Image and Video Library

2010-06-09

Jet Propulsion Laboratory Director Dr. Charles Elachi speaks with teachers and middle school students during the kick off of NASA's Summer of Innovation program at JPL in Pasadena, Calif., Thursday, June 10, 2010. Through the program, NASA will engage thousands of middle school students and teachers in stimulating math and science-based education programs with the goal of increasing the number of future scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Summer of Innovation Kick Off

NASA Image and Video Library

2010-06-09

NASA astronaut Leland Melvin welcomes teachers and middle school students to the kick off of NASA's Summer of Innovation program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., Thursday, June 10, 2010. Through the program, NASA will engage thousands of middle school students and teachers in stimulating math and science-based education programs with the goal of increasing the number of future scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Summer of Innovation Kick Off

NASA Image and Video Library

2010-06-09

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden speaks with teachers and middle school students during the kick off of NASA's Summer of Innovation program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., Thursday, June 10, 2010. Through the program, NASA will engage thousands of middle school students and teachers in stimulating math and science-based education programs with the goal of increasing the number of future scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Summer of Innovation Kick Off

NASA Image and Video Library

2010-06-09

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden signs autographs to middle school students during the kick off of NASA's Summer of Innovation program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., Thursday, June 10, 2010. Through the program, NASA will engage thousands of middle school students and teachers in stimulating math and science-based education programs with the goal of increasing the number of future scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Summer of Innovation Kick Off

NASA Image and Video Library

2010-06-09

NASA astronaut Leland Melvin signs autographs to middle school students during the kick off of NASA's Summer of Innovation program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., Thursday, June 10, 2010. Through the program, NASA will engage thousands of middle school students and teachers in stimulating math and science-based education programs with the goal of increasing the number of future scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

How Writing Instruction, Interventions, and Assessment Can Improve Student Outcomes. Middle School Matters Program No. 5

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Santangelo, Tanya; Graham, Steve

2015-01-01

The ability to write effectively and use writing as a tool for learning is essential for students' success in the middle grades--and beyond. This practice guide highlights several research-based practices that can be used school-wide to help middle grades students become better writers. This paper presents four questions middle grades educators…

The "Learning for Leadership" Project: Education That Makes a Difference. Final Evaluation. A Project Involving Middle Schools in the Upper Arlington, Ohio and Worthington, Ohio School Districts.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bradley, L. Richard

Recent national studies have pointed out the changing educational needs of young people as the United States moves from an industrial society to an information society. Selected middle school students in Ohio were involved in a two-year federally-funded program entitled "Learning for Leadership." The objectives of the program were: (1)…

Credit Recovery Programs. What Works Clearinghouse Intervention Report

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

What Works Clearinghouse, 2015

2015-01-01

"Credit recovery programs" allow high school students to recover course credit, through in-school, online, or mixed modes, for classes they previously failed. The WWC reviewed the research on these programs and their impacts on middle school, junior high school, or high school students at risk of dropping out or who have already dropped…

Evaluation of a Program Designed to Reduce Relational Aggression in Middle School Girls

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dellasega, Cheryl; Adamshick, Pamela

2005-01-01

Physical and verbal aggression is an increasing problem in both middle and high schools across the United States. While physical forms of aggression are targeted in traditional "bullying" programs, relational aggression (RA), or the use of relationships to hurt another, is often not detected or addressed. For girls in the stage of identity…

for Middle School Science and Mathematics Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Mimi Miyoung; Chauvot, Jennifer B.; Vowell, Julie; Culpepper, Shea Mosley; Plankis, Brian J.

2013-01-01

This paper is based on an online graduate program for middle school science and mathematics teachers in Texas titled Integration of Science, Mathematics and Reflective Teaching (iSMART). Launching the program for its first cohort in fall 2010, the authors attempted to answer the following two questions in this paper: (a) How do the members of the…

Relationships between a Social-Emotional Learning Program and Emotional Intelligence in Middle School Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brown, Katherine Marie

2013-01-01

This study examined the relationships between a social-emotional learning program and the 5 dimensions of emotional intelligence and whether the relationships were moderated by gender. The problem addressed in the study was the lack of research focused on the development of emotional intelligence at the middle school level. The participants…

Assessing Effectiveness of Students Taking a Right Stand (STARS) Nashville Student Assistance Programs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kanu, Mohamed; Hepler, Nancy; Labi, Halima

2015-01-01

Background: Since 1984, Students Taking a Right Stand (STARS) Nashville has implemented Student Assistance Programs (SAPs) in the middle Tennessee area, to include 14 counties and 16 school districts. STARS Nashville serves K-12 with a focus in middle and high schools. Methods: The current study reviewed studies that utilized quasi-experimental…

The Effects of Tulsa's CAP Head Start Program on Middle-School Academic Outcomes and Progress

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Phillips, Deborah; Gormley, William; Anderson, Sara

2016-01-01

This study presents evidence pertinent to current debates about the lasting impacts of early childhood educational interventions and, specifically, Head Start. A group of students who were first studied to examine the immediate impacts of the Tulsa, Oklahoma, Community Action Project (CAP) Head Start program were followed-up in middle school,…

Working Together To Become Proficient Readers. Early Impact of the Talent Development Middle School's Student Team Literature Program. Report No. 15.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mac Iver, Douglas J.; Plank, Stephen B.; Balfanz, Robert

The Talent Development Model of Middle School Reform includes a "Student Team Literature" (STL) program that relies on: (1) curricular materials designed to assist students to study great literature; (2) recommended instructional practices, peer assistance processes, and assessments; and (3) staff development, mentoring, and advising to…

Inquiry-Based Science and Technology Enrichment Program for Middle School-Aged Female Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kim, Hanna

2016-01-01

This study investigates the effects of an intensive 1-week Inquiry-Based Science and Technology Enrichment Program (InSTEP) designed for middle school-aged female students. InSTEP uses a guided/open inquiry approach that is deepened and redefined as eight sciences and engineering practices in the Next Generation Science Standards, which aimed at…

Impact of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program on a Middle School Environment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Purugulla, Vijay

2011-01-01

This mixed methods research study sought to find if the implementation of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP) would reduce incidences of bullying in a suburban Atlanta middle school. Data was collected and compared over a two year period with Year 1 data representing pre-implementation of the OBPP. Discipline records associated with…

Social-Emotional Learning Program to Reduce Bullying, Fighting, and Victimization among Middle School Students with Disabilities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Espelage, Dorothy L.; Rose, Chad A.; Polanin, Joshua R.

2015-01-01

Results of a 3-year randomized clinical trial of Second Step: Student Success Through Prevention (SS-SSTP) Middle School Program on reducing bullying, physical aggression, and peer victimization among students with disabilities are presented. Teachers implemented 41 lessons of a sixth- to eighth-grade curriculum that focused on social-emotional…

Middle School Mathematics: A Study of Three Programs in South Texas

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ellis, Joanetta Dowell

2011-01-01

In 2010, the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) began its seventh year of testing (Texas Education Agency, 2009a). High stakes testing is a reality. This study considered the impact on mathematics achievement based on the mathematics program students were receiving during their middle school years. The purpose of this study was to…

Does elementary school alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use increase middle school risk?

PubMed

Wilson, Nance; Battistich, Victor; Syme, S Leonard; Boyce, W Thomas

2002-06-01

To assess whether alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) use in elementary school may have serious implications for continued ATOD use in middle school and beyond. Longitudinal analyses were conducted on questionnaire data from 331 middle school students who had previously provided ATOD-use data during elementary school. Non-school personnel administered questionnaires in three participating school districts in three different states. The sample of students was ethnically and geographically diverse, including students from a range of low socioeconomic status backgrounds living in rural, urban or inner-city environments. Middle school alcohol use was almost three times as likely to occur if alcohol use had occurred in elementary school (OR = 2.94, p <.001). Elementary school use of tobacco and marijuana also greatly increased the likelihood of middle school use (OR = 5.35, p <.001 and OR = 4.25, p <.05, respectively). Early use of ATOD is associated with greatly increased odds of later use, which has important implications for the timing of drug prevention programs. Preventive interventions designed for use in pediatric practice settings should commence no later than elementary school, during the middle childhood years.

Creating an Environment for Diversity in Dental Schools: One School's Approach.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Formicola, Allan J.; Klyvert, Marlene; McIntosh, James; Thompson, Albert; Davis, Martin; Cangialosi, Thomas

2003-01-01

Describes how the Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery strives to admit more underrepresented minority students. Discusses its D.D.S. minority admissions program, postdoctoral minority admissions program, Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP) for middle and high school students, and "zero" tuition dental assisting…

Beyond Blackboards: Engaging Underserved Middle School Students in Engineering

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Blanchard, Sarah; Judy, Justina; Muller, Chandra; Crawford, Richard H.; Petrosino, Anthony J.; Christina K. White,; Lin, Fu-An; Wood, Kristin L.

2015-01-01

"Beyond Blackboards" is an inquiry-centered, after-school program designed to enhance middle school students' engagement with engineering through design-based experiences focused on the 21st Century Engineering Challenges. Set within a predominantly lowincome, majority-minority community, our study aims to investigate the impact of…

Turning the Tables: The Growing Need for High Schools to Follow the Lead of Middle Level Reform Thru Interdisciplinary Teaming.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Spies, Paul

High school educators can learn much from the middle school reform movement and apply its strategies to change interdisciplinary teaming and student advocacy programs. Many high schools today still operate with an outdated, impersonal, departmentalized, and factory-model approach to schooling, in which students do not develop a sense of belonging…

"STEMming" the Swell of Absenteeism in Urban Middle Grade Schools: Impacts of a Summer Robotics Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mac Iver, Martha Abele; Mac Iver, Douglas J.

2014-01-01

Attendance is probably the most fundamental behavioral indicator of student engagement with school. Though many students fall off-track to success for the first time in ninth grade, poor attendance patterns often begin increasing in middle school and become worse in high school. Missing school during the secondary grades can often be traced to low…

Transitions between subclasses of bullying and victimization when entering middle school.

PubMed

Williford, Anne; Boulton, Aaron J; Jenson, Jeffrey M

2014-01-01

We examined the effects of depressive symptoms, antisocial attitudes, and perspective-taking empathy on patterns of bullying and victimization during the transition from late elementary (4th grade to 5th grade) to middle school (6th grade) among 1,077 students who participated in the Youth Matters (YM) bullying prevention trial. Latent transition analysis was used to establish classes of bullying, victimization, bully-victimization, and uninvolvement. The intervention had a positive impact on children as they moved from elementary to middle school. More students in the YM group transitioned from the involved statuses to the uninvolved status than students in the control group during the move to middle school. Elementary school bullies with higher levels of depressive symptoms were less likely than other students to move to an uninvolved status in the first year of middle school. Students who held greater antisocial attitudes were more likely to be a member of the bully-victim status than the uninvolved status during the move to middle school. Perspective-taking empathy, however, was not a significant predictor of status change during the transition to middle school. Implications for school-based prevention programs during the move to middle school are noted. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Sustainable Astronomy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blaha, C.; Goetz, J.; Johnson, T.

2011-09-01

Through our International Year of Astronomy outreach effort, we established a sustainable astronomy program and curriculum in the Northfield, Minnesota community. Carleton College offers monthly open houses at Goodsell Observatory and donated its recently "retire" observing equipment to local schools. While public evenings continue to be popular, the donated equipment was underutilized due to a lack of trained student observing assistants. With sponsorship from NASA's IYA Student Ambassador program, the sustainable astronomy project began in 2009 to generate greater interest in astronomy and train middle school and high school students as observing assistants. Carleton physics majors developed curricular materials and instituted regular outreach programs for grades 6-12. The Northfield High School Astronomy Club was created, and Carleton undergraduates taught high school students how to use telescopes and do CCD imaging. During the summer of 2009, Carleton students began the Young Astronomers Summer Experience (YASE) program for middle school students and offered a two-week, astronomy-rich observing and imaging experience at Goodsell Observatory. In concert with NASA's Summer of Innovation initiative, the YASE program was offered again in 2010 and engaged a new group of local middle school students in hands-on scientific experiments and observing opportunities. Members of the high school astronomy club now volunteer as observing assistants in the community and graduates of the YASE programs are eager to continue observing as members of a public service astronomy club when they enter the Northfield High School. These projects are training future scientists and will sustain the public's interest in astronomy long after the end of IYA 2009.

The effects of Tulsa's CAP Head Start program on middle-school academic outcomes and progress.

PubMed

Phillips, Deborah; Gormley, William; Anderson, Sara

2016-08-01

This study presents evidence pertinent to current debates about the lasting impacts of early childhood educational interventions and, specifically, Head Start. A group of students who were first studied to examine the immediate impacts of the Tulsa, Oklahoma, Community Action Project (CAP) Head Start program were followed-up in middle school, primarily as 8th graders. Using ordinary least squares and logistic regressions with a rich set of controls and propensity score weighting models to account for differential selection into Head Start, we compared students who had attended the CAP Head Start program and enrolled in the Tulsa Public Schools (TPS) as kindergarteners with children who also attended TPS kindergarten but had attended neither CAP Head Start nor the TPS pre-K program as 4-year-olds. CAP Head Start produced significant positive effects on achievement test scores in math and on both grade retention and chronic absenteeism for middle-school students as a whole; positive effects for girls on grade retention and chronic absenteeism; for white students on math test scores; for Hispanic students on math test scores and chronic absenteeism, and for students eligible for free lunches on math test scores, grade retention, and chronic absenteeism. We conclude that the Tulsa CAP Head Start program produced significant and consequential effects into the middle school years. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved).

Stepwise Development of a Text Messaging-Based Bullying Prevention Program for Middle School Students (BullyDown)

PubMed Central

Prescott, Tonya L; Espelage, Dorothy L

2016-01-01

Background Bullying is a significant public health issue among middle school-aged youth. Current prevention programs have only a moderate impact. Cell phone text messaging technology (mHealth) can potentially overcome existing challenges, particularly those that are structural (e.g., limited time that teachers can devote to non-educational topics). To date, the description of the development of empirically-based mHealth-delivered bullying prevention programs are lacking in the literature. Objective To describe the development of BullyDown, a text messaging-based bullying prevention program for middle school students, guided by the Social-Emotional Learning model. Methods We implemented five activities over a 12-month period: (1) national focus groups (n=37 youth) to gather acceptability of program components; (2) development of content; (3) a national Content Advisory Team (n=9 youth) to confirm content tone; and (4) an internal team test of software functionality followed by a beta test (n=22 youth) to confirm the enrollment protocol and the feasibility and acceptability of the program. Results Recruitment experiences suggested that Facebook advertising was less efficient than using a recruitment firm to recruit youth nationally, and recruiting within schools for the pilot test was feasible. Feedback from the Content Advisory Team suggests a preference for 2-4 brief text messages per day. Beta test findings suggest that BullyDown is both feasible and acceptable: 100% of youth completed the follow-up survey, 86% of whom liked the program. Conclusions Text messaging appears to be a feasible and acceptable delivery method for bullying prevention programming delivered to middle school students. PMID:27296471

Stepwise Development a Text Messaging-Based Bullying Prevention Program for Middle School Students (BullyDown).

PubMed

Ybarra, Michele L; Prescott, Tonya L; Espelage, Dorothy L

2016-06-13

Bullying is a significant public health issue among middle school-aged youth. Current prevention programs have only a moderate impact. Cell phone text messaging technology (mHealth) can potentially overcome existing challenges, particularly those that are structural (e.g., limited time that teachers can devote to non-educational topics). To date, the description of the development of empirically-based mHealth-delivered bullying prevention programs are lacking in the literature. To describe the development of BullyDown, a text messaging-based bullying prevention program for middle school students, guided by the Social-Emotional Learning model. We implemented five activities over a 12-month period: (1) national focus groups (n=37 youth) to gather acceptability of program components; (2) development of content; (3) a national Content Advisory Team (n=9 youth) to confirm content tone; and (4) an internal team test of software functionality followed by a beta test (n=22 youth) to confirm the enrollment protocol and the feasibility and acceptability of the program. Recruitment experiences suggested that Facebook advertising was less efficient than using a recruitment firm to recruit youth nationally, and recruiting within schools for the pilot test was feasible. Feedback from the Content Advisory Team suggests a preference for 2-4 brief text messages per day. Beta test findings suggest that BullyDown is both feasible and acceptable: 100% of youth completed the follow-up survey, 86% of whom liked the program. Text messaging appears to be a feasible and acceptable delivery method for bullying prevention programming delivered to middle school students.

Impact of a Career Intervention on At-Risk Middle School Students' Career Maturity Levels, Academic Achievement, and Self-Esteem

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Legum, Harry L.; Hoare, Carol H.

2004-01-01

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of a 9-week career intervention program on at-risk middle school students' career maturity levels, self-esteem, and academic achievement. This study was based on a pretest and posttest design using a control group. Data were collected from 27 at-risk middle school students representing the…

Iowa's High School Super Senior School-to-Work Transition Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nietupski, John; Warth, Judy; Winslow, Amy; Johnson, Russ; Douglas, Beverly; Johnson, Maggie; Cilek, Judy

2006-01-01

This article describes an innovative school-to-work transition program incorporating identified best practices. Iowa's Super Senior program serves students in the "middle range" of the disability severity spectrum during the student's senior and 5th, or "Super Senior" year. The article describes the program elements, presents…

Dewitt Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund National Library Power Program.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

School Library Media Annual (SLMA), 1993

1993-01-01

Describes the National Library Power Program, a collaborative effort sponsored by the Dewitt Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund in cooperation with local education funds and public school districts that was designed to create public elementary and middle school library programs that are central to the education program of the school. (LRW)

A case study of a mathematics teacher's and science teacher's use of teacher wisdom in integrating middle school mathematics and science content

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saam, Julie Reinhardt

The National Science Education Standards, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Curriculum Standards, the Interdisciplinary Team Organization structure and the Middle School movement collectively suggest to teachers to make connections between their subject areas. This case study of a middle school mathematics teacher and science teacher utilizes the framework of teacher wisdom to bring a unique perspective to the process of developing and implementing integrated curriculum. Data collection consisted of interviews with the teachers, students, and their principal; documents such lesson plans, team meeting minutes and teacher journal entries; and field notes acquired within team meetings and classroom instruction. The interpretations of this study reveal that teacher development of integrated curriculum occurs in two ways: naturally and intentionally. The natural label used to describe when teachers comfortably share information that could serve as connections between subjects. The intentional label used to describe when the teachers purposely plan integrated lessons and units. These findings also provide an image of middle school integration. This image exhibits more than connections between subject area content; it also shows connections with away-from-school skills and events, lifeskills, and lifelong guidelines. Although these teachers found it frustrating and overwhelming to meet the many views of integration, they assembled integration curriculum that followed their philosophy of education, coincided with their personal characteristics and met the needs of their students. The interpretations of this study reveal a new model of middle school integration. Teachers can use this model as a collection of integration examples. Integration researchers can use this model as a conceptual framework to analyze the integration efforts of middle level teachers. Additional research needs to focus on: developing new modeling and evaluation tools for teachers, evaluating middle school professional development programs, investigating middle school teachers' characteristics, and continuing the study of integration's worth. The results of this study and additional research may help: (a) administrators to target specific teachers for middle school positions, (b) educators to plan and implement new programs for inservice and preservice middle school teachers, and (c) teachers to experiment with new and innovative strategies for middle school integration.

Survey of Middle Grades Reading Issues

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Humphrey, Jack W.

2009-01-01

There is abundant evidence that schools with strong reading programs have successful students. But building strong reading skills is a complex task, particularly by the time students reach the middle grades. A survey was conducted that involved all Indiana middle grades schools in May 2009. Two types of data analysis were utilized in preparing the…

An Examination of an Online Tutoring Program's Impact on Low-Achieving Middle School Students' Mathematics Achievement

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chappell, Shanan; Arnold, Pamela; Nunnery, John; Grant, Melva

2015-01-01

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to determine the impact of synchronous online tutoring services on struggling middle school students' mathematics achievement. The online tutoring was provided as a response to intervention (RTI) Tier 3 support (intensive, individualized intervention) in schools implementing a school-wide mathematics…

The Creation and Implementation of a Dream: Lessons Learned from a Unique Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wheat, Kevin

2017-01-01

Many educational leaders dream of the opportunity to begin a new school. New schools provide opportunities for innovation, change, and creativity, which most educators believe is needed to improve current middle school practice. This study follows the process of planning for and opening a new and innovative middle school program designed to offer…

Thinking Processes in Middle School Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Matsuoka, Caryn

2012-01-01

As part of the author's doctoral program at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, she conducted a study to determine whether and how former sixth-grade students at Waikiki School were using the thinking processes and strategies they were taught in elementary school when they were in middle school. In order to find this out, she interviewed eight…

After-School Tutoring for Reading Achievement and Urban Middle School Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nelson-Royes, Andrea M.; Reglin, Gary L.

2011-01-01

This research study's purpose or theme was to qualitatively investigate the reading component of a private after-school tutoring program that offered academic assistance to eighth-grade students. The problem with reading is many urban middle school students have poor reading skills and do not perform well on reading standardized tests. Relative to…

WWC Quick Review of the Report "San Francisco Bay Area KIPP Schools: A Study of Early Implementation and Achievement"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

What Works Clearinghouse, 2008

2008-01-01

This study examined whether attending a "Knowledge is Power Program" (KIPP) middle school improved students' academic achievement. KIPP schools in the study included fifth through eighth grades and served primarily low-income, minority students. The study found that fifth-grade students in KIPP middle schools generally performed better…

Summer of Innovation Kick Off

NASA Image and Video Library

2010-06-09

Julie Townsend, JPL Engineer, talks about her experiences to teachers and middle school students during the kick off of NASA's Summer of Innovation program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., Thursday, June 10, 2010. Through the program, NASA will engage thousands of middle school students and teachers in stimulating math and science-based education programs with the goal of increasing the number of future scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Summer of Innovation Kick Off

NASA Image and Video Library

2010-06-09

Jet Propulsion Laboratory Manager of Elementary and Secondary Education David Seidel motivates teachers and middle school students during the kick off of NASA's Summer of Innovation program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., Thursday, June 10, 2010. Through the program, NASA will engage thousands of middle school students and teachers in stimulating math and science-based education programs with the goal of increasing the number of future scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Summer of Innovation Kick Off

NASA Image and Video Library

2010-06-09

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, center, listens as NASA astronaut Leland Melvin welcomes teachers and middle school students to the kick off of NASA's Summer of Innovation program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., Thursday, June 10, 2010. Through the program, NASA will engage thousands of middle school students and teachers in stimulating math and science-based education programs with the goal of increasing the number of future scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Summer of Innovation Kick Off

NASA Image and Video Library

2010-06-09

NASA astronaut Stephanie Wilson talks about her experiences to teachers and middle school students during the kick off of NASA's Summer of Innovation program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., Thursday, June 10, 2010. Through the program, NASA will engage thousands of middle school students and teachers in stimulating math and science-based education programs with the goal of increasing the number of future scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Why Do Middle School Students Sign Up for Washington's College Bound Scholarship Program? A Mixed Methods Evaluation. CEDR Working Paper. WP #2016-3

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Goldhaber, Dan; Long, Mark C.; Person, Ann; Rooklyn, Jordan

2016-01-01

Why individuals choose not to sign up for social programs, particularly when the costs of sign-up are low and the benefits generous, is a crucial question for policy scholars. In this paper, we show that a substantial share of qualified middle school students fail to sign up for Washington State's College Bound Scholarship program, and this…

Five Exciting, Enriching Outdoor Study Days in the Life of Delaware Valley Middle School Sixth Graders.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Palermo, Scott D.; Sewall, Susan B.

1988-01-01

Discusses some of the variables involved in the development of five environmental education days by the Delaware Valley (Pennsylvania) Middle School. Recounts some of the ways that support was generated for programs from school administrators and community resources people. (TW)

Well-Connected: Exploring Parent Social Networks in a Gentrifying School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cappelletti, Gina A.

2017-01-01

The enrollment and engagement of middle-class families in historically low-income urban public schools can generate school improvements, including increased resources and expanded extracurricular programming. At the same time, prior research has highlighted the marginalization of low-income parents as one consequence of middle-class parent…

Promoting a Successful Transition to Middle School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Akos, Patrick; Queen, J. Allen; Lineberry, Christopher

2005-01-01

With detailed examples of best practices from middle schools across the country, this book features research-based strategies and suggestions for transition programs. It covers the roles of school principals, counselors, classroom teachers, and the central office. The book is divided into the following sections: (1) An Overview of School…

Getting Them There, Keeping Them There: Benefits of an Extended School Day Program for High School Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Furrer, Carrie J.; Magnuson, Linda; Suggs, Joseph W.

2012-01-01

Over a decade of research has demonstrated the positive effects of extended school day programs on various elementary and middle school student outcomes, both in the short and long term. The efficacy of extended school day programs in promoting academic outcomes among high school students is less well understood. This study contributes to the…

Meeting the preteen vaccine law: a pilot program in urban middle schools.

PubMed

Boyer-Chuanroong, L; Deaver, P

2000-02-01

California, the most populous state in the nation, is one of many states that implemented vaccination requirements for preteens. While kindergarten requirements are well-established and accepted by parents, implementation of preteen vaccination requirements requires inter- and intra-institutional adjustments, educational and public relations efforts, and an augmentation of vaccination delivery systems. This article describes a pilot program in two middle schools in an urban school district and offers planning strategies and practical tools to assist school nurses and health providers to implement preteen requirements.

Alignment of Hands-on STEM Engagement Activities with Positive STEM Dispositions in Secondary School Students

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Christensen, Rhonda; Knezek, Gerald; Tyler-Wood, Tandra

2015-12-01

This study examines positive dispositions reported by middle school and high school students participating in programs that feature STEM-related activities. Middle school students participating in school-to-home hands-on energy monitoring activities are compared to middle school and high school students in a different project taking part in activities such as an after-school robotics program. Both groups are compared and contrasted with a third group of high school students admitted at the eleventh grade to an academy of mathematics and science. All students were assessed using the same science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) dispositions instrument. Findings indicate that the after-school group whose participants self-selected STEM engagement activities, and the self-selected academy of mathematics and science group, each had highly positive STEM dispositions comparable to those of STEM professionals, while a subset of the middle school whole-classroom energy monitoring group that reported high interest in STEM as a career, also possessed highly positive STEM dispositions comparable to the STEM Professionals group. The authors conclude that several different kinds of hands-on STEM engagement activities are likely to foster or maintain positive STEM dispositions at the middle school and high school levels, and that these highly positive levels of dispositions can be viewed as a target toward which projects seeking to interest mainstream secondary students in STEM majors in college and STEM careers, can hope to aspire. Gender findings regarding STEM dispositions are also reported for these groups.

Development of a Food Safety and Nutrition Education Program for Adolescents by Applying Social Cognitive Theory.

PubMed

Lee, Jounghee; Jeong, Soyeon; Ko, Gyeongah; Park, Hyunshin; Ko, Youngsook

2016-08-01

The purpose of this study was to develop an educational model regarding food safety and nutrition. In particular, we aimed to develop educational materials, such as middle- and high-school textbooks, a teacher's guidebook, and school posters, by applying social cognitive theory. To develop a food safety and nutrition education program, we took into account diverse factors influencing an individual's behavior, such as personal, behavioral, and environmental factors, based on social cognitive theory. We also conducted a pilot study of the educational materials targeting middle-school students (n = 26), high-school students (n = 24), and dietitians (n = 13) regarding comprehension level, content, design, and quality by employing the 5-point Likert scale in May 2016. The food safety and nutrition education program covered six themes: (1) caffeine; (2) food additives; (3) foodborne illness; (4) nutrition and meal planning; (5) obesity and eating disorders; and (6) nutrition labeling. Each class activity was created to improve self-efficacy by setting one's own goal and to increase self-control by monitoring one's dietary intake. We also considered environmental factors by creating school posters and leaflets to educate teachers and parents. The overall evaluation score for the textbook was 4.0 points among middle- and high-school students, and 4.5 points among dietitians. This study provides a useful program model that could serve as a guide to develop educational materials for nutrition-related subjects in the curriculum. This program model was created to increase awareness of nutrition problems and self-efficacy. This program also helped to improve nutrition management skills and to promote a healthy eating environment in middle- and high-school students.

Improving Student Learning through the Use of Classroom Quizzes: Three Years of Evidence from the Columbia Middle School Project

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Agarwal, Pooja K.; Roediger, Henry L., III; McDaniel, Mark A.; McDermott, Kathleen B.

2010-01-01

In this study, the authors examined whether a test-enhanced learning program, integrated with daily classroom practices, is effective in a middle school setting. Specifically, they implemented and experimentally evaluated a test-enhanced learning program in 6th-8th grade Social Studies, English, Science, and Spanish classes. Although laboratory…

Evaluation of a Youth-Led Program for Preventing Bullying, Sexual Harassment, and Dating Aggression in Middle Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Connolly, Jennifer; Josephson, Wendy; Schnoll, Jessica; Simkins-Strong, Emily; Pepler, Debra; MacPherson, Alison; Weiser, Jessica; Moran, Michelle; Jiang, Depeng

2015-01-01

Although youth-led programs (YLP) have been successful in many areas of public health, youth leadership is rarely used in the prevention of peer aggression. A YLP to reduce bullying, sexual harassment, and dating aggression was compared experimentally with the board-mandated usual practice (UP). Four middle schools in an urban Canadian school…

FMA Live! at Hardy Middle School

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-09-16

A teacher gets dunked with apple sauce during a performance of "FMA Live!" at Hardy Middle School in Washington on Monday, Sept. 16th, 2013. "FMA Live!" is a program sponsored by NASA and Honeywell that teaches Newton's three laws of motion mixed with dance and music. The program travels across the country and has reached nearly 300,000 students.Photo Credit: (NASA/Jay Westcott)

Enjoyment Fosters Engagement: The Key to Involving Middle School Students in Physical Education and Physical Activity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pharez, Emily S.

2016-01-01

This article describes the challenges faced by a middle school teacher who inherited a recreation-based physical education program in which students had been accustomed to choosing what they wanted to do. Stressing the importance of implementing a standards-based program in which students of all skill levels and activity preferences were able to…

FMA Live! at Hardy Middle School

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-09-16

Performers dance and sing during a performance of "FMA Live!" at Hardy Middle School in Washington on Monday, Sept. 16th, 2013. "FMA Live!" is a program sponsored by NASA and Honeywell that teaches Newton's three laws of motion mixed with dance and music. The program travels across the country and has reached nearly 300,000 students.Photo Credit: (NASA/Jay Westcott)

Experimental Effects of Word Generation on Vocabulary, Academic Language, and Perspective Taking in High Poverty Middle Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jones, Stephanie M.; Kim, James; LaRusso, Maria; Kim, Ha Yeon; Selman, Robert; Uccelli, Paola; Barnes, Sophie; Donovan, Suzanne; Snow, Catherine

2016-01-01

Word Generation (WG) is a research-based vocabulary program for middle school students designed to teach words through language arts, math, science, and social studies classes. The program consists of weekly units that introduce 5 high-utility target words through brief passages designed to spark active examination and discussion of contemporary…

Teacher Perspectives of Whole Brain Teaching in a Suburban Middle School: A Program Evaluation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

VanHosen, Wendy

2017-01-01

The purpose of this program evaluation case study was to seek the perceptions of a group of teachers based on their experience with Whole Brain Teaching strategies at a suburban middle school. Perceptions and factors that lead to teacher use of the strategies were explored with the intention of informing stakeholders of whether teachers view these…

A Survey of Sight-Singing Instructional Practices in Florida Middle-School Choral Programs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kuehne, Jane M.

2007-01-01

The purpose of this research was to discover materials and methods used and examine influences on how and why sight-singing is taught in Florida middle-school choral programs. Members of the Florida Vocal Association completed an online or paper version of a questionnaire (N = 152). Data yielded several results that support previous research and…

The Effects of a Direct Instruction Program on the Fraction Performance of Middle School Students At-Risk for Failure in Mathematics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Flores, Margaret M.; Kaylor, Maria

2007-01-01

The current exploratory study investigated the effects of a Direct Instruction program implemented with middle school students identified as at-risk for failure in mathematics. Direct Instruction has typically been implemented with students with disabilities in separate special education settings. However, this study examined the extent to which…

A Review of 21 Curricula for Abstinence-Only-until-Marriage Programs.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilson, Kelly L.; Goodson, Patricia; Pruitt, B.E.; Buhi, Eric; Davis-Gunnels, Emily

2005-01-01

The authors reviewed the content, methods, and overall quality of 21 curricula used in abstinence-only-until-marriage programs. Only materials designed for use in middle school grades (fifth to eighth) or with middle school-aged audiences (9-13 years of age), which presented the abstinence message in at least 40% of their content, were included. A…

A Contest to Create Media Messages Aimed at Recruiting Adolescents for Stop Smoking Programs.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Croghan, Ivana T.; Campbell, Heather M.; Patten, Christi A.; Croghan, Gary A.; Schroeder, Darrell R.; Novotny, Paul J.

2004-01-01

This project engaged adolescents in a contest to create advertising messages aimed at recruiting teens for stop smoking programs. Middle school students were invited to design a media message for television, radio, Web, or print (newspaper or billboard). 0f 4,289 students in eight middle schools of Rochester, Minn., 265 (6.2%) developed 172 stop…

Filling the Gap: Integrating STEM into Career and Technical Education Middle School Programs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wu-Rorrer, Ray

2017-01-01

The field of STEM education is an educational framework that has surged in application over the past decade. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) is infused in nearly every facet of our society. Filling the gap of current research in middle school career and technical education (CTE) and STEM programs is important as traditional CTE…

The Role of Teacher Communicator Style in the Delivery of a Middle School Substance Use Prevention Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Giles, Steven M.; Pankratz, Melinda M.; Ringwalt, Chris; Jackson-Newsom, Julia; Hansen, William B.; Bishop, Dana; Dusenbury, Linda; Gottfredson, Nisha

2012-01-01

We examine whether teachers' communicator style relates to student engagement, teacher-student relationships, student perceptions of teacher immediacy, as well as observer ratings of delivery skills during the implementation of All Stars, a middle school-based substance use prevention program. Data from 48 teachers who taught All Stars up to 3…

What Factors Predict Middle School Students Sign Up for Washington's College Bound Scholarship Program? A Mixed Methods Evaluation. Working Paper 175

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Goldhaber, Dan; Long, Mark C.; Person, Ann E.; Rooklyn, Jordan

2017-01-01

We investigate factors influencing student sign-ups for Washington State's College Bound Scholarship (CBS) program. We find a substantial share of eligible middle school students fail to sign the CBS, forgoing college financial aid. Student characteristics associated with signing the scholarship parallel characteristics of low-income students who…

Effects of an Inquiry-Based Science Program on Critical Thinking, Science Process Skills, Creativity, and Science Fair Achievement of Middle School Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Longo, Christopher M.

2012-01-01

This study investigated the impact of an inquiry-based science program on the critical thinking skills, science process skills, creativity, and science fair achievement of middle school students. Although research indicates the connection between inquiry and achievement, there is limited empirical research relating specific inquiry-based programs…

School-based violence prevention strategy: a pilot evaluation.

PubMed

Thakore, Rachel V; Apfeld, Jordan C; Johnson, Ronald K; Sathiyakumar, Vasanth; Jahangir, A Alex; Sethi, Manish K

2015-07-01

Violence has recently been reported among a primarily young, minority population in Nashville, Tennessee. School-based programs have been proven as effective methods of reducing violent behavior, beliefs, and actions that lead to violence among adolescents. Investigators implemented a rigorous search for an appropriate school-based violence prevention program for Metropolitan Nashville middle school students utilizing a systematic review and discussion group with victims of violence. 27 programs nation-wide were reviewed and 2 discussion groups with African American males under the age of 25 admitted to a level 1 trauma center for assault-related injuries were conducted. Our findings led to a single, evidence-based conflict resolution program. In conjunction with educators, we evaluated the program's effectiveness in a pilot study in a Nashville middle school with high rates of violence. 122 students completed the conflict resolution program and described their behavior and experiences with violence in a pre-test/post-test self-rate questionnaire. Results showed a significant decrease in violent behavior and an increase in students' competencies to deal with violence (p less than 0.05). This study shows that a reduction in violent behavior and beliefs among middle school students can be achieved through the implementation of a targeted violence intervention program. A larger-scale intervention is needed to develop more conclusive evidence of effectiveness. © 2015 KUMS, All rights reserved.

The long-term impact of a math, science and technology program on grade school girls

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sullivan, Sandra Judd

The purpose of this study was to determine if a math, science, and technology intervention program improved grade school girls' attitudes and stereotypes toward science and scientists, as well as participation levels in science-related activities, two years after their participating in the program. The intervention program evaluated was Operation SMART, developed by Girls Incorporated. Participants were recruited from the 6th and 7th grades from two public middle schools in Northern California. One hundred twenty-seven girls signed up for the survey and were assigned to either the SMART group (previous SMART participants) or Non-SMART group (no previous experience with SMART). The survey consisted of five parts: (1) a background information sheet, (2) the Modified Attitudes Toward Science Inventory, (3) the What Do You Do? survey, (4) the Draw-A-Scientist Test-Revised, and (5) a career interests and role models/influencer survey. Results indicated that there were no significant differences between the SMART and Non-SMART groups on any of the test measures. However, middle school attended did have a significant effect on the outcome variables. Girls from Middle School A reported more positive attitudes toward science, while girls from Middle School B reported higher participation levels in extracurricular science activities. Possible explanations for these findings suggest too much time had passed between treatment effect and time of measurement as well as the strong influence of teacher and school environment on girls' attitudes and stereotypes. Recommendations for future research are discussed.

Associations among school characteristics and foodservice practices in a nationally representative sample of United States schools.

PubMed

Thomson, Jessica L; Tussing-Humphreys, Lisa M; Martin, Corby K; LeBlanc, Monique M; Onufrak, Stephen J

2012-01-01

Determine school characteristics associated with healthy/unhealthy food service offerings or healthy food preparation practices. Secondary analysis of cross-sectional data. Nationally representative sample of public and private elementary, middle, and high schools. Data from the 2006 School Health Policies and Practices Study Food Service School Questionnaire, n = 526 for Healthy and Unhealthy Offerings analysis; n = 520 for Healthy Preparation analysis. Scores for healthy/unhealthy foodservice offerings and healthy food preparation practices. Multivariable regression to determine significant associations among school characteristics and offerings/preparation practices. Public schools and schools participating in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Team Nutrition reported more healthy offerings and preparation than private or nonparticipating schools, respectively. Elementary schools reported fewer unhealthy offerings than middle or high schools; middle schools reported fewer unhealthy offerings than high schools. Schools requiring foodservice managers to have a college education reported more healthy preparation, whereas those requiring completion of a foodservice training program reported fewer unhealthy offerings and more healthy preparation than schools without these requirements. Results suggest the school nutrition environment may be improved by requiring foodservice managers to hold a nutrition-related college degree and/or successfully pass a foodservice training program, and by participating in a school-based nutrition program, such as USDA Team Nutrition. Copyright © 2012 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. All rights reserved.

Medical students help bridge the gap in sexual health education among middle school youth.

PubMed

Adjei, Naomi; Yacovelli, Michael; Liu, Dorothy; Sindhu, Kunal; Roberts, Mary; Magee, Susanna

2017-01-06

School-based programs are important in addressing risky teenage sexual behavior. We implemented a sex education program using trained medical student volunteers. Medical students (n=30) implemented a seven-session curriculum, designed by medical students and faculty, to 7th and 8th grade students (n=310) at a local school. Middle school students completed pre- and post-assessments. Teachers and medical students completed questionnaires relating their perceptions of students' attitudes and understanding of sexual health. Students completing the curriculum scored 5% higher on post- versus pre-assessment (84% vs 78.7%, p<0.001). Statistically significant gains were noted in knowledge of reproductive system anatomy, community resources, and sexual decision making. Sixty percent of middle school teachers compared to only 16.7% of medical student volunteers reported discomfort teaching sexual health. Sexual education delivered by trained medical student volunteers may improve middle schoolers' understanding of sexual health. [Full article available at http://rimed.org/rimedicaljournal-2017-01.asp].

Listening to Student Voices: How Student Advisory Boards Can Help.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bacon, Ellen; Bloom, Lisa

2000-01-01

This article describes the involvement of students with emotional and/or behavior disorders on effective student advisory boards. Examples are given of student advisory board input in elementary school conflict mediation and mentor programs, a middle school composure room program, and a high school in-school factory program. Stressed is the…

Influences of School Latino Composition and Linguistic Acculturation on a Prevention Program for Youths

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marsiglia, Flavio F.; Yabiku, Scott T.; Kulis, Stephen; Nieri, Tanya; Lewin, Benjamin

2010-01-01

This study examined how ethnic composition and linguistic acculturation within schools affected the efficacy of a youth substance use prevention model program. Data came from a randomized trial of the "keepin' it REAL" program, using a predominantly Mexican American sample of middle school students in Phoenix, Arizona. Schools were…

Advisors' Perceptions of a Rural High School Student Advisory Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Welsh, Jody Lynn

2012-01-01

The problem addressed in this study was the transition from middle school to high school, a source of difficulty for many students. Student advisory programs have been implemented in many secondary schools as one solution to this problem. While research supports the use of advisory programs, little research exists regarding the effectiveness of…

Building on the Success of Increasing Diversity in the Geosciences: A Bridging Program From Middle School to College

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kovacs, T.; Robinson, D.; Suleiman, A.; Maggi, B.

2004-12-01

A bridging program to increase the diversity in the geosciences was created at Hampton University (HU) to inspire underrepresented minorities to pursue an educational path that advances them towards careers in the geosciences. Three objectives were met to achieve this goal. First, we inspired a diverse population of middle and high school students outside of the classroom by providing an after school geoscience club, a middle school geoscience summer enrichment camp, and a research/mentorship program for high school students. Second, we helped fill the need for geoscience curriculum content requested of science teachers who work primarily with underrepresented middle school populations by providing a professional development workshop at HU led by geoscience professors, teachers, and science educators. Third, we built on the successful atmospheric sciences research and active Ph.D. program by developing our geoscience curriculum including the formation of a new space, earth, and atmospheric sciences minor. All workshops, camps, and clubs have been full or nearly full each year despite restrictions on participants repeating any of the programs. The new minor has 11 registered undergraduates and the total number of students in these classes has been increasing. Participants of all programs gave the quality of the program good ratings and participant perceptions and knowledge improved throughout the programs based on pre-, formative, and summative assessments. The ultimate goal is to increase the number of degrees granted to underrepresented minorities in the geosciences. We have built a solid foundation with our minor that prepares students for graduate degrees in the geosciences and offer a graduate degree in physics with a concentration in the atmospheric sciences. However, it's from the geoscience pipeline that students will come into our academic programs. We expect to continue to develop these formal and informal education programs to increase our reputation and utilize the network of schools with which we have built relationships to recruit underrepresented minority students into our academic programs. We also plan to continue to enhance our undergraduate minor and graduate degree programs to build a self-sustaining graduate degree-granting program in the geosciences.

25 CFR 36.23 - Standard VIII-Junior high/middle school instructional program.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

.... (4) Science. One unit shall be required of each student every year. (5) Fine arts and practical arts.... (6) Computer literacy. One unit shall be required of each student in the junior high/middle school...

25 CFR 36.23 - Standard VIII-Junior high/middle school instructional program.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

.... (4) Science. One unit shall be required of each student every year. (5) Fine arts and practical arts.... (6) Computer literacy. One unit shall be required of each student in the junior high/middle school...

25 CFR 36.23 - Standard VIII-Junior high/middle school instructional program.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

.... (4) Science. One unit shall be required of each student every year. (5) Fine arts and practical arts.... (6) Computer literacy. One unit shall be required of each student in the junior high/middle school...

25 CFR 36.23 - Standard VIII-Junior high/middle school instructional program.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

.... (4) Science. One unit shall be required of each student every year. (5) Fine arts and practical arts.... (6) Computer literacy. One unit shall be required of each student in the junior high/middle school...

Effect of Nutrition Changes on Foods Selected by Students in a Middle School-based Diabetes Prevention Intervention Program; the HEALTHY Experience

PubMed Central

Mobley, Connie C.; Stadler, Diane D.; Staten, Myrlene A; ghormli, Laure El; Gillis, Bonnie; Hartstein, Jill; Siega-Riz, Anna Maria; Virus, Amy

2011-01-01

BACKGOUND The HEALTHY primary prevention trial developed an integrated multi-component intervention program to moderate risk factors for type 2 diabetes in middle schools. The nutrition component aimed to improve the quality of foods and beverages served to students. Changes in the School Breakfast Program (SBP), National School Lunch Program (NSLP), and a la carte venues are compared to the experience of control schools. METHODS The intervention was implemented in 21 middle schools from winter 2007 through spring 2009 (following a cohort of students from sixth through eighth grades); 21 schools acted as observed controls. The nutrition component targeted school food service environmental change. Data identifying foods and nutrients served (selected by students for consumption) were collected over a 20-day period at baseline and end of study. Analysis compared end of study values for intervention versus control schools. RESULTS Intervention schools more successfully limited dessert and snack food portion size in NSLP and a la carte and lowered fat content of foods served. Servings of high fiber grain-based foods and/or legumes were improved in SBP but not NSLP. Intervention and control schools eliminated >1% fat milk and sugar added beverages in SBP, but intervention schools were more successful in NSLP and a la carte. CONCLUSION The HEALTHY program demonstrated significant changes in the nutritional quality of foods and beverages served in the SBP, NSLP, and a la carte venues, as part of an effort to decrease childhood obesity and support beneficial effects in some secondary HEALTHY study outcomes. PMID:22239133

Summer of Innovation Kick Off

NASA Image and Video Library

2010-06-09

Erin Gilbert, Director of Professional Development from the National Summer Learning Associations, motivates teachers and middle school students during the kick off of NASA's Summer of Innovation program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., Thursday, June 10, 2010. Through the program, NASA will engage thousands of middle school students and teachers in stimulating math and science-based education programs with the goal of increasing the number of future scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Feasibility of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program in Low-Income Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hong, Jun S.

2009-01-01

This article examines school response to bullying and youth aggression in upper/middle-class and low socioeconomic neighborhoods, and the feasibility of successfully implementing the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program in schools located in impoverished communities. The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program is one of the few programs that has proven…

Staff Development in the Implementation of a Schoolwide Writing Program.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Knudson, Ruth

A case study examined the implementation of a schoolwide writing program established in a California middle school through a district sponsored school improvement program (SIP). Conducted at an urban sprawl southern California school of approximately 900 students in grades seven and eight, the program was directed and implemented by the English…

"Leading from the Middle": An Initial Study of Impact

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Naylor, Philip; Gkolia, Chrysanthi; Brundrett, Mark

2006-01-01

The National College for School Leadership (NCSL) Programme, Leading from the Middle (LftM), was introduced in 2003 and was designed to help improve leadership at middle levels in schools and to impact on the effectiveness of teams of teachers in improving pupil progress. This article is a report on an evaluative study of how the program has…

The Effects of a School-Based Program on the Reported Self-Advocacy Knowledge of Students with Learning Disabilities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mishna, Faye; Muskat, Barbara; Farnia, Fataneh; Wiener, Judith

2011-01-01

A school-based study examined self-reported self-advocacy knowledge of middle school students with learning disabilities (LD). Children with LD are vulnerable to experiencing psychosocial and academic problems. Self-advocacy is a protective factor as students with LD enter middle and high school, comprising knowledge of one's learning strengths…

Cedar Middle School's Response to Intervention Journey: A Systematic, Multi-Tier, Problem-Solving Approach to Program Implementation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dulaney, Shannon Kay

2010-01-01

The purpose of the present study was to record Cedar Middle School's (CMS) response to intervention implementation journey. It is a qualitative case study that examines one school's efforts to bring school improvements under the response to inventory (RtI) umbrella in order to achieve a more systematic approach to providing high-quality…

The History of a Communications Skills Laboratory in the Middle School of New York State School District.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Giddings, Louise R.

An innovative communication skills laboratory, created in 1971 at the middle school of the Greenburgh School District of New York State, focused on non-verbal communication, as well as the language arts and literature. The laboratory was designed to replace an English program that stigmatized low achievers and separated them from their peers. A…

Eric's Journey: A Restructured School's Inclusion Program and a Student with Disabilities.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Richardson, Don H.

1998-01-01

Profiles a Milford, Connecticut, middle school's efforts to help Eric Kowalchick, a developmentally disabled adolescent, develop life skills and friendships, prepare for work, pursue school and community club memberships, and attend high school classes. The school's mainstreaming program is a success, thanks to an institutional mission understood…

The Middle School Curriculum: Engineering Anyone?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Samuels, Kyle; Seymour, Richard

2015-01-01

Engineering programs have long thrived in U.S. universities. More recently, engineering content has been introduced in America's high schools, yet less so in elementary and middle schools across the nation. To meet the demand for engineers in the U.S., educators must play a more active role in inspiring young students to this career option.…

The Visual Identity Project

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tennant-Gadd, Laurie; Sansone, Kristina Lamour

2008-01-01

Identity is the focus of the middle-school visual arts program at Cambridge Friends School (CFS) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Sixth graders enter the middle school and design a personal logo as their first major project in the art studio. The logo becomes a way for students to introduce themselves to their teachers and to represent who they are…

Transition Strategies at the School Level: Reforming Middle Grades' Organization and Programs.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bentley, Ernest L., Jr.; Campbell, Beverly

This paper presents organizational strategies and implementation methods for conversion to middle school organization (scheduled to take place in 1988) in the Johnson City, Tennessee, school system. Carried out by the district in partnership with local institutions of higher education, the study focuses on what is educationally best for the child…

Building Life Options: School-Community Collaborations for Pregnancy Prevention in the Middle Grades.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Archer, Elayne; Cahill, Michele

This handbook was written to encourage and assist school districts, schools, and community-based organizations to respond to the growing need for adolescent pregnancy prevention activities in the middle grades. It reflects the experiences of adolescent pregnancy prevention programs across the country, particularly those of the eight Urban Middle…

Creating the Cougar Watch: Learning to Be Proactive against Bullying in Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Robert W.; Smith, Kayce

2014-01-01

Despite reticence from the central office, strong middle level teacher leaders worked together to develop an effective anti-bullying program that addresses a significant need for safety and inclusion for all middle school students. This article describes how one teacher's concerns changed her school's attitude with regard to bullying from assuming…

Too Good for Violence. What Works Clearinghouse Intervention Report

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

What Works Clearinghouse, 2006

2006-01-01

"Too Good for Violence" promotes character values, social-emotional skills, and healthy beliefs of elementary and middle school students. The program includes seven lessons per grade level for elementary school (K-5) and nine lessons per grade level for middle school (6-8). All lessons are scripted and engage students through…

Transformative Multicultural Science Curriculum: A Case Study of Middle School Robotics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Grimes, Mary Katheryn

2012-01-01

Multicultural Science has been a topic of research and discourse over the past several years. However, most of the literature concerning this topic (or paradigm) has centered on programs in tribal or Indigenous schools. Under the framework of instructional congruence, this case study explored how elementary and middle school students in a…

Focusing on flu

PubMed Central

Short, Mary B; Middleman, Amy B

2014-01-01

Introduction: To describe adolescents' perspectives regarding the use of school-located immunization programs (SLIP) for influenza vaccination. More importantly, adolescents were asked what factors would make them more or less likely to use a SLIP offering influenza vaccine. Results: Participants were generally found to be knowledgeable about influenza and to have positive attitudes toward receiving the vaccine via SLIP. Students were more willing to participate in a SLIP if it were low cost or free, less time-consuming than going to a doctor, and if they felt they could trust vaccinators. Overall, high school and middle school students ranked the benefits of SLIP similarly to each other. Methods: Focus groups using nominal group method were conducted with middle and high school students in a large, urban school district. Responses were recorded by each school, and then, responses were ranked across all participating schools for each question. Conclusions: A wide range of issues are important to middle and high school students when considering participation in SLIPs including convenience, public health benefits, trust in the program, program safety, and sanitary issues. Further research will be needed regarding the generalizability of these findings to larger populations of students. PMID:24018398

School and Family Counselors Work Together to Reduce Fighting at School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Canfield, Brian S.; Ballard, Mary B.; Osmon, Bonnie C.; McCune, Cecil

2004-01-01

To address the problem of fighting in four urban middle schools, school and family counselors collaborated to provide school-based multifamily counseling as an alternative to the mandatory 3-day external suspension program. Supported by district leaders and local school principals, the program was successful in reducing fighting recidivism rates.…

An Inventory of Cocurricular Drama Programs in the Secondary Schools of Jefferson County, Kentucky.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hoover, Nancy Roahrig

In order to compile an inventory of secondary school cocurricular dramatics programs in the Jefferson County, Kentucky, public schools, eleven principals, eighteen teachers, and eighty students were randomly selected from thirteen high schools, five junior high schools, and five middle schools. Respondents completed questionnaires concerning the…

Getting Middle-School Students up and Moving: What's the Role of School and Neighborhood Environments...and the Weather: Studying the Effect of Neighborhood and School Environments on Youth Physical Activity Levels. Program Results

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nakashian, Mary

2008-01-01

Researchers at the Harvard Prevention Research Center at Harvard University School of Public Health examined how physical and social environments of schools and neighborhoods shape routine physical activities of students attending 10 middle schools in the Boston area. They also analyzed the effect of weather conditions on student physical…

A Mixed Method Study of the Effectiveness of the Accelerated Reader Program on Middle School Students' Reading Achievement and Motivation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Huang, SuHua

2012-01-01

The mixed-method explanatory research design was employed to investigate the effectiveness of the Accelerated Reader (AR) program on middle school students' reading achievement and motivation. A total of 211 sixth to eighth-grade students provided quantitative data by completing an AR Survey. Thirty of the 211 students were randomly selected to…

Training Master's-Level Graduate Students to Use Inquiry Instruction to Teach Middle-Level and High-School Science Concepts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gilman, Sharon Larimer; Hitt, Austin M.; Gilman, Craig

2015-01-01

Through the GK-12 program of the National Science Foundation, graduate student fellows in a coastal marine and wetland studies program were trained to present targeted science concepts to middle- and high-school classes through their own research-based lessons. Initially, they were taught to follow the 5-E learning cycle in lesson plan…

Randomized Controlled Evaluation of the "Too Good for Drugs" Prevention Program: Impact on Adolescents at Different Risk Levels for Drug Use

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hall, Bruce W.; Bacon, Tina P.; Ferron, John M.

2013-01-01

Sixth graders participating in the "Too Good for Drugs" (TGFD) prevention program in comparison to 6th graders not participating show different results by student risk level. Sixth graders from 20 middle schools were randomly assigned to receive the intervention and those from 20 paired middle schools assigned to serve as controls (N =…

Exploring Middle School Teachers' Perceptions and Applications of a Site-Based, Technology-Related Professional Development Program Focused on Interactive Whiteboards and Classroom Response Systems

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Desai, Shreya J.

2012-01-01

This qualitative study examined five middle school teachers' perceptions of a site-based, technology-related professional development (TRPD) program focused on the interactive whiteboard (IWB) and the classroom response system (CRS) and the practices implemented in the teachers' classrooms as a result of participation in the TRPD…

California State University, Bakersfield Fab Lab: "Making" a Difference in Middle School Students' STEM Attitudes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Medina, Andrea Lee

2017-01-01

The digital fabrication lab, or Fab Lab, at California State University, Bakersfield provided a 1-week, half-day summer program for local area middle school students. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect this summer program had on their attitudes towards math and science. The theoretical framework used for this study was based on…

School-based violence prevention strategy: a pilot evaluation

PubMed Central

Thakore, Rachel V.; Apfeld, Jordan C.; Johnson, Ronald K.; Sathiyakumar, Vasanth; Jahangir, A. Alex; Sethi, Manish K.

2015-01-01

Abstract: Background: Violence has recently been reported among a primarily young, minority population in Nashville, Tennessee. School-based programs have been proven as effective methods of reducing violent behavior, beliefs, and actions that lead to violence among adolescents. Methods: Investigators implemented a rigorous search for an appropriate school-based violence prevention program for Metropolitan Nashville middle school students utilizing a systematic review and discussion group with victims of violence. 27 programs nation-wide were reviewed and 2 discussion groups with African American males under the age of 25 admitted to a level 1 trauma center for assault-related injuries were conducted. Our findings led to a single, evidence-based conflict resolution program. In conjunction with educators, we evaluated the program’s effectiveness in a pilot study in a Nashville middle school with high rates of violence. Results: 122 students completed the conflict resolution program and described their behavior and experiences with violence in a pre-test/post-test self-rate questionnaire. Results showed a significant decrease in violent behavior and an increase in students’ competencies to deal with violence (p less than 0.05). Conclusions: This study shows that a reduction in violent behavior and beliefs among middle school students can be achieved through the implementation of a targeted violence intervention program. A larger-scale intervention is needed to develop more conclusive evidence of effectiveness. PMID:24879077

Career and Technology Education Grades 6-12. Program Evaluation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Des Moines Public Schools, IA. Teaching and Learning Div.

Technology education programs are offered in 10 middle schools, 5 area high schools, 1 alternative high school, and at Central Campus in the Des Moines Independent Community School District. Programs in grades 6-12 consist of hands-on instruction using activities and projects as the medium for teaching modern technologies in the various trades.…

School Violence Prevention Demonstration Program: Report on Year One, 1999-2000 School Year.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rosen, Louis

This report is the research component of the Center for Civic Education's School Violence Prevention Demonstration Program, a scheme for middle-school-aged students that develops intellectual and participatory skills essential to effective and responsible citizenship. The program is an attempt to draw attention to ways in which civic education can…

Parent Involvement, Business Partnerships Promote Student Achievement.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hunter, Danny D.

1994-01-01

To tap the resources, knowledge, and expertise of parents, a West Virginia middle school initiated a parent-involvement program in fall 1992. The parents created their own program, the Red Apple Corps, which planned and promoted a back-to-school day, a birthday bulletin board, a tutoring program, a school pride award, and the school newspaper.…

The Bridges SOI Model School Program at Palo Verde School, Palo Verde, Arizona.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stock, William A.; DiSalvo, Pamela M.

The Bridges SOI Model School Program is an educational service based upon the SOI (Structure of Intellect) Model School curriculum. For the middle seven months of the academic year, all students in the program complete brief daily exercises that develop specific cognitive skills delineated in the SOI model. Additionally, intensive individual…

Remote Sensing Training for Middle School through the Center of Excellence in Remote Sensing Education

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hayden, L. B.; Johnson, D.; Baltrop, J.

2012-12-01

Remote sensing has steadily become an integral part of multiple disciplines, research, and education. Remote sensing can be defined as the process of acquiring information about an object or area of interest without physical contact. As remote sensing becomes a necessity in solving real world problems and scientific questions an important question to consider is why remote sensing training is significant to education and is it relevant to training students in this discipline. What has been discovered is the interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields, specifically remote sensing, has declined in our youth. The Center of Excellence in Remote Sensing Education and Research (CERSER) continuously strives to provide education and research opportunities on ice sheet, coastal, ocean, and marine science. One of those continued outreach efforts are Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets (CReSIS) Middle School Program. Sponsored by the National Science Foundation CReSIS Middle School Program offers hands on experience for middle school students. CERSER and NSF offer students the opportunity to study and learn about remote sensing and its vital role in today's society as it relate to climate change and real world problems. The CReSIS Middle School Program is an annual two-week effort that offers middle school students experience with remote sensing and its applications. Specifically, participants received training with Global Positioning Systems (GPS) where the students learned the tools, mechanisms, and applications of a Garmin 60 GPS. As a part of the program the students were required to complete a fieldwork assignment where several longitude and latitude points were given throughout campus. The students had to then enter the longitude and latitude points into the Garmin 60 GPS, navigate their way to each location while also accurately reading the GPS to make sure travel was in the right direction. Upon completion of GPS training the students were able to understand the function of a GPS, how to analyze and comprehend longitude and latitude points, and the importance of GPS devices in real world applications. This paper describes in detail the methodology for organizing a learning environment where participants were able to compile, organize and analyze data, collaborate in a team environment, utilize the scientific method to draw conclusions based on the research they obtained. Various resources and training activities were developed to cultivate student participants' skill set. Students were presented with a problem where they had to develop a hypothesis or scientific question. After clearly defining the problem, it was necessary for the middle school participants to determine the data needed to complete an analysis and ascertain where that data can be found or generated. The training and events held for the CReSIS Middle School Program were proven successful for both these inquiring middle school students at Elizabeth City Middle School, River Road Middle School and the STEM representatives from Elizabeth City State University.Too often, students who live in rural communities or face economic disadvantages often miss out on getting access to important technology. Developing an interest in the STEM fields by a few students' would be considered a total success for the city, community, country, and world.

Teaching College Physics at the Local Elementary School

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hagedorn, Eric A.

2006-12-01

For several years physics faculty at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) have taught physics to pre-service elementary and middle school teachers in an unusual location: the local elementary school! The participating pre-service elementary and middle school teachers are typically in their last semester and are fully immersed in their internships (called "student teaching" elsewhere. See Fig. 1). Rather than bringing the students back to campus for class during four of their field semesters, UTEP sends education, mathematics, and physics faculty out to the schools as part of what is referred to as the "field-based program" (FBP) even though some of this program occurs on campus.

Summer of Innovation Kick Off

NASA Image and Video Library

2010-06-09

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, left, along with teachers and middle school students visit High Bay One in the Spacecraft Assembly Building as part of the kick off to NASA's Summer of Innovation program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., Thursday, June 10, 2010. Through the program, NASA will engage thousands of middle school students and teachers in stimulating math and science-based education programs with the goal of increasing the number of future scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

A qualitative study of middle school students' perceptions of factors facilitating the learning of science: Grounded theory and existing theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Spector, Barbara S.; Gibson, Charles W.

The purpose of this study was to explore middle school students' perceptions of what factors facilitated their learning of science. Florida's Educational Reform Act of 1983 funded programs providing the state's precollege students with summer learning opportunities in science. mathematics, and computers. The programs were intended to encourage the development of creative approaches to the teaching of these disciplines. Under this program, between 50 and 60 high-achieving middle school students were in residence on the University of South Florida campus for 12 consecutive days of study in the World of Water (WOW) program. There were two sessions per summer involving a total of 572 participants. Eighi specially trained teachers were in residence with the students. Between 50 and 70 experts from the university, government. business, and industry interacted with the students each year in an innovative science/technology/society (STS) program. An assignment toward the close of the program asked students to reflect on their experiences in residence at the university and write an essay comparing learning in the WOW program to learning in their schools. Those essays were the base for this study. This was a qualitative study using a discursive approach to emergent design to generate grounded theory. Document review, participant observation, and open-ended interviews were used to gather and triangulate data in five phases. Some of the factors that middle school students perceived as helpful to learning science were (a) experiencing the situations about which they were learning; (b) having live presentations by professional experts; (c) doing hands-on activities: (d) being active learners; (e) using inductive reasoning to generate new knowledge; (f) exploring transdisciplinary approaches to problem solving; (g) having adult mentors; (h) interacting with peers and adults; (i) establishing networks; (j) having close personal friends who shared their interest in learning; (k) trusting the individuals in their learning environment, including adults and students; and (1) experiencing a sense of self-reliance. The preceding information was used to generate a series of hypotheses which were woven into a theoretical model. This model suggests that middle school science teacher education would be enhanced by helping prospective and in-service teachers develop and implement strategies that build trust, provide immersion in learning, and use inductive reasoning. This model is currently being used as the theoretical base to convert a traditional junior high school in the South to a middle school.

To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to award grants to eligible entities to establish, expand, or support an existing school-based mentoring program to assist at-risk middle school students with the transition from middle school to high school.

THOMAS, 111th Congress

Rep. Carson, Andre [D-IN-7

2010-07-15

House - 10/13/2010 Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Implementation of a One-to-One iPod Touch Program in a Middle School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Crompton, Helen; Keane, Julie

2012-01-01

The purpose of this study is to investigate the implementation of a whole school one-to-one iPod Touch project in a middle school in the southeastern United States. While some focused studies have been undertaken in this new field of learning, there has been little research to date that documents activity within a whole school implementation…

A Comparative Study of Parental Involvement and Its Effect on African-American Male and Overall Student Achievement at Single Gender and Coeducational Middle Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nellums, Michael W.

2011-01-01

The purpose of this study was to determine if Parental Involvement influenced academic performance at single gender and co-educational schools. This study also compared African American male academic achievement with all students enrolled in two single gender, and one coeducational, middle school programs. Although all three schools reflected a…

Results and Recommendations from the 2009 National Surveys of Randomly Selected and Highly Successful Middle Level Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McEwin, C. Kenneth; Greene, Melanie W.

2010-01-01

While a number of studies have yielded useful information regarding the status of middle level schools in the United States, four linked national surveys provide a longitudinal perspective on the degree of implementation of key middle grades programs and practices. These studies were conducted in 1968 (Alexander, 1968), 1988 (Alexander &…

After-School All-Stars: Providing Structured Health and Physical Activity Programs in Urban Environments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thompson, Walter R.

2009-01-01

Physical education time has been reduced or even eliminated in middle and high schools in favor of more time for standardized test preparation, especially in urban schools and inner cities. One way to replace the time lost is by providing it after school as part of a comprehensive program. After-School All-Stars (ASAS) is such a program, networked…

The United States National Library Power School Program: Research Evaluation and Implications for Professional Development and Library Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hopkins, Dianne McAfee; Zweizig, Douglas L.

The Library Power program is a school improvement initiative of the DeWitt-Wallace Reader's Digest Fund that began in 1988, designed to promote the full integration of the school library media program into the school curriculum in public elementary and junior high/middle schools. With a total investment exceeding $45 million, Library Power is the…

An Educational Program for Underserved Middle School Students to Encourage Pursuit of Pharmacy and Other Health Science Careers

PubMed Central

Tran, Thao T.; Tran, Linh

2014-01-01

Objective. To develop and implement an active, hands-on program for underrepresented minority (URM) seventh grade students and to determine if participation in the program increased interest in health care careers and understanding of pharmacy and physician assistant (PA) professions. Design. A hands-on educational program was developed in conjunction with local middle school administrators and staff for URM 7th grade students. The program was designed to be hands-on and focus on pharmacy and PA laboratory skills. A discussion component was included, allowing participants to interact personally with pharmacy and PA students and faculty members. Assessment. Students’ responses to survey questions about interest in health care careers and knowledge about health professions were compared before and after 2 separate offerings of the program. After the program, significant increases were seen in participants’ understanding of the pharmacy and PA professions. An increased percentage of participants reported interest in health care careers after the program than before the program. Conclusion. Introducing middle school-aged URM students to the pharmacy and PA professions through a hands-on educational program increased interest in, and knowledge of, these professions. PMID:26056405

An Educational Program for Underserved Middle School Students to Encourage Pursuit of Pharmacy and Other Health Science Careers.

PubMed

Goldsmith, Carroll-Ann; Tran, Thao T; Tran, Linh

2014-11-15

To develop and implement an active, hands-on program for underrepresented minority (URM) seventh grade students and to determine if participation in the program increased interest in health care careers and understanding of pharmacy and physician assistant (PA) professions. A hands-on educational program was developed in conjunction with local middle school administrators and staff for URM 7th grade students. The program was designed to be hands-on and focus on pharmacy and PA laboratory skills. A discussion component was included, allowing participants to interact personally with pharmacy and PA students and faculty members. Students' responses to survey questions about interest in health care careers and knowledge about health professions were compared before and after 2 separate offerings of the program. After the program, significant increases were seen in participants' understanding of the pharmacy and PA professions. An increased percentage of participants reported interest in health care careers after the program than before the program. Introducing middle school-aged URM students to the pharmacy and PA professions through a hands-on educational program increased interest in, and knowledge of, these professions.

Implementing a School-Located Vaccination Program in Denver Public Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shlay, Judith C.; Rodgers, Sarah; Lyons, Jean; Romero, Scott; Vogt, Tara M.; McCormick, Emily V.

2015-01-01

Background: School-located vaccination (SLV) offers an opportunity to deliver vaccines to students, particularly those without a primary care provider. Methods: This SLV program offered 2 clinics at each of 20 elementary schools (influenza vaccine) and 3 clinics at each of 7 middle/preschool-eighth-grade schools (adolescent platform plus catch-up…

Policies and Opportunities for Physical Activity in Middle School Environments

PubMed Central

Young, Deborah R.; Felton, Gwen M.; Grieser, Mira; Elder, John P.; Johnson, Carolyn; Lee, Jung-Sun; Kubik, Martha Y.

2008-01-01

BACKGROUND This study examined physical activity opportunities and barriers at 36 geographically diverse middle schools participating in the Trial of Activity for Adolescent Girls. METHODS Principals, physical education and health education department heads, and program leaders were interviewed to assess policies and instructional practices that support physical activity. RESULTS Schools provided approximately 110 hours per year in physical education instruction. Approximately 20% of students walked or bicycled to school. Eighty-three percent of schools offered interscholastic sports and 69% offered intramural sports. Most schools offered programs for girls, but on average, only 24 girls (~5%) in the schools attended any programs. Only 25% of schools allowed after school free play. An overall score created to assess school environmental support for physical activity indicated that, on average, schools met 6.7 items of 10 items. Free/reduced lunch program participation versus not (p = .04), perceived priority of physical education instruction over coaching (p = .02), and safety for walking/bicycling to school (p = .02) predicted environmental support score. CONCLUSIONS Schools have policies and practices that support physical activity, although unfavorable practices exist. Schools must work with community partners and officials to provide environments that optimally support physical activity, especially schools that serve low-income students. PMID:17212759

Middle-school students' school lunch consumption does not meet the new Institute of Medicine's National School Lunch Program recommendations.

PubMed

Cullen, Karen W; Watson, Kathleen B; Dave, Jayna M

2011-10-01

To compare the school lunch consumption of Texas middle-school students with the 2009 Institute of Medicine's (IOM) school meal report recommendations. These new lunch menu patterns increase fruit to one serving and vegetables to two servings, with 50 % wholegrain food. Lunch food records were collected from middle-school students from four schools in south-east Texas in the spring of 2008, and entered into the Nutrition Data System for Research software. Average intake was calculated for those consuming meals according to the National School Lunch Program (NSLP; n 5414) and for those consuming lunch from other sources (n 239). The percentage of students selecting each food group was calculated. Middle schools in south-east Texas. Middle-school students in south-east Texas. Students consuming NSLP meals reported consuming almost 1/2 serving of fruit, 3/4 serving of vegetables, 8 oz of milk and 1/3 serving of whole grains at lunch. Non-NSLP consumers reported almost no intake of fruit, vegetables or milk, and consumed 1/4 serving of whole grains at lunch. Among NSLP consumers, about 40% selected and consumed a fruit serving. About two-thirds of students selected a vegetable, consuming about 67 %. Less than 4% selected a dark green or orange vegetable. Students' lunch intake did not meet the new IOM recommendations. Few students selected dark green or orange vegetables, and only 40 % selected fruit. Whole grains consumption was low. Interventions with all stakeholders will be necessary to improve students' food and beverage selections overall when school meal patterns are revised.

The Effects of an After-School Tutoring Program on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carbone, Peter M.

2010-01-01

Due to the challenges of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, many schools and school districts are implementing after-school tutoring programs to provide students additional instruction to score proficient or better in reading and mathematics. This doctoral study analyzed the effects of the ABC Middle School Educational Assistance Program…

Year 3 Magnet Schools Assistance Program Annual Progress Report, 2009-10. E&R Report No. 10.09

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brasfield, Jon; Cárdenas, Virginia

2010-01-01

The three Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP) schools: East Garner International Baccalaureate Magnet Middle School (EGMMS), Garner International Baccalaureate Magnet High School (GMHS), and Southeast Raleigh Leadership and Technology Magnet High School (SRMHS) have shown progress on MSAP performance measures during the 3rd year of the grant.…

State but not district nutrition policies are associated with less junk food in vending machines and school stores in US public schools.

PubMed

Kubik, Martha Y; Wall, Melanie; Shen, Lijuan; Nanney, Marilyn S; Nelson, Toben F; Laska, Melissa N; Story, Mary

2010-07-01

Policy that targets the school food environment has been advanced as one way to increase the availability of healthy food at schools and healthy food choice by students. Although both state- and district-level policy initiatives have focused on school nutrition standards, it remains to be seen whether these policies translate into healthy food practices at the school level, where student behavior will be impacted. To examine whether state- and district-level nutrition policies addressing junk food in school vending machines and school stores were associated with less junk food in school vending machines and school stores. Junk food was defined as foods and beverages with low nutrient density that provide calories primarily through fats and added sugars. A cross-sectional study design was used to assess self-report data collected by computer-assisted telephone interviews or self-administered mail questionnaires from state-, district-, and school-level respondents participating in the School Health Policies and Programs Study 2006. The School Health Policies and Programs Study, administered every 6 years since 1994 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is considered the largest, most comprehensive assessment of school health policies and programs in the United States. A nationally representative sample (n=563) of public elementary, middle, and high schools was studied. Logistic regression adjusted for school characteristics, sampling weights, and clustering was used to analyze data. Policies were assessed for strength (required, recommended, neither required nor recommended prohibiting junk food) and whether strength was similar for school vending machines and school stores. School vending machines and school stores were more prevalent in high schools (93%) than middle (84%) and elementary (30%) schools. For state policies, elementary schools that required prohibiting junk food in school vending machines and school stores offered less junk food than elementary schools that neither required nor recommended prohibiting junk food (13% vs 37%; P=0.006). Middle schools that required prohibiting junk food in vending machines and school stores offered less junk food than middle schools that recommended prohibiting junk food (71% vs 87%; P=0.07). Similar associations were not evident for district-level polices or high schools. Policy may be an effective tool to decrease junk food in schools, particularly in elementary and middle schools. Copyright 2010 American Dietetic Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

State but not District Nutrition Policies Are Associated with Less Junk Food in Vending Machines and School Stores in US Public Schools

PubMed Central

KUBIK, MARTHA Y.; WALL, MELANIE; SHEN, LIJUAN; NANNEY, MARILYN S.; NELSON, TOBEN F.; LASKA, MELISSA N.; STORY, MARY

2012-01-01

Background Policy that targets the school food environment has been advanced as one way to increase the availability of healthy food at schools and healthy food choice by students. Although both state- and district-level policy initiatives have focused on school nutrition standards, it remains to be seen whether these policies translate into healthy food practices at the school level, where student behavior will be impacted. Objective To examine whether state- and district-level nutrition policies addressing junk food in school vending machines and school stores were associated with less junk food in school vending machines and school stores. Junk food was defined as foods and beverages with low nutrient density that provide calories primarily through fats and added sugars. Design A cross-sectional study design was used to assess self-report data collected by computer-assisted telephone interviews or self-administered mail questionnaires from state-, district-, and school-level respondents participating in the School Health Policies and Programs Study 2006. The School Health Policies and Programs Study, administered every 6 years since 1994 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is considered the largest, most comprehensive assessment of school health policies and programs in the United States. Subjects/setting A nationally representative sample (n = 563) of public elementary, middle, and high schools was studied. Statistical analysis Logistic regression adjusted for school characteristics, sampling weights, and clustering was used to analyze data. Policies were assessed for strength (required, recommended, neither required nor recommended prohibiting junk food) and whether strength was similar for school vending machines and school stores. Results School vending machines and school stores were more prevalent in high schools (93%) than middle (84%) and elementary (30%) schools. For state policies, elementary schools that required prohibiting junk food in school vending machines and school stores offered less junk food than elementary schools that neither required nor recommended prohibiting junk food (13% vs 37%; P = 0.006). Middle schools that required prohibiting junk food in vending machines and school stores offered less junk food than middle schools that recommended prohibiting junk food (71% vs 87%; P = 0.07). Similar associations were not evident for district-level polices or high schools. Conclusions Policy may be an effective tool to decrease junk food in schools, particularly in elementary and middle schools. PMID:20630161

The Effectiveness of Peer-Led FAS/FAE Prevention Presentations in Middle and High Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Boulter, Lyn

2007-01-01

Pregnant women and women who might become pregnant, including middle school- and high school-age adolescents, continue to consume alcohol, placing themselves at risk of having a child with the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure. However, most prevention programs that attempt to increase public awareness and knowledge of FAS and related disorders…

Technological Studies at Thomas Edison Middle School. Grades 6-7-8.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Foster, Patrick N.

This technology studies curriculum for grades 6-8 is a plan for each middle school student to experience technology education for approximately 60 days (1 trimester of a 180-day school year) in each grade. Section A provides definitions; structure or content for grade-level programs with science and technology unifiers (unifying curricular…

Engaging Middle School Students in Physical Education and Physical Activity Programs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Doolittle, Sarah

2016-01-01

With school-based physical activity emerging as a public health issue, it is more important than ever to understand what keeps children and adolescents interested and participating in physical education and physical activity. As the research on physical activity patterns indicates, the middle school years may be a watershed moment in the lives of…

College Students' Experiences and Attitudes regarding Middle and High School-Based Breastfeeding Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Spear, Hila J.

2007-01-01

This study examined the attitudes and experiences of male and female college students relative to breastfeeding education within middle and high school programs of study. Findings revealed that 36.7% of the participants were taught about breastfeeding while enrolled in a specific course in high school; 11.3% received information about…

Is Pre-K Classroom Quality Associated with Kindergarten and Middle-School Academic Skills?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Anderson, Sara; Phillips, Deborah

2017-01-01

We employed data from a longitudinal investigation of over 1,000 children who participated in Tulsa's universal school-based pre-K program in 2005, and path modeling techniques, to examine the contribution of pre-K classroom quality to both kindergarten- and middle-school academic skills. We also examined gender and income-related differences in…

"It's a Lot of Hectic in Middle School": Student-Teaching in an Urban Classroom.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Meyer, Jim

1999-01-01

Relates the experience of a college professor who spent two months as a student teacher in an eighth-grade language arts classroom in an urban public school. Discusses middle school teaching verses college teaching, coming to know the students, discipline, student testing, accountability, teaching writing, the failure of teacher-training programs,…

The Poor Get Richer: Heterogeneity in the Efficacy of a School-Level Intervention for Academic Language

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lawrence, Joshua F.; Francis, David; Paré-Blagoev, Juliana; Snow, Catherine E.

2017-01-01

We investigate the impact of a relatively brief cross-curricular intervention, Word Generation, on middle school students' development of taught academic vocabulary. Students (n = 8382) in forty-four middle schools in three urban districts were randomly assigned to treatment or control conditions. Treatment teachers implemented the program with…

The Effects of the Collaborative Leadership Style Provided by Professional Learning Communities on the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program Mean Value-Added Scores in Selected Middle Schools in East Tennessee

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jones, Jone S.

2011-01-01

This causal-comparative study examined the effects of the collaborative leadership style provided by professional learning communities (PLCs) on the students' Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) mean Value-Added achievement scores in language arts and mathematics. The study used twenty-nine selected middle schools in eight different…

FMA Live! at Hardy Middle School

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-09-16

Leland Melvin, NASA Associate Administrator for Education and former 2x astronaut, addresses students before the start of "FMA Live!" at Hardy Middle School in Washington on Monday, Sept. 16th, 2013. "FMA Live!" is a program sponsored by NASA and Honeywell that teaches Newton's three laws of motion mixed with dance and music. The program travels across the country and has reached nearly 300,000 students.Photo Credit: (NASA/Jay Westcott)

Educational Intervention/Case Study: Implementing an Elementary-Level, Classroom-Based Media Literacy Education Program for Academically At-Risk Middle-School Students in the Non-Classroom Setting

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Draper, Michele; Appregilio, Seymour; Kramer, Alaina; Ketcherside, Miranda; Campbell, Summer; Stewart, Brandon; Rhodes, Darson; Cox, Carol

2015-01-01

Media literacy education teaches youth to critically examine the influence of media messages on health and substance use behavior. A small group of low-achieving middle school students at high risk for substance abuse attending an afterschool academic remediation program received a media literacy intervention intended for elementary students in a…

WWC Review of the Report "The Effects of Cognitive Strategy Instruction on Math Problem Solving of Middle School Students of Varying Ability." What Works Clearinghouse Single Study Review

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

What Works Clearinghouse, 2014

2014-01-01

A recent study, "The Effects of Cognitive Strategy Instruction on Math Problem Solving of Middle School Students of Varying Ability," examined the effectiveness of "Solve It!," a program intended to improve the problem-solving skills of seventh-grade math students. During the program, students are taught cognitive strategies of…

Reconceiving the Standards and the School Music Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reimer, Bennett

2004-01-01

Music offerings in United States schools have remained largely the same for well over half a century. Basic program consists of general music classes up to and sometimes through middle school and elective performance opportunities in upper elementary grades through high school, primarily focused on band (including jazz groups), orchestra, and…

Comprehensive School Physical Activity Programs in Middle Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Beddoes, Zack; Castelli, Darla M.

2017-01-01

Physical activity declines among children in their tweens and teens. To address physical inactivity as a health risk, national organizations are endorsing the implementation of comprehensive school physical activity programs (CSPAPs). The purpose of this article is to describe the history of school-coordinated approaches to addressing health…

Learning by Experience in a Standardized Testing Culture: Investigation of a Middle School Experiential Learning Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Scogin, Stephen C.; Kruger, Christopher J.; Jekkals, Regan E.; Steinfeldt, Chelsea

2017-01-01

Standardized testing pressure sometimes discourages schools from broadly implementing experiential learning opportunities. However, some K-12 schools are challenging the trend with greater commitment to learning by experience. STREAM (science, technology, reading, engineering, arts, mathematics) school is a project-based program providing students…

Suicide Prevention: The Student Assistance Model.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Taylor-Mearhoff, Cheryl

The Roberts Assistance Program (RAP), a model program for student assistance and suicide prevention established in 1988 by the Owen J. Roberts School District in Chester County, Pennsylvania provides services to students in kindergarten through grade 12. Core teams of school professionals from the high school and middle school have received…

Independent Evaluation of Middle School-Based Drug Prevention Curricula: A Systematic Review.

PubMed

Flynn, Anna B; Falco, Mathea; Hocini, Sophia

2015-11-01

Lack of robust program evaluation has hindered the effectiveness of school-based drug abuse prevention curricula overall. Independently evaluated randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of universal, middle school-based drug abuse prevention curricula are the most useful indicators of whether such programs are effective or ineffective. To conduct a systematic review identifying independently evaluated RCTs of universal, middle school-based drug abuse prevention curricula; extract data on study quality and substance use outcomes; and assess evidence of program effectiveness. PsycInfo, Educational Resources Information Center, Science Citation Index, Social Science Citation Index, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched between January 1, 1984, and March 15, 2015. Search terms included variations of drug, alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use, as well as school, prevention, and effectiveness. Studies included in the review were RCTs carried out by independent evaluators of universal school-based drug prevention curricula available for dissemination in the United States that reported alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, or other drug use outcomes. Two researchers extracted data on study quality and outcomes independently using a data extraction form and met to resolve disagreements. A total of 5071 publications were reviewed, with 13 articles meeting final inclusion criteria. Of the 13 articles, 6 RCTs of 4 distinct school-based curricula were identified for inclusion. Outcomes were reported for 42 single-drug measures in the independent RCTs, with just 3 presenting statistically significant (P < .05) differences between the intervention group and the control group. One program revealed statistically significant positive effects at final follow-up (Lions-Quest Skills for Adolescence). The results of our review demonstrate the dearth of independent research that appropriately evaluates the effectiveness of universal, middle school-based drug prevention curricula. Independent evaluations show little evidence of effectiveness for widely used programs. New methods may be necessary to approach school-based adolescent drug prevention.

How well do middle school science programs measure up? Findings from Project 2061's curriculum review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kesidou, Sofia; Roseman, Jo Ellen

2002-08-01

The purposes of this study were to examine how well middle school programs support the attainment of key scientific ideas specified in national science standards, and to identify typical strengths and weaknesses of these programs using research-based criteria. Nine widely used programs were examined by teams of teachers and specialists in research on teaching and learning. Reviewers found that whereas key ideas were generally present in the programs, they were typically buried between detailed or even unrelated ideas. Programs only rarely provided students with a sense of purpose for the units of study, took account of student beliefs that interfere with learning, engaged students with relevant phenomena to make abstract scientific ideas plausible, modeled the use of scientific knowledge so that students could apply what they learned in everyday situations, or scaffolded student efforts to make meaning of key phenomena and ideas presented in the programs. New middle school science programs that reflect findings from learning research are needed to support teachers better in helping students learn key ideas in science. The criteria and findings from this study on the inadequacies in existing programs could serve as guidelines in new curriculum development.

Quantifying the effect of changes in state-level adult smoking rates on youth smoking.

PubMed

Farrelly, Matthew C; Arnold, Kristin Y; Juster, Harlan R; Allen, Jane A

2014-01-01

Quantify the degree to which changes in state-level adult smoking prevalence subsequently influence youth smoking prevalence. Analysis of data from the Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey (TUS-CPS) collected from 1995 to 2006 and the National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) collected from 1999 to 2006. Adults 25 years or older who completed the TUS-CPS and youth in middle and high school who completed the NYTS. Current smoking among middle and high school students as a function of the change in state-level adult smoking, controlling for individual-level sociodemographic characteristics and state-level tobacco control policy variables. Among middle school students, declines in state-level adult smoking rates are associated with lower odds of current smoking (P < .05), and each doubling of the decline in adult smoking rates is associated with a 6.0% decrease in youth smoking. Among high school students, declines in state-level adult smoking rates are not associated with current smoking. Higher cigarette prices were associated with lower odds of smoking among middle and high school students. Greater population coverage by smoke-free air laws and greater funding for tobacco control programs were associated with lower odds of current smoking among high school students but not middle school students. Compliance with youth access laws was not associated with middle or high school smoking. By quantifying the effect of changes in state-level adult smoking rates on youth smoking, this study enhances the precision with which the tobacco control community can assess the return on investment for adult-focused tobacco control programs.

Whose Problem Is It!

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mansfield, Deborah; And Others

"Whose Problem Is It" is a workshop for middle level students that encourages their participation, input, and ownership in accomplishing change in the middle level school policies, program and procedure. The workshop revolves around making the school environment a happy, healthy, and productive place for learning. It consists of…

Community Meeting in the Middle School.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wich, Ginger; And Others

1996-01-01

Three articles examine the concept of, and the role of, community meetings in the middle school. The articles are "Creating Community" (Ginger Wich); "Walking the Talk" (Marta Donahoe); and "Best for the Program" (Brandt C.P. Smith). Comments on community meetings from students are also included. (TJQ)

Alternatives to School Suspension: An Intervention for At-Risk Students.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, J. David; Pare, David; Gravelle, Francine

This report describes the Eclipse program, which was developed for middle school students with school-behavior problems. The program combines group counseling and judo training, a non-violent sport that promotes social, psychological, and physical development. During the program, groups of approximately 15-20 students participate for 1 hour each…

Chapter 636, Voluntary Integration in Massachusetts. Successful Programs of Choice.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Spier, Adele W.; And Others

A statewide study was conducted to identify and describe successful voluntary school desegregation programs funded under Chapter 636, a 1974 amendment to Massachussets' Racial Imbalance Law. Programs selected were of four types: (1) school-based (elementary, middle, and high); (2) school system- or district-wide; (3) part-time and full-time…

Home Economics/Health Grades 6-12. Program Evaluation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Des Moines Public Schools, IA. Teaching and Learning Div.

Home economics programs are offered to students in grades 6-12 in the Des Moines INdependent Community School District (Iowa). Programs at the middle school level are exploratory, leading to occupational training in family and consumer science, child care, food service, and textile and fashion arts at the high school level. Health education…

Lafayette School District: French Immersion Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Boudreaux, Nicole

2007-01-01

From 1969 to the late 1980's, most French programs in schools were based on a traditional foreign language instructional model, usually offering 30 minutes a day of French language instruction in elementary grades, increasing to 50 minutes a day in middle school. Contingent on funding and political swings over time, programs expanded from…

Alternative Education Guidelines, Model Middle School Alternative Education Program. Workshop II. Prevention Programs & Funding.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Association of School Security Directors, Bellevue, WA.

These workshop materials are the guidelines Broward County (Florida) has established to carry out the state legislative mandate authorizing school boards to establish educational alternative programs to meet the individual needs and interests of students who are disruptive, unsucessful, or disinterested in the normal school environment. Included…

Community initiative: elementary and middle school students--a creative approach.

PubMed

Sell, Sandra; Palmer, Laura

2004-04-01

Initiatives to increase the visibility and public awareness of nurse anesthetists have been an ongoing effort of the profession for years. In 2001, the Nurse Anesthesia Program at the University of Pittsburgh designed and implemented a large-scale initiative to target school-aged children. The purpose of the program was to educate the school-aged child about nurse anesthesia and the operating room. It was presented at elementary and middle schools and consisted of a classroom presentation, a mock operating room simulation, and hands-on activities. The program was viewed as a success by all those involved. Teachers were impressed with the school-aged students' interest and level of focus during the events. Many teachers reported that prior to the program they did not know that the nurse anesthesia profession existed. More than 1,000 children and teachers participated in the programs in a 2.5-year period. The ability to have an impact on the school-aged children during their formative years, in addition to educating the teachers about the nurse anesthesia profession, proved to be a dual reward in presenting the program.

Three Teacher-Initiated Programs (Middle Ground).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Southard, Deborah Dressell; Looman, Glenn; Schreiber, Susie

1997-01-01

Offers three brief articles on three teacher-initiated programs that involve collaboration with colleagues and students: in music/arts production by fourth and fifth graders; an independent study program in which middle school students wrote grant proposals; and an activity in which seventh graders mapped a timeline of Earth history and geologic…

Rocking the Baltimore Boat.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harrington-Lueker, Donna

1994-01-01

Intelligent, abrasive, and combative, Baltimore County School Superintendent Stuart Berger is committed to fighting hard for change. Charged with implementing the district's ambitious educational objectives, Berger has pushed for all-day kindergartens, school breakfast programs, an office of family services, improved middle school programs, and a…

Improving Deficient Listening Skills in the Language Arts Program at the Middle Grades.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alonso, Laura

A project developed a program for improving deficient student-to-student listening skills. The targeted population consisted of 18 seventh-grade middle school students in a culturally diverse, lower middle class community in a near-western suburb of Chicago. The problem of deficient listening skills was evident through teacher observation and…

A multimedia educational program that increases science achievement among inner-city non-Asian minority middle-school students.

PubMed

Murray, Nancy G; Opuni, Kwame A; Reininger, Belinda; Sessions, Nathalie; Mowry, Melanie M; Hobbs, Mary

2009-06-01

To test the effectiveness of a middle school, multimedia health sciences educational program called HEADS UP in non-Asian-minority (Hispanic and African American), inner-city students. The program designers hope to increase the number of these students entering the health sciences pipeline. The program includes video role-model stories featuring minority scientists and students, hands-on activities, and teacher resources. Collaborators from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Spring Branch Independent School District, and the Health Museum developed the modules. From 2004 to 2007, the authors used a quasi-experimental, two-group pretest/posttest design to assess program effects on students' performance and interest in science, their science self-efficacy, their fear of science, and their science-related careers self-efficacy. An independent third party matched the intervention school to a comparison school by test scores, school demographics, and student demographics and then matched pairs of sixth-grade students (N = 428) by fifth-grade science scores, gender, ethnicity, and participation in the free or reduced lunch program. The authors collected data on these students for three years. At eighth grade (2007), the intervention school students scored significantly higher (F = 12.38, P < .001) on the Stanford Achievement Test 10 in science and reported higher interest in science (F = 11.08, P < .001) than their matched, comparison-school pairs. Students in neither group reported an increase in their confidence to choose a science-related career, but students in one high-implementing teacher's class reported decreased fear of science. HEADS UP shows potential for improving inner-city, non-Asian-minority middle school students' performance and interest in science.

Description of the Design and Implementation of a School-Based Obesity Prevention Program Addressing Needs of Middle School Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ward-Begnoche, Wendy L.; Gance-Cleveland, Bonnie; Harris, Margaret M.; Dean, Janice

2008-01-01

This article describes the design and implementation of a school-based obesity prevention program, the successes associated with its implementation, and challenges with development and application of the program's curriculum base. The program is described, including purpose and goals, content and structure of the curriculum, type and training of…

Promoting a Positive Middle School Transition: A Randomized-Controlled Treatment Study Examining Self-Concept and Self-Esteem.

PubMed

Coelho, Vitor Alexandre; Marchante, Marta; Jimerson, Shane R

2017-03-01

The middle school transition is a salient developmental experience impacting adolescents around the world. This study employed a randomized-controlled treatment design, with randomization at the school level, to investigate the impact of a school adjustment program for middle school transition and potential gender differences. Participants included 1147 students (M age  = 9.62; SD = 0.30, 45.7 % girls), who were assessed at four time points during the transition, regarding five dimensions of self-concept (academic, social, emotional, physical and family) and self-esteem. Parallel growth curves were employed to analyze the evolution of self-concept. Following the transition to middle school, students reported lower levels of self-concept (academic, emotional and physical) and self-esteem, while participation in the intervention led to increases in self-esteem and gains in social self-concept. No gender differences were found. These results provide preliminary evidence supporting such interventions in early middle school transitions.

Research-Based Recommendations to Improve Child Nutrition in Schools and Out-of-School Time Programs. Research-to-Results Brief. Publication #2009-27

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wandner, Laura D.; Hair, Elizabeth

2009-01-01

This brief discusses aspects of healthy diets for children in elementary and middle school. It summarizes the current guidelines and recommendations for child nutrition and provides information for schools and out-of-school time programs about how to measure child nutrition. (Contains 27 endnotes.)

The Social Battleground of School Improvement: When a Troubled School Is Impacted by an Intensive Renewal Program.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sudderth, Charlotte R.

Long considered by its community and the Richmond County Schools' district administration "the worst middle school in the distict," the school (unnamed in the study) began a process of change in spring 1987. The instructional staff embraced a schoolwide staff development program designed to help both student achievement and school…

Policies and Opportunities for Physical Activity in Middle School Environments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Young, Deborah R.; Felton, Gwen M.; Grieser, Mira; Elder, John P.; Johnson, Carolyn; Lee, Jung-Sun; Kubik, Martha Y.

2007-01-01

Background: This study examined physical activity opportunities and barriers at 36 geographically diverse middle schools participating in the Trial of Activity for Adolescent Girls. Methods: Principals, physical education and health education department heads, and program leaders were interviewed to assess policies and instructional practices that…

Comprehensive Guide for Middle School Programs. Instructor's Guide.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hansen, Joan

This instructor's guide contains materials for use in teaching a middle school exploratory home economics course. Addressed in the individual units of the guide are the following topics: nutrition education and food management, parenting education, resource management, clothing management, and personal management. Each section contains a unit…

Middle/high school students in the research laboratory: A summer internship program emphasizing the interdisciplinary nature of biology.

PubMed

McMiller, Tracee; Lee, Tameshia; Saroop, Ria; Green, Tyra; Johnson, Casonya M

2006-03-01

We describe an eight-week summer Young Scientist in Training (YSIT) internship program involving middle and high school students. This program exposed students to current basic research in molecular genetics, while introducing or reinforcing principles of the scientific method and demonstrating the uses of mathematics and chemistry in biology. For the laboratory-based program, selected students from Baltimore City Schools working in groups of three were teamed with undergraduate research assistants at Morgan State University. Teams were assigned a project that was indirectly related to our laboratory research on the characterization of gene expression in Caenorhabditis elegans. At the end of the program, teams prepared posters detailing their accomplishments, and presented their findings to parents and faculty members during a mini-symposium. The posters were also submitted to the respective schools and the interns were offered a presentation of their research at local high school science fairs. Copyright © 2006 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

Delivering Food Safety Education to Middle School Students Using a Web-Based, Interactive, Multimedia, Computer Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lynch, Rebecca A.; Steen, M. Dale; Pritchard, Todd J.; Buzzell, Paul R.; Pintauro, Stephen J.

2008-01-01

More than 76 million persons become ill from foodborne pathogens in the United States each year. To reduce these numbers, food safety education efforts need to be targeted at not only adults, but school children as well. The middle school grades are ideal for integrating food safety education into the curriculum while simultaneously contributing…

Preventing Truancy and Dropout among Urban Middle School Youth: Understanding Community-Based Action from the Student's Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rodriguez, Louie F.; Conchas, Gilberto Q.

2009-01-01

This case study explores how a community-based truancy prevention program mediates against absenteeism, truancy, and dropping out and positively transforms the lives of Black and Latina/Latino middle school youth. Findings suggest that community-school partnerships are critical in the quest to combat truancy and the alarming dropout rate among…

Turning Points: States in Action. An Interim Report of the Middle Grade School State Policy Initiative.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Council of Chief State School Officers, Washington, DC. Resource Center on Educational Equity.

This report analyzes the experiences of 27 states selected to participate in Carnegie Corporation of New York's Middle Grade School State Policy Initiative (MGSSPI), a 3-year grant program to states to stimulate fundamental reform in schools serving 10- to 15-year old students. MGSSPI states are working to radically transform the education…

Students' Lived Experiences with the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Program in Middle School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Coyle, Lisa A.

2013-01-01

The purpose of this study is to report the lived experiences of seventh and eighth grade students experiencing Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) in middle school. Although there is increasing popularity in the use of the PBIS system in schools throughout the country, there is little known about students' perceptions of the…

Preschool, Primary School, and Middle School Educational Practices in the People's Republic of China Today: A First Hand Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Karlson, Alfred Lennart

This paper records observations made on a tour of educational settings in the People's Republic of China. Discussed are the philosophy and aims of current Chinese education, curriculum practices in the preschool, primary and middle school and in teacher training institutions, The Little Red Soldiers programs and the Children's Palaces. Educational…

Student Engagement and the Use of Volunteer Teachers in Alternative Urban Middle Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fenzel, L. Mickey; Flippen, Gerivonni M.

2006-01-01

The use of recent college graduates as volunteer teachers has increased in recent years with the growth of the Teach for America program and alternative middle schools for at-risk children from low income homes. Very few studies to date have investigated the effects of the use of such teachers on student learning and engagement in school. The…

Afterschool: An Ally in Promoting Middle School Improvement. MetLife Foundation Afterschool Alert. Issue Brief No. 55

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Afterschool Alliance, 2012

2012-01-01

The Afterschool Alliance, in partnership with MetLife Foundation, is proud to present the first in its latest series of four issue briefs examining critical issues facing middle school youth and the vital role afterschool programs play in addressing these issues. This brief explores afterschool and school improvement. In communities across the…

How Instructional Coaches Support Data-Driven Decision Making: Policy Implementation and Effects in Florida Middle Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marsh, Julie A.; McCombs, Jennifer Sloan; Martorell, Francisco

2010-01-01

This article examines the convergence of two popular school improvement policies: instructional coaching and data-driven decision making (DDDM). Drawing on a mixed methods study of a statewide reading coach program in Florida middle schools, the article examines how coaches support DDDM and how this support relates to student and teacher outcomes.…

The Dog That Didn't Bark: Preschool Education and Middle-School Attitudes in Tulsa

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Phillips, Deborah A.; Anderson, Sara; Gormley, William T., Jr.

2018-01-01

To examine associations between participation in Tulsa's preschool programs and a set of middle-school attitudes, we used propensity score weighting to compare the Tulsa Public Schools (TPS) pre-K participants and, separately, the Community Action Project (CAP) Head Start participants to students who had attended neither TPS pre-K nor Head Start…

The Effect of Enrollment in Middle School Challenge Courses on Advanced Placement Exams in Social Studies and Science

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Glaude-Bolte, Katherine

2010-01-01

Educators seek to guide students through appropriate programs and courses that prepare them for future success, in more advanced coursework and in other challenges of life. Some middle schools offer Challenge, or honors, courses for students who have demonstrated high ability. High schools often offer Advanced Placement (AP) courses, which are…

Factors Influencing the Level of Technology Adaptation by Middle-School Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Strigh, Janice Favre

2017-01-01

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine those factors influencing a teacher's level of adaptation to a one-to-one laptop program in a middle-school setting. The school chosen for this study is located in a semi-rural district with approximately 500 students in sixth through eighth grade. Over the past 10 years, the school…

Improving Academic Self-Efficacy, School Connectedness, and Identity in Struggling Middle School Girls: A Preliminary Study of the "REAL Girls" Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mann, Michael J.; Smith, Megan L.; Kristjansson, Alfgeir L.

2015-01-01

Girls struggling to be successful in middle school are often dealing with negative life experiences that affect their ability to achieve academically. Frequently, their academic failures and problem behaviors are associated with feeling overwhelmed by difficult and challenging life circumstances. In the absence of intervention, these patterns may…

The Relationship between the Comprehensiveness of a School System's Eighth to Ninth Grade Transition Process and the Degree of Trust Shared by Middle-School Principals and High-School Principals

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McMorran, Thomas

2012-01-01

The purpose for this study was to determine what is the relationship between the degree of trust that the principals of middle schools and high schools invest in each other and the comprehensiveness of their eighth-to-ninth grade transition programs. Data were gathered through the administration of a three-part survey designed to collect…

FMA Live! at Hardy Middle School

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-09-16

With the help of a student participant, "FMA Live!" crew members explain Newton's second law of motion during a performance of "FMA Live!" at Hardy Middle School in Washington on Monday, Sept. 16th, 2013. "FMA Live!" is a program sponsored by NASA and Honeywell that teaches Newton's three laws of motion mixed with dance and music. The program travels across the country and has reached nearly 300,000 students.Photo Credit: (NASA/Jay Westcott)

FMA Live! at Hardy Middle School

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-09-16

With the help of a student participant, "FMA Live!" crew members explain Newton's first law of motion during a performance of "FMA Live!" at Hardy Middle School in Washington on Monday, Sept. 16th, 2013. "FMA Live!" is a program sponsored by NASA and Honeywell that teaches Newton's three laws of motion mixed with dance and music. The program travels across the country and has reached nearly 300,000 students.Photo Credit: (NASA/Jay Westcott)

Physical Education Objectives. DOD Dependents Schools.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dependents Schools (DOD), Washington, DC.

These program objectives were developed to support the Department of Defense Dependent Schools Five Year Curriculum Development Plan and are designed to provide a basis for elementary, middle, and secondary school physical education curricula. A balance of psychomotor, cognitive, and affective aspects is emphasized. General, program, and…

Adult Recollections of Peer Victimization during Middle School: Forms and Consequences

PubMed Central

Rosen, Lisa H.; Underwood, Marion K.; Gentsch, Joanna K.; Rahdar, Ahrareh; Wharton, Michelle E.

2012-01-01

This study examined memories of peer victimization by eliciting narratives from university students (N = 210) about one previous experience of peer maltreatment during middle school, and investigating how these recollections related to current levels of adjustment. The majority of participants described an experience of social victimization (70.0%) or physical victimization (16.7%), and analyses examining form of victimization were limited to these participants (n = 182). Previous experiences of peer maltreatment during middle school were associated with negative indices of adjustment in early adulthood. The implications of our findings for school intervention programs are discussed. PMID:23175596

Dosage effects of a preventive social-emotional learning intervention on achievement loss associated with middle school transition.

PubMed

Rosenblatt, Jennifer L; Elias, Maurice J

2008-11-01

A number of studies have documented a normative decline in academic achievement across the transition from elementary school to middle or junior high school. The current study examined the effectiveness of varying levels of a social-emotional learning intervention, Talking with TJ, in limiting achievement loss across transition. Data were gathered on 154 students during their fifth and sixth grade years in an urban, low socio-economic school district. Students participated in the Talking with TJ program over their fifth grade years, and curriculum fidelity in individual classrooms was evaluated. Changes in grade point average were assessed across the middle school transition. Overall, students showed a significant decline in GPA across the transition. Students in classrooms where higher dosages of intervention were delivered showed significantly smaller drops in GPA across transition than did students in lower dosage classrooms. Data on differential program effectiveness among demographic groups and along varying levels of baseline emotional intelligence also are presented. Editors' Strategic Implications: The authors present promising findings for a school transition program, link dosage to effects, and raise interesting theoretical questions about the relationships between social-emotional learning and academic growth and achievement.

Patterns of Change in Adolescent Dating Victimization and Aggression During Middle School.

PubMed

Goncy, Elizabeth A; Farrell, Albert D; Sullivan, Terri N

2018-03-01

Although mounting evidence suggests dating victimization and aggression begin in early adolescence, little work has examined the pattern of these behaviors across this age. This longitudinal study examined trajectories of dating victimization and aggression across middle school using 12 waves of data. A sample of early adolescents (N = 1369, 52.3% girls; 83% African American; 15% Hispanic or Latino) residing in an urban, economically disadvantaged area participated in this study. Youth completed measures of dating victimization and aggression quarterly across the 3 years of middle school. Although results indicated a general trend of increasing dating victimization and aggression across middle school, variation existed for boys and girls. Specifically, girls showed increasing patterns of both, whereas boys remained relatively stable across time. Dating victimization and aggression were also highly correlated across time. These findings support the implementation and refinement of prevention programming aimed at preventing and reducing dating aggression and victimization in middle school.

Exploring Barriers to Implementing a School-Wide Positive Behavioral Intervention and Support Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gay, Ronald Lynn

2016-01-01

This study examined factors related to the implementation of a School Wide Positive Behavioral Intervention and Support (SWPBIS) program at a large middle school in the United States. Parent Teacher Student Association volunteers at the school reported that teacher fidelity to implementation of SWPBIS activities was inconsistent, threatening the…

Johnson O'Malley Program Evaluation 1986-87.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Albuquerque Public Schools, NM.

During the 1986-87 school year the Johnson O'Malley program of the Albuquerque (New Mexico) Public Schools provided supplemental counseling to 532 Indian students in the district by 5 certified counselors, 3 of whom concentrated their efforts on 5 target high schools. One itinerant counselor served 128 elementary and middle school students,…

Implementation of CDC's School Health Index in 3 midwest middle schools: motivation for change.

PubMed

Sherwood-Puzzello, Catherine M; Miller, Michelle; Lohrmann, David; Gregory, Patricia

2007-08-01

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's School Health Index (SHI), a guide for completing a coordinated school-based program needs assessment relative to healthy eating, physical activity, a tobacco-free lifestyle, and prevention of other health risk behaviors and conditions, was used to assess current programming at 3 midwestern middle schools. Employing somewhat different procedures, data were collected from focus groups comprising school administrators, teachers, parents, community members, and students. Participants responded to SHI module questions and provided comments based on their perceptions. Both quantitative and qualitative data were recorded for each module, after which participants answered 3 planning questions intended to guide prioritization of actions to improve policies and programs based on importance, cost, time, commitment, and feasibility. Each school developed recommendations and strategies based on highest priority needs related to community involvement, professional development, health screenings, and health education materials in classrooms. The experience of completing the SHI in 3 different schools provided important insights about the data collection process as well as assessment results that have implications for the design and implementation of prevention programs.

Measuring symptoms and functioning of youth with ADHD in middle schools.

PubMed

Evans, Steven W; Allen, Jessica; Moore, Sheryle; Strauss, Victoria

2005-12-01

The identification of reliable and valid means for evaluating the effectiveness of school-based treatments and completing diagnostic evaluations of middle school aged students are needed. The present study examined the inter-rater agreement of teacher ratings and the relationship between ratings and observational data in a middle school setting. The data are interpreted in the context of differences between a secondary and elementary school setting. Teacher ratings and observational data were collected regularly over the course of two academic years for middle school students diagnosed with ADHD. The results indicate low rates of inter-rater agreement as well as low rates of agreement between teachers and observational data, and between observational data collected in different classrooms. Inter-rater agreement was lowest in late fall and gradually increased over the second half of the year. Implications for conducting treatment outcome evaluations of school-based treatment programs and diagnostic evaluations are discussed.

A contest to create media messages aimed at recruiting adolescents for stop smoking programs.

PubMed

Croghan, Ivana T; Campbell, Heather M; Patten, Christi A; Croghan, Gary A; Schroeder, Darrell R; Novotny, Paul J

2004-10-01

This project engaged adolescents in a contest to create advertising messages aimed at recruiting teens for stop smoking programs. Middle school students were invited to design a media message for television, radio, Web, or print (newspaper or billboard). Of 4,289 students in eight middle schools of Rochester, Minn., 265 (6.2%) developed 172 stop smoking messages. The quality of their work confirmed that teens can design media messages to encourage their smoking adolescent peers to enroll in a program to stop smoking.

Zero Robotics at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

NASA Image and Video Library

2017-08-11

A middle-school student high-fives a Star Wars character from the 501st Legion in the Center for Space Education at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Teams from across the state of Florida were gathered at Kennedy for the finals of the Zero Robotics Middle School Summer Program national championship. The five-week program allows rising sixth- through ninth-graders to write programs for small satellites called SPHERES (Synchronized, Position, Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites). Finalists saw their code tested aboard the International Space Station.

78 FR 79691 - Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; The SunWise Program

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-12-31

... Program is a school and community-based sun safety education program for children grades K-8. The Program.../affected entities: Elementary and middle school students and educators, recreation workers, and health... appropriate automated electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of...

Evaluation of the Accelerated Reader Program in Chesapeake, VA, Public Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chase, Elaine; Goodin, Penny; Nichols, W. Randolph

2010-01-01

The Accelerated Reader program from Renaissance Learning Inc. is a popular program implemented in elementary and middle schools across the country that encourages students to read and monitors their progress in the program. Despite its widespread use and popularity, there have been some questions about the program's effectiveness at increasing…

Compañeros: High School Students Mentor Middle School Students to Address Obesity Among Hispanic Adolescents.

PubMed

Arlinghaus, Katherine R; Moreno, Jennette P; Reesor, Layton; Hernandez, Daphne C; Johnston, Craig A

2017-10-12

Promotoras, Hispanic community health workers, are frequently employed to promote health behavioral change with culturally bound Hispanic lifestyle behaviors. Peer health mentors have been used in schools to promote healthy nutrition and physical activity behaviors among students. This study investigates the efficacy of combining these 2 approaches by training high school health mentors, called compañeros, to engage Hispanic middle school students in a school-based obesity intervention as a strategy to promote and sustain reductions in standardized body mass index (zBMI). High school compañeros were trained to participate in a 6-month obesity program alongside middle school students in Houston, Texas. Middle school students were randomized to participate in the program either with compañeros (n = 94) or without compañeros (n = 95). The intervention was conducted from 2013 through 2016 in 3 cohorts of students, 1 each school year. Students were followed for 12 months. The primary outcome was zBMI, which was analyzed at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Significant differences were found between conditions across time (F = 4.58, P = .01). After the 6-month intervention, students in the condition with compañeros had a larger decrease in zBMI (F = 6.94, P = .01) than students in the condition without compañeros. Furthermore, students who received the intervention with compañeros showed greater sustained results at 12 months (F = 7.65, P = .01). Using high school compañeros in an obesity intervention for Hispanic middle school students could be effective in promoting and maintaining reductions in zBMI.

Art Involvement Program. A Final Report, September 15, 1978-July 1, 1980.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Grunberg, Stephanie

An Art Involvement Program is described which helped students in middle schools, junior high and high schools develop their sense of aesthetic appreciation through visits to an art gallery. Publicized through press releases, the program involved various schools in New Jersey that decided to participate. Students from a wide variety of backgrounds…

ARO in Review 2012

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-01-01

promotes original research and experimentation in the sciences, engineering, and mathematics at the high school level and publicly recognizes students ...in programs that offered enrichment classes in engineering at universities through the UNITE program. 1,614 middle and high school students ...Research and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (REAP) REAP is designed to offer high school students the opportunity to expand their background and

Youth Sport Development through Soccer: An Evaluation of an After-School Program Using the TPSR Model

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cryan, Mark; Martinek, Thomas

2017-01-01

The Soccer Coaching Club program used the Teaching Personal and Social Responsibility (TPSR) model in an after-school soccer program for sixth grade boys between 11 and 12 years old in a local middle school. Soccer, as the featured physical activity, provided the "hook" for regular attendance. Desired outcomes included improved…

An Evaluation of a School-Based Professional Development Program on Teachers' Efficacy for Technology Integration: Findings from an Initial Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Skoretz, Yvonne; Childress, Ronald

2013-01-01

The purpose of this program evaluation was to determine the impact of a school-based, job-embedded professional development program on elementary and middle school teacher efficacy for technology integration. Participant bi-weekly journal postings were analyzed using Grappling's "Technology and Learning Spectrum" (Porter, 2001) to…

Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, January 1994-July 1995. Pacific Region Program Operations Manual.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schlenker, Richard M.

This informational packet contains the materials necessary to administer the annual Department of Defense Dependent Schools Pacific Region Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) at the high school and middle school levels. The symposium program is a calendar year research program which includes one week symposium of students (grade 8-12)…

The APU and Assessment in the Middle Years.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marjoram, D. T. E.

1978-01-01

Because of student characteristics in the middle years, several types of assessment are needed. The national monitoring system being developed by the Assessment of Performance Unit (APU) may prove a useful assessment framework for individual schools, providing developmental data for program comparisons and student movement between schools. (SJL)

Generating Discourse with Cookie and Doughnut Investigations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Plankis, Brian; Vowell, Julie; Ramsey, John

2011-01-01

One key element sometimes missing from middle school science lessons is questioning designed to generate student discourse. The National Science Teachers Association recommends that the curriculum of middle school science programs includes "hands-on, minds-on" (NSTA 2003) inquiry-based science instruction, and according to Clough and Olson,…

Melvin at Eliot Hine Middle School

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-03-01

Leland Melvin, NASA Associate Administrator for Education and former astronaut, is interviewed by sixth grade students from the Broadcast Media Class at Eliot Hine Middle School on Friday, March 1, 2013 in Washington. The radio club program, Eliot Hine Radio, is broadcast live on the internet. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)

Mentoring Urban Black Middle School Male Students: Implications for Academic Achievement

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gordon, Derrick M.; Iwamoto, Derek K.; Ward, Nadia; Potts, Randolph; Boyd, Elizabeth

2009-01-01

Researchers have called for innovative and culturally responsive intervention programs to enhance male, Black middle school students' academic achievement. Mentoring has received considerable attention as a novel remedy. Although anecdotal evidence supports the positive role of mentoring on academic achievement, these results are not consistent.…

New Technologies in Portugal: Regular Middle and High School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Florentino, Teresa; Sanchez, Lucas; Joyanes, Luis

2010-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to elaborate upon the relation between information and communication technologies (ICT), particularly web-based resources, and their use, programs and learning in Portuguese middle and high regular public schools. Design/methodology/approach: Adding collected documentation on curriculum, laws and other related…

Counselor Perceptions: Let Us Do Our Job!

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Benigno, Stephen

2017-01-01

Elementary and Middle school administrators continually struggle with developing instructional programs that will address the academic and human developmental levels of the students in their care. Addressing the human development and the academic issues related to the elementary and middle school student is only a small percentage of the attention…

Nonfiction Reading Comprehension in Middle School: Exploring in Interactive Software Approach

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wolff, Evelyn S.; Isecke, Harriet; Rhoads, Christopher; Madura, John P.

2013-01-01

The struggles of students in the United States to comprehend non-fiction science text are well documented. Middle school students, in particular, have minimal instruction in comprehending nonfiction and flounder on assessments. This article describes the development process of the Readorium software, an interactive web-based program being…

Relaxation Training: Its Usefulness in the Middle School Curriculum.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Matthews, Doris B.

A study examined multiple outcomes of relaxation training simultaneously in seventh grade classrooms. "Project Relaxation" measured cognitive (achievement) and affective (discipline, attendance, tardiness, and self-concept) changes with a program of relaxation training for 532 seventh grade students in 10 private and public middle schools in South…

The Crabapple Experience: Insights from Program Evaluations.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Elmore, Randy; Wisenbaker, Joe

2000-01-01

An evaluation of a Georgia middle school's multi-age grouping program revealed significant progress regarding student self-esteem, achievement, community building, and teacher collaboration. The Crabapple experience illustrates how one model of student-centered, developmentally appropriate, and integrated learning can benefit middle-level…

Leadership Styles at Middle- and Early-College Programs: A Quantitative Descriptive Correlational Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Berksteiner, Earl J.

2013-01-01

The purpose of this quantitative descriptive correlational study was to determine if associations existed between middle- and early-college (MEC) principals' leadership styles, teacher motivation, and teacher satisfaction. MEC programs were programs designed to assist high school students who were not served well in a traditional setting (Middle…

Program Evaluation of Growin' to Win: A Latchkey and Summer Program for At-Risk Youth.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

James, William H.; And Others

This document presents an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Growin' to Win Project, an after-school and summer program targeted at elementary and middle school aged youth at high risk of substance abuse and gang involvement. Growin' to Win is an expansion of a model latchkey program piloted at two Tacoma (Washington) schools in 1990. The…

Social and Emotional Learning through a Teaching Personal and Social Responsibility Based After-School Program for Disengaged Middle-School Boys

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gordon, Barrie; Jacobs, Jenn M.; Wright, Paul M.

2016-01-01

This study examined a long-term afterschool leadership program situated in a Midwestern university town in the US. The activity-based program for boys considered to be disengaged with school and at risk for dropping out of education, was based on the Teaching Personal and Social Responsibility (TPSR) model. The program curriculum was strongly…

An Evaluation of a Social Norms Marketing Project for Tobacco Prevention with Middle, High, and College Students; Use of Funds from the Tobacco Master Settlement (Virginia)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Martino-Mcallister, Jeanne; Wessel, Maria Theresa

2005-01-01

The "Anti-Tobacco Media Blitz" (ATMB), a social-norms marketing program, was utilized for tobacco prevention with middle and high school students. University students assisted middle and high school students with the implementation of this campaign, which included a variety of media. Students worked in teams to design, develop, and…

Ohio's Middle Childhood Licensure Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

White, Paula M.; Ross, Diane; Miller, Jennifer; Dever, Robin; Jones, Karen A.

2013-01-01

The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe middle level prepared teachers' perceptions of their practices after completing an Ohio Middle Childhood: Grades 4-9 teacher education program. Using the National Middle School Association/National Council of Accreditation of Teacher Education Initial Level Teacher Preparation Standards (2001)…

Youth Leadership. IDRA Focus.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

IDRA Newsletter, 1995

1995-01-01

This theme issue focuses on motivating young people to learn by providing leadership opportunities in school. "Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program: Assessing Progress" (Josie Danini Supik) examines the program's success. This program, which trains high-risk middle and high school students as tutors of younger children, has dramatically…

Police at School: A Brief History and Current Status of School Resource Officers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weiler, Spencer C.; Cray, Martha

2011-01-01

The school resource officer (SRO) program began in the United States in the early to mid-1950s, however, the program did not gain prominence until the 1990s in response to various school shootings. According to national data, SROs can be found in 35 percent of school across America, regardless of level (elementary, middle, or high school),…

The Impact of an After-School Intervention Program on Academic Achievement among Middle School Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sebastian, JoAnn

2013-01-01

The United States Department of Education (2005) cited that during 2005-2006 academic school year an estimated 2 million students across the nation were eligible to receive after-school services. The after-school tutoring program is one of the most effective instructional strategies to assist low-performing students to meet criteria mandated by…

Youth tobacco surveillance--United States, 2000.

PubMed

2001-11-02

Tobacco use is the single leading preventable cause of death in the United States, accounting for approximately 430,000 deaths each year. The prevalence of cigarette smoking nationwide among high school students increased during the 1990s, peaking during 1996-1997, then began a gradual decline. Approximately 80% of tobacco users initiate use before age 18 years. If the trend in early initiation of cigarette smoking continues, approximately 5 million children aged <18 years who are living today will die prematurely because they began to smoke cigarettes during adolescence. The economic costs associated with tobacco use ranges from $53 billion to $73 billion per year in medical expenses and $47 billion in lost productivity. Because of these health and economic consequences, CDC has recommended that states establish and maintain comprehensive tobacco-control programs to reduce tobacco use among youth. January 2000 through December 2000. To assist states in developing and maintaining their state-based comprehensive tobacco prevention and control programs, CDC developed the Youth Tobacco Surveillance and Evaluation System, which includes international, national, and state school-based surveys of middle school and high school students. Two components of this system are discussed in this report--the National Youth Tobacco Survey and the state Youth Tobacco Surveys. The national survey is representative of students in the 50 states and the District of Columbia; 35,828 students in 324 schools completed questionnaires in the spring of 2000. Twenty-nine state surveys were conducted in the spring and fall of 2000; state sample sizes ranged from 583 to 33,586 students. This report summarizes data from the 2000 national survey and state surveys. Findings from the National Youth Tobacco Survey indicate that current tobacco use ranges from 15.1% among middle school students to 34.5% among high school students. Cigarette smoking is the most prevalent form of tobacco use, followed by cigar smoking and smokeless tobacco use. Approximately one half of current cigarette smokers in middle school and high school report that they usually smoke Marlboro cigarettes. Black students are more likely to smoke Newport cigarettes than any other brand. More than one half of current cigarette smokers in middle school and high school report that they want to stop smoking. Nearly one fourth of middle school and high school students who have never smoked cigarettes are susceptible to initiating cigarette smoking in the next year. Exposure to secondhand smoke (e.g., environmental tobacco smoke) is substantially higher among both middle school and high school students. During the week before the survey, approximately 9 out of 10 current cigarette smokers and one half of never cigarette smokers were in the same room with someone who was smoking cigarettes; and 8 out of 10 current cigarette smokers and 3 out of 10 never cigarette smokers rode in a car with someone who was smoking cigarettes. Approximately 70% of middle school and 57% of high school students who currently smoke cigarettes live in a home where someone smokes cigarettes. Among never cigarette smokers, approximately 3 out of 10 live in a home where someone smokes cigarettes. Approximately 69% of middle school and 58% of high school students aged <18 years who currently smoke cigarettes were not asked to show proof of age when they bought or tried to buy cigarettes. Approximately 8 out of 10 middle school and high school students have seen antismoking commercials. Eight out of 10 middle school students report having seen actors using tobacco on television or in the movies, and approximately 11% of middle school and 16% of high school students who had never used tobacco would wear or use something with a tobacco company name or picture on it. This rate increases to nearly 60% for current tobacco users. Youth Tobacco Survey data are used by health and education officials to improve national and state programs to prevent and control youth tobacco use. Several states use the data in presentations to their state legislators to demonstrate the need for funding smoking cessation and prevention programs for youth.

FMA Live! at Hardy Middle School

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-09-16

Tom Buckmaster, President, Honeywell Hometown Solutions and Leland Melvin, NASA Associate Administrator for Education and former 2x astronaut, are interviewed before the start of "FMA Live!" at Hardy Middle School in Washington on Monday, Sept. 16th, 2013. "FMA Live!" is a program sponsored by NASA and Honeywell that teaches Newton's three laws of motion mixed with dance and music. The program travels across the country and has reached nearly 300,000 students.Photo Credit: (NASA/Jay Westcott)

FMA Live! at Hardy Middle School

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-09-16

Leland Melvin, NASA Associate Administrator for Education and former 2x astronaut, is interviewed by a news crew before the start of a "FMA Live!" event at Hardy Middle School in Washington on Monday, Sept. 16th, 2013. "FMA Live!" is a program sponsored by NASA and Honeywell that teaches Newton's 3 laws of motion mixed with dance and music. The program travels across the country and has reached nearly 300,000 students. Photo Credit: (NASA/Jay Westcott)

The Relationship between Advancement via Individual Determination (AVID) and Middle School Student Academic Achievement and Stakeholders' Perceptions: A Southern California Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dean, Jonathan C.

2009-01-01

Advancement via Determination (AVID) is an innovative educational program designed to enhance student eligibility for 4-year college admissions. While much research has been done at the high school level, little is known about AVID's effect on the academic success of middle school students and how teachers, AVID participants, and parents of AVID…

A Study of the Effectiveness of Two Alternative Middle Schools: How Prepared Are Students for High School Success?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kilmer, Theresa M.

2013-01-01

This study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of alternative middle school programs utilizing a longitudinal, mixed methods design and was driven by research questions which analyzed trends in attendance, discipline, and Standard of Learning test pass rates in history and science for 8 th, 9th, and 10th grade. It also examined student…

The Effects of a School-Based Nutrition Intervention on Fruit and Vegetable Preferences, Self-Efficacy, and Consumption among Low-Income, Hispanic and White Middle-School Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McCarthy, Erin; Wolff, Cindy; Bianco-Simeral, Stephanie; Crozier, Joseph; Goto, Keiko

2012-01-01

Purpose/Objectives: This study examined the effect of the Harvest of the Month (HOTM) nutrition education intervention program on middle-school students' fruit and vegetable preferences, self-efficacy and attitudes, and self-reported consumption. Perceptions of socio-environmental factors and demographic characteristics were also compared to…

Out-of-School Time Programs for Older Youth. Research Update: Highlights from the Out-of-School Time Database. Number 7

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harvard Family Research Project, 2011

2011-01-01

Out-of-school time (OST) programs focused on older youth--specifically, youth in middle and high school--can help participants successfully navigate their adolescence and learn new skills well into their teens. OST programs can also help prepare older youth for a variety of new roles that they will assume as they enter college and the workforce.…

Middle and high school students shine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Asher, Pranoti; Saltzman, Jennifer

2012-02-01

Middle and high school students participating in after-school and summer research experiences in the Earth and space sciences are invited to participate in AGU's Bright Students Training as Research Scientists (Bright STaRS) program. The Bright STaRS program provides a dedicated forum for these students to present their research results to the scientific community at AGU's Fall Meeting, where they can also learn about exciting research, education, and career opportunities in the Earth and space sciences. Last year's program included 33 abstracts from middle and high school students involved with the Stanford University School of Earth Sciences; Raising Interest in Science and Engineering summer internship program sponsored by the Office of Science Outreach at Stanford; Lawrence Hall of Science at the University of California, Berkeley; the University of California, Santa Cruz; California Academy of Science; San Francisco State University; the University of Arizona; and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. Their work spanned a variety of topics ranging from structural geology and paleontology to environmental geology and polar science. Nearly 100 Bright STaRS students presented their research posters on Thursday morning (8 December) of the Fall Meeting and had a chance to interact with scientists, AGU staff, and other meeting attendees.

Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP). What Works Clearinghouse Intervention Report

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

What Works Clearinghouse, 2018

2018-01-01

The "Knowledge Is Power Program" ("KIPP") is a nonprofit network of more than 200 public charter schools educating early childhood, elementary, middle, and high school students. The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) identified four studies of "KIPP" that fall within the scope of the Charter Schools topic area and meet…

Bike Skills Training in PE Is Fun, Keeps Kids Safe

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wallace, Judi Lawson; Sutton, Nancy P.

2015-01-01

Incorporating bike skills into the elementary- and middle-school physical education curriculum encourages students to be physically active in a fun way while also learning bike safety skills. Winston-Salem's (NC) Safe Routes to School program demonstrates how collaboration with the public schools' health and physical education program can…

School Desegregation in Seattle: A Historical and Contemporary Synopsis.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rice, Constance

1977-01-01

Seattle's voluntary desegregation plans have included a voluntary racial transfer program, a plan to improve middle schools in the central area, and a magnet school program. Their ineffectiveness has led civil rights organizations to complain to the federal government. Community sentiment against court-ordered desegregation revolves around the…

Middle Level Practices in European International and Department of Defense Schools.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Waggoner, V. Christine; McEwin, C. Kenneth

1993-01-01

Discusses results of a 1989-90 survey of 70 randomly selected international schools and 70 randomly selected Department of Defense Schools in Europe. Programs and practices surveyed included enrollments, grade organization, curriculum and instructional plans, core subjects, grouping patterns, exploratory courses, advisory programs, and scheduling.…

Brief Instrumental School-Based Mentoring for Middle School Students: Theory and Impact

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McQuillin, Samuel D.; Lyons, Michael D.

2016-01-01

This study evaluated the efficacy of an intentionally brief school-based mentoring program. This academic goal-focused mentoring program was developed through a series of iterative randomized controlled trials, and is informed by research in social cognitive theory, cognitive dissonance theory, motivational interviewing, and research in academic…

Program Transition Challenges in International Baccalaureate Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hallinger, Philip; Lee, Moosung; Walker, Allan

2011-01-01

International Baccalaureate (IB) schools have experienced dramatic growth worldwide over the past decade in response to burgeoning demand for high-quality education with an international orientation. One increasingly common trend has found international schools adopting two or more of the three programs offered by the IB: the Diploma, Middle Years…

Implementation of CDC's School Health Index in 3 Midwest Middle Schools: Motivation for Change

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sherwood-Puzzello, Catherine M.; Miller, Michelle; Lohrmann, David; Gregory, Patricia

2007-01-01

Background: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's School Health Index (SHI), a guide for completing a coordinated school-based program needs assessment relative to healthy eating, physical activity, a tobacco-free lifestyle, and prevention of other health risk behaviors and conditions, was used to assess current programming at 3…

The Role of Dance in Teacher Attitudes at a Rural Middle School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Crawford-Willis, Antoinette

2013-01-01

Kentucky school districts have been charged to present an academic program review that documents the use of dance across curriculum content at all grade levels. This program review will replace statewide standardized tests for all students in the state of Kentucky and will count 20% toward each school's accountability score. Schools within the…

Effects of the It's Your Game . . . Keep It Real program on dating violence in ethnic-minority middle school youths: a group randomized trial.

PubMed

Peskin, Melissa F; Markham, Christine M; Shegog, Ross; Baumler, Elizabeth R; Addy, Robert C; Tortolero, Susan R

2014-08-01

We examined whether It's Your Game . . . Keep It Real (IYG) reduced dating violence among ethnic-minority middle school youths, a population at high risk for dating violence. We analyzed data from 766 predominantly ethnic-minority students from 10 middle schools in southeast Texas in 2004 for a group randomized trial of IYG. We estimated logistic regression models, and the primary outcome was emotional and physical dating violence perpetration and victimization by ninth grade. Control students had significantly higher odds of physical dating violence victimization (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.52; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.20, 1.92), emotional dating violence victimization (AOR = 1.74; 95% CI = 1.36, 2.24), and emotional dating violence perpetration (AOR = 1.58; 95% CI = 1.11, 2.26) than did intervention students. The odds of physical dating violence perpetration were not significantly different between the 2 groups. Program effects varied by gender and race/ethnicity. IYG significantly reduced 3 of 4 dating violence outcomes among ethnic-minority middle school youths. Although further study is warranted to determine if IYG should be widely disseminated to prevent dating violence, it is one of only a handful of school-based programs that are effective in reducing adolescent dating violence behavior.

Effects of the It’s Your Game . . . Keep It Real Program on Dating Violence in Ethnic-Minority Middle School Youths: A Group Randomized Trial

PubMed Central

Markham, Christine M.; Shegog, Ross; Baumler, Elizabeth R.; Addy, Robert C.; Tortolero, Susan R.

2014-01-01

Objectives. We examined whether It’s Your Game . . . Keep It Real (IYG) reduced dating violence among ethnic-minority middle school youths, a population at high risk for dating violence. Methods. We analyzed data from 766 predominantly ethnic-minority students from 10 middle schools in southeast Texas in 2004 for a group randomized trial of IYG. We estimated logistic regression models, and the primary outcome was emotional and physical dating violence perpetration and victimization by ninth grade. Results. Control students had significantly higher odds of physical dating violence victimization (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.52; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.20, 1.92), emotional dating violence victimization (AOR = 1.74; 95% CI = 1.36, 2.24), and emotional dating violence perpetration (AOR = 1.58; 95% CI = 1.11, 2.26) than did intervention students. The odds of physical dating violence perpetration were not significantly different between the 2 groups. Program effects varied by gender and race/ethnicity. Conclusions. IYG significantly reduced 3 of 4 dating violence outcomes among ethnic-minority middle school youths. Although further study is warranted to determine if IYG should be widely disseminated to prevent dating violence, it is one of only a handful of school-based programs that are effective in reducing adolescent dating violence behavior. PMID:24922162

Effects of the Self-Regulation Empowerment Program (SREP) on middle school students' strategic skills, self-efficacy, and mathematics achievement.

PubMed

Cleary, Timothy J; Velardi, Brittany; Schnaidman, Bracha

2017-10-01

The current study examined the effectiveness of an applied self-regulated learning intervention (Self-Regulation Empowerment Program (SREP)) relative to an existing, school-based remedial mathematics intervention for improving the motivation, strategic skills, and mathematics achievement of academically at-risk middle school students. Although significant group differences in student self-regulated learning (SRL) were not observed when using self-report questionnaires, medium to large and statistically significant group differences were observed across several contextualized, situation-specific measures of strategic and regulatory thinking. The SREP group also exhibited a statistically significant and more positive trend in achievement scores over two years in middle school relative to the comparison condition. Finally, SREP students and coaches reported SREP to be a socially-valid intervention, in terms of acceptability and importance. The importance of this study and critical areas for future research are highlighted and discussed. Copyright © 2017 Society for the Study of School Psychology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Partners in Physics with Colorado School of Mines' Society of Physics Students

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moore, Shirley; Stilwell, Matthew; Boerner, Zach

2011-04-01

The Colorado School of Mines (CSM) Society of Physics Students (SPS) revitalized in 2008 and has since blown up with outreach activity, incorporating all age levels into our programs. In Spring 2010, CSM SPS launched a new program called Partners in Physics. Students from Golden High School came to CSM where they had a college-level lesson on standing waves and their applications. These students then joined volunteers from CSM in teaching local elementary school students about standing waves beginning with a science show. The CSM and high school students then helped the children to build make-and-take demonstrations incorporating waves. This year, rockets are the theme for Partners in Physics and we began with demonstrations with local middle school students. In Spring 2011, CSM SPS will be teaching elementary school students about projectile motion and model rockets along with these middle school students. Colorado School of Mines Department of Physics

A Summative Evaluation of a Middle School Summer Math Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nelson, Brian W.

2014-01-01

By some estimates, students lose an average of 2.6 months of learning during summer break, roughly one quarter of the time spent in school. To combat this problem, the school under study implemented a summer math program that was thematically linked to the Boston Red Sox baseball team. Hundreds of students have participated in the program, but the…

Middle School Math Intervention in the Local Unified School District: Using Constructivist Strategies to Support Struggling Learners

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Briggerman, Robert Starwalt

2016-01-01

This study explored the effectiveness of a unique math intervention program in a local school district in Orange County, California in terms of academic achievement and student perceptions about their math abilities as a result of their experiences in the program. As the predominate instructional approach, the program provided students with…

Boosting the Numbers of STEM Majors? the Role of High Schools with a STEM Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bottia, Martha Cecilia; Stearns, Elizabeth; Mickelson, Roslyn Arlin; Moller, Stephanie

2018-01-01

This article investigates whether attending a high school that offers a specialized science, technology, engineering, and/or mathematics program (high school with a STEM program) boosts the number of students majoring in STEM when they are in college. We use a longitudinal sample of students in North Carolina, whom we follow from middle school…

Dropout Intervention and Language Minority Youth. ERIC Digest.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vaznaugh, Adriana

This digest describes three programs for middle and high school language minority students at risk of dropping out of school. Two of the programs are geared toward limited-English-proficient Hispanic youth, and the third, a vocational program, involves African-American students as well. The first program described is the Coca-Cola Valued Youth…

Middle Class Dropouts: Myths and Observations.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Balfour, Mary J.; Harris, Linda Hall

1979-01-01

Observations about middle class high school dropouts are reported by staff of Project SAIL (Student Advocates Inspire Learning), an intensive special program involving peer and individual counseling. (CL)

Increasing fruit and vegetable consumption among schoolchildren: efforts in middle-income countries.

PubMed

Wijesinha-Bettoni, Ramani; Orito, Aya; Löwik, Marianne; Mclean, Catherine; Muehlhoff, Ellen

2013-03-01

To reverse the trend of rising child obesity rates in many middle-income countries, recommendations include increasing fruit and vegetable consumption. Schools can positively impact children's eating behavior, and multicomponent interventions that include the curriculum, school food environments, and parental involvement are most effective. To find out how fruits and vegetables feature in the dietary guidelines provided to schools, what specific schemes are available for providing these foods, the extent to which nutrition education is included in the curriculum, and how vegetables and fruits are procured in primary schools. In 2008, a survey questionnaire previously validated and revised was sent electronically to national program managers and focal points for school feeding programs in 58 middle-income countries. The rationale was to obtain information relevant to the entire country from these key informants. The survey response rate was 46%. The information provided by 22 respondents in 18 countries was included in the current study. On average, respondents answered 88% of the questions analyzed in this paper. Of the respondents, 73% worked for the national authority responsible for school food programs, with 45% at the program coordinator or director level. Few countries have any special fruit and vegetable schemes; implementation constraints include cost and lack of storage facilities. Although 11 of 18 countries have both nutrient-based guidelines and school food guidelines for meals, fruits and vegetables are often not adequately specified. In some countries, nutrition education, special activities, school gardens, and parental participation are used to promote fruits and vegetables. Specific schemes are needed in some, together with school food guidelines that include fruits and vegetables.

Educational Game Design as Gateway for Operationalizing Computational Thinking Skills among Middle School Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wu, Min Lun

2018-01-01

This qualitative case study reports descriptive findings of digital game-based learning involving 15 Taiwanese middle school students' use of computational thinking skills elicited through programmed activities in a game design workshop. Situated learning theory is utilized as framework to evaluate novice game designers' individual advancement in…

Introduction to Vocations Comprehensive Middle School Program: Mathematics Activities.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gartner, Karen; And Others

Junior high or middle school student activities in mathematics are provided for three entry level occupations in each of fifteen career clusters. The fifteen cluster titles including one of the three occupations for each cluster with an example of a student activity follow: (1) Agri-business and Natural Resources (cropdusting pilot, reading an…

Schooling the Middle Manager. Professional Study No. 5406.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Robinson, George D.

The aim of this study is to evaluate industrial approaches to management development programs to ascertain the applicability of using similar schooling techniques in Air Force managerial development. The primary emphasis is on where the Air Force might benefit from industry's experience in the middle manager area. An additional objective is the…

Trauma and Early Adolescent Development: Case Examples from a Trauma-Informed Public Health Middle School Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Frydman, Jason Scott; Mayor, Christine

2017-01-01

Middle-school-age children are faced with a variety of developmental tasks, including the beginning phases of individuation from the family, building peer groups, social and emotional transitions, and cognitive shifts associated with the maturation process. This article summarizes how traumatic events impair and complicate these developmental…

Social Skills and Problem Solving Abilities in a Middle School Advisory Setting.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ahrens, Susan; Barrett, C. Elise; Holtzman, Debi

This research project implemented and evaluated a program in interpersonal skill development designed to increase the use of applied social skills at a middle school located in northeast Illinois. Evidence of inappropriate interpersonal skills was gathered by using observation checklists, teacher and student surveys, and discipline referrals.…

Beyond the Transcript: Factors Influencing the Pursuit of Science and Mathematics Coursework

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Haag, Susan; Megowan, Colleen

2012-01-01

The nation's middle schools suffer from a shortage of qualified science and mathematics teachers. To address this need, one university in the southwest has developed the Modeling Institute, a master's degree program for in-service elementary educators interested in teaching science and mathematics at the middle school level. Identifying the…

A Typology of Middle School Girls: Audience Segmentation Related to Physical Activity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Staten, Lisa K.; Birnbaum, Amanda S.; Jobe, Jared B.; Elder, John P.

2006-01-01

The Trial of Activity for Adolescent Girls (TAAG) combines social ecological and social marketing approaches to promote girls' participation in physical activity programs implemented at 18 middle schools throughout the United States. Key to the TAAG approach is targeting materials to a variety of audience segments. TAAG segments are individuals…

Classroom Music: Grades 5-8.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Oregon State Dept. of Education, Salem.

The guide was designed to aid administrators and teachers in creating, organizing, and staffing music programs for students in middle schools or grades 5-8 in Oregon. It is presented in four parts. Part I describes the unique features of the middle school. The environment and students are in a period of change, and teachers must have certain…

Urban Middle School Students' Reflections on Authentic Science Inquiry

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rivera Maulucci, María S.; Brown, Bryan A.; Grey, Salina T.; Sullivan, Shayna

2014-01-01

This study explores the experiences of six urban middle school students in an authentic science inquiry program. Drawing on data including teaching journal entries, student work folders, and semi-structured focus group interviews of six participants, the findings explore six dimensions of authentic science inquiry, an approach to science inquiry…

AIDS Education in the Middle School Language Arts Program? YES!

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sumpter, R. David; Benson, Tammy

1995-01-01

AIDS education should not only focus on prevention but also promote decision-making skills and values as a basis for adolescent behavior. Activities that can be integrated with language arts for rural middle school students include role playing, reading and writing assignments about famous people afflicted with AIDS, round-table discussions, and…

Sustaining Inquiry-Based Teaching Methods in the Middle School Science Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Murphy, Amy Fowler

2012-01-01

This dissertation used a combination of case study and phenomenological research methods to investigate how individual teachers of middle school science in the Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Initiative (AMSTI) program sustain their use of inquiry-based methods of teaching and learning. While the overall context for the cases was the AMSTI…

New Scientific Aspects of the "Burning Candle" Experiment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Massalha, Taha

2016-01-01

The "burning candle" experiment is used in middle school education programs to prove that air contains a component that is essential to burning (i.e., oxygen). The accepted interpretation taught by teachers in middle school is this: when burning occurs, oxygen is used up, creating an underpressure that causes a rise in water level inside…

A Descriptive Analysis of the Impact of Co-Teaching on the Reading/Language Arts and Math Achievement of Selected Middle School Students in a Middle Tennessee School District

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maultsby-Springer, Barbara Michelle

2009-01-01

This research examined the impact of collaborative teaching (co-teaching) on the Reading/Language Arts and Math achievement of Middle Tennessee students in grades 5-8, as measured by the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) Achievement test. Within the context of this study, the co-teaching model of instruction is defined as the…

Improving Inquiry Teaching through Reflection on Practice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lotter, Christine R.; Miller, Cory

2017-01-01

In this paper, we explore middle school science teachers' learning of inquiry-based instructional strategies through reflection on practice teaching sessions during a summer enrichment program with middle level students. The reflection sessions were part of a larger year-long inquiry professional development program in which teachers learned…

Tools for Data Analysis in the Middle School Classroom: A Teacher Professional Development Program

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ledley, T. S.; Haddad, N.; McAuliffe, C.; Dahlman, L.

2006-12-01

In order for students to learn how to engage with scientific data to answer questions about the real world, it is imperative that their teachers are 1) comfortable with the data and the tools used to analyze it, and 2) feel prepared to support their students in this complex endeavor. TERC's Tools for Data Analysis in the Middle School Classroom (DataTools) professional development program, funded by NSF's ITEST program, prepares middle school teachers to integrate Web-based scientific data and analysis tools into their existing curricula. This 13-month program supports teachers in using a set of freely or commonly available tools with a wide range of data. It also gives them an opportunity to practice teaching these skills to students before teaching in their own classrooms. The ultimate goal of the program is to increase the number of middle school students who work directly with scientific data, who use the tools of technology to import, manipulate, visualize and analyze the data, who come to understand the power of data-based arguments, and who will consider pursuing a career in technical and scientific fields. In this session, we will describe the elements of the DataTools program and the Earth Exploration Toolbook (EET, http://serc.carleton.edu/eet), a Web-based resource that supports Earth system education for teachers and students in grades 6 through 16. The EET provides essential support to DataTools teachers as they use it to learn to locate and download Web-based data and use data analysis tools. We will also share what we have learned during the first year of this three-year program.

Cost and Cost-Effectiveness of Students for Nutrition and eXercise (SNaX).

PubMed

Ladapo, Joseph A; Bogart, Laura M; Klein, David J; Cowgill, Burton O; Uyeda, Kimberly; Binkle, David G; Stevens, Elizabeth R; Schuster, Mark A

2016-04-01

To examine the cost and cost-effectiveness of implementing Students for Nutrition and eXercise (SNaX), a 5-week middle school-based obesity-prevention intervention combining school-wide environmental changes, multimedia, encouragement to eat healthy school cafeteria foods, and peer-led education. Five intervention and 5 control middle schools (mean enrollment, 1520 students) from the Los Angeles Unified School District participated in a randomized controlled trial of SNaX. Acquisition costs for materials and time and wage data for employees involved in implementing the program were used to estimate fixed and variable costs. Cost-effectiveness was determined using the ratio of variable costs to program efficacy outcomes. The costs of implementing the program over 5 weeks were $5433.26 per school in fixed costs and $2.11 per student in variable costs, equaling a total cost of $8637.17 per school, or $0.23 per student per day. This investment yielded significant increases in the proportion of students served fruit and lunch and a significant decrease in the proportion of students buying snacks. The cost-effectiveness of the program, per student over 5 weeks, was $1.20 per additional fruit served during meals, $8.43 per additional full-priced lunch served, $2.11 per additional reduced-price/free lunch served, and $1.69 per reduction in snacks sold. SNaX demonstrated the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of a middle school-based obesity-prevention intervention combining school-wide environmental changes, multimedia, encouragement to eat healthy school cafeteria foods, and peer-led education. Its cost is modest and unlikely to be a significant barrier to adoption for many schools considering its implementation. Copyright © 2016 Academic Pediatric Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Cost and Cost-effectiveness of Students for Nutrition and Exercise (SNaX)

PubMed Central

Ladapo, Joseph A.; Bogart, Laura M.; Klein, David J.; Cowgill, Burton O.; Uyeda, Kimberly; Binkle, David G.; Stevens, Elizabeth R.; Schuster, Mark A.

2015-01-01

Objective To examine the cost and cost-effectiveness of implementing Students for Nutrition and eXercise (SNaX), a 5-week middle-school-based obesity-prevention intervention combining school-wide environmental changes, multimedia, encouragement to eat healthy school cafeteria foods, and peer-led education. Methods Five intervention and five control middle schools (mean enrollment = 1,520 students) from the Los Angeles Unified School District participated in a randomized controlled trial of SNaX. Acquisition costs for materials and time and wage data for employees involved in implementing the program were used to estimate fixed and variable costs. Cost-effectiveness was determined using the ratio of variable costs to program efficacy outcomes. Results The costs of implementing the program over 5 weeks were $5,433.26 per school in fixed costs and $2.11 per student in variable costs, equaling a total cost of $8,637.17 per school, or $0.23 per student per day. This investment yielded significant increases in the proportion of students served fruit and lunch and a significant decrease in the proportion of students buying snacks. The cost-effectiveness of the program, per student over 5 weeks, was $1.20 per additional fruit served during meals, $8.43 per additional full-priced lunch served, $2.11 per additional reduced-price/free lunch served, and $1.69 per reduction in snacks sold. Conclusions SNaX demonstrated the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of a middle-school-based obesity-prevention intervention combining school-wide environmental changes, multimedia, encouragement to eat healthy school cafeteria foods, and peer-led education. Its cost is modest and unlikely to be a significant barrier to adoption for many schools considering its implementation. PMID:26427719

Reflections on Teaching and Learning the Arts: A Middle-Grade Classroom and a High School for the Arts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barilla, Rosemary; Brown, Tina Boyer

2015-01-01

Rosemary Barilla, a middle-grade language arts teacher, inspired by her own dedication to the arts, describes the ways she integrates the fine arts into her classroom program that is designed to teach reading and writing. Tina Boyer Brown, a founding teacher at The Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts®), describes the school as a place where…

Foundations in Science and Mathematics Program for Middle School and High School Students

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Desai, Karna Mahadev; Yang, Jing; Hemann, Jason

2016-01-01

The Foundations in Science and Mathematics (FSM) is a graduate student led summer program designed to help middle school and high school students strengthen their knowledge and skills in mathematics and science. FSM provides two-week-long courses over a broad spectrum of disciplines including astronomy, biology, chemistry, computer programming, geology, mathematics, and physics. Students can chose two types of courses: (1) courses that help students learn the fundamental concepts in basic sciences and mathematics (e.g., "Precalculus"); and (2) knowledge courses that might be excluded from formal schooling (e.g., "Introduction to Universe"). FSM has served over 500 students in the Bloomington, IN, community over six years by acquiring funding from Indiana University and the Indiana Space Grant Consortium. FSM offers graduate students the opportunity to obtain first hand experience through independent teaching and curriculum design as well as leadership experience.We present the design of the program, review the achievements, and explore the challenges we face. We are open to collaboration with similar educational outreach programs. For more information, please visit http://www.indiana.edu/~fsm/ .

Dyadic Instruction for Middle School Students: Liking Promotes Learning

PubMed Central

Hartl, Amy C.; DeLay, Dawn; Laursen, Brett; Denner, Jill; Werner, Linda; Campe, Shannon; Ortiz, Eloy

2015-01-01

This study examines whether friendship facilitates or hinders learning in a dyadic instructional setting. Working in 80 same-sex pairs, 160 (60 girls, 100 boys) middle school students (M = 12.13 years old) were taught a new computer programming language and programmed a game. Students spent 14 to 30 (M = 22.7) hours in a programming class. At the beginning and the end of the project, each participant separately completed (a) computer programming knowledge assessments and (b) questionnaires rating their affinity for their partner. Results support the proposition that liking promotes learning: Greater partner affinity predicted greater subsequent increases in computer programming knowledge for both partners. One partner’s initial programming knowledge also positively predicted the other partner’s subsequent partner affinity. PMID:26688658

Facilitating College Readiness through Campus Life Experiences

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schaefer, Mary Beth

2014-01-01

In a program called "College Immersion," middle grades students spend up to one week on a local college campus, attending specially designed college classes and experiencing collegiate activities. This research study reports on findings related to two different college-middle school partnerships involved in a College Immersion program.…

Selected Colorado Technology Education Programs.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gloeckner, Gene W.

The transition from industrial arts to technology education is a priority in Colorado. Millions of dollars have been and will be spent to renovate industrial arts facilities and laboratories. Four Colorado middle schools have exemplary technology education programs. The Eagle Crest Technology Education Laboratory is used for both middle and high…

The Impact of Education and School-Based Counseling on Children's and Adolescents' Views of Substance Abuse

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Anderson, Shawanda W.; Moore, Paula A.

2009-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate if a school-based education and counseling program (Life Skills Training Program) would have an impact on school-aged children/adolescents' views of substance abuse. The study also investigated the degree and direction of change. Participants were 338 elementary or middle-school students in the metro…

Project ORDER: Organization for Responsibility, Dependability, Education and Reality. Evaluation Report 1974-75.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

North Forest Independent School District, Houston, TX.

Project ORDER is a pilot project tested in an urban middle school in Houston, Texas. The program was intended to improve the general school atmosphere; to improve students' attitudes toward the school, its program, faculty, and administration; to show significant improvement in pupil behavior; and to substantially improve teaching-learning…

Learning as Community Service: Thinking with New Media

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hughes, Janette; Gadanidis, George

2010-01-01

This paper is exploratory in nature and our research goal is to develop a conceptualization of "learning as community service" in a new media context. The setting for the study is an after-school program involving middle school children in a First Nations community. In the after-school program, children developed knowledge about (1) their…

A Practical Partnership.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lieberman, Janet E.

Middle College, a high school program on the LaGuardia Community College campus, was designed to reduce the urban dropout rate, to prepare students more effectively for work or college, and to attract more students to higher education. As a public alternative high school on a college campus, the program creates a continuum between high school and…

An Evaluation of In-School Suspension Programs.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Siskind, Theresa G.; And Others

Findings of a study that determined the effectiveness of the Berkeley County (South Carolina) in-school suspension (ISS) program are presented in this paper. Methodology involved personal interviews conducted with the ISS director and ISS teacher in 8 middle and 8 high schools in the county, a total of 16 principals and 16 teachers. Findings…

Increasing Digital Media and Learning in Classrooms through School-University Partnerships

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Herro, Danielle; Qian, Meihua; Jacques, Lorraine

2017-01-01

This article describes findings from a faculty-in-residence program at a Southern middle school in the United States. The goal of the school-university partnership was to increase digital media and learning (DML) integration in classrooms and provide the university with contextualized experiences to strengthen its teacher education programs.…

Project Eureka: A Program for the Academically Gifted.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weller, L. David

The Irving, Texas, Independent School District developed and implemented Project Eureka, a 1 year program, with Elementary Secondary Education Act Title IV, Part C monies, for grade 5 middle school gifted students. Of the 1,750 students tested on the School and College Aptitude Test and the Scientific Research Associates Achievement Test, and…

Evaluation of a Truancy Diversion Program at Nine At-Risk Middle Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Haight, Courtney M.; Chapman, Gillian V.; Hendron, Marisa; Loftis, Rachel; Kearney, Christopher A.

2014-01-01

Many schools are faced with the prospect of soaring absenteeism rates, despite the use of traditional truancy courts and other legal interventions. A recent trend in the literature has been to explore alternative, hybrid, and multidisciplinary approaches to address the underlying obstacles to school attendance. These programs are often integrated…

Check & Connect: The Importance of Relationships for Promoting Engagement with School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Anderson, Amy R.; Christenson, Sandra L.; Sinclair, Mary F.; Lehr, Camilla A.

2004-01-01

The purpose of this study was to examine whether the closeness and quality of relationships between intervention staff and students involved in the Check & Connect program were associated with improved student engagement in school. Participants included 80 elementary and middle school students referred to the Check & Connect program for poor…

Promoting Engineering Education among High School and Middle School Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Goonatilake, Rohitha; Bachnak, Rafic A.

2012-01-01

Recent decline of students pursuing engineering degree programs is a great concern for many higher education authorities including Federal and State governments. Existing programs in high schools have not yet produced the desired results. Consequently, a number of initiatives to remedy this situation have been proposed and implemented. One such…

Co-Occurring Cyberbullying and School Bullying Victimization and Associations With Mental Health Problems Among Canadian Middle and High School Students.

PubMed

Sampasa-Kanyinga, Hugues

2017-08-01

This study examined the associations between co-occurring cyberbullying and school bullying victimization with poor self-rated mental health, psychological distress, and suicidal ideation and attempts among 4,886 Canadian students in Grades 7-12 and tested whether these associations differed between middle and high school students. There are 12.2% of students who were victims of both cyberbullying and school bullying. After adjusting for covariates, victims of both cyberbullying and school bullying presented the highest odds of poor self-rated mental health (odds ratio [OR] = 5.02; 95% CI [3.75, 6.74]), psychological distress (OR = 5.91; 95% CI [4.38, 7.96]), and suicidal ideation (OR = 6.17; 95% CI [4.44, 8.56]) and attempts (OR = 7.68; 95% CI [3.95, 14.93]). These associations were stronger among middle-school youth than their high school counterparts. Results suggest that victims of both cyberbullying and school bullying may constitute the most vulnerable group and that there is a need for intervention programs addressing both forms of bullying simultaneously, particularly among middle school students.

Exposure of Seventh and Eighth Grade Urban Youth to Dentistry and Oral Health Careers.

PubMed

Mayberry, Melanie E; Young, Deirdre D; Sawilowsky, Shlomo; Hoelscher, Diane

2018-01-01

While pipeline programs for students from underrepresented minority groups have been established at the high school and college levels, fewer programs have been developed for middle school students. In an effort to reach this cohort, the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry embarked on a grassroots collaborative pipeline program with two distinct segments: Urban Impressions and Dental Imprint. Their purpose is to expose Detroit-area seventh and eighth grade students to careers in dentistry, provide oral health education, and introduce role models. The aim of this pilot study was to determine outcomes for the middle school participants in Urban Impressions (n=86) and Dental Imprint (n=68). Both segments featured hands-on dental activities at the dental school. Outcomes were assessed by pretest-posttest surveys. Across the three cohorts, a total of 86 students participated in one or more sessions, with 57 completing the pre- and post-program surveys, for a 66% response rate. The results showed that the Dental Imprint respondents' knowledge of oral health, dental admissions, and specialties increased by an average 26% over three years. The gain in knowledge for each cohort was statistically significant (p<0.001). Overall, 91% of Urban Impressions and 95% of Dental Imprint respondents were positive about the value of the program. Thirty-one of 57 Urban Impressions respondents indicated interest in dentistry as a career following the program. These results suggest that the two segments of this program are meeting their goals of increasing middle grade students' awareness of oral health professions including dentistry and providing access to role models. Institutions may benefit from the description of strategies used by this program to address challenges related to establishing early pipeline programs.

Risk factors of bicycle traffic injury among middle school students in chaoshan rural areas of china.

PubMed

Lin, Zhen-Bin; Ji, Yan-Hu; Xiao, Qing-Yu; Luo, Li-Bo; Li, Li-Ping; Choi, Bernard

2017-01-26

Bicycle injuries are a leading cause of accidental death among children in the world, and bicycle-related injuries are also very common in China, thus to find out bicycle injury risk factors is imperative. This study aims to identify the cyclist-, bicycle- and road-related risk factors of bicycle injury, to develop health education programs as an intervention and to provide a scientific basis for establishing policies against bicycle injury. We selected two middle schools randomly among seven schools in Chaoshan rural areas,where the main means of transportation for students from home to school was bicycle. The subjects were middle school students from 7th to 9th grades from Gucuo Middle School and Hefeng Middle School. Cyclists were surveyed through questionnaires about bicycle injury in the past 12 months. Multivariable logistic analysis showed that compared with a combination-type road、 motor lane and a non-intact road were both risk factors of bicycle injuries. This was followed by riding with fatigue, non-motor lane and inattentive riding. Bicycle injuries are frequent in China. Three risk factors on bicycle traffic injury among middle school students in Chaoshan rural areas of China were identified. This study provides important data to develop intervention strategies for China and other developing countries.