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This article provides three major contributions to the literature: we provide granular information on the development of student argumentative writing across secondary school; we replicate the MacArthur et al. model of Natural Language Processing (NLP) writing features that predict quality with a younger group of students; and we are able to examine the differences for students across language status. In our study, we sought to find the average levels of text length, cohesion, connectives, syntactic complexity, and word-level complexity in this sample across Grades 7-12 by sex, by English learner status, and for essays scoring above and below the median holistic score. Mean levels of variables by grade suggest a developmental progression with respect to text length, with the text length increasing with grade level, but the other variables in the model were fairly stable. Sex did not seem to affect the model in meaningful ways beyond the increased fluency of women writers. We saw text length and word level differences between initially designated and redesignated bilingual students compared to their English-only peers. Finally, we see that the model works better with our higher scoring essays and is less effective explaining the lower scoring essays.

Purpose: Considering the lack of practical Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program (CSPAP) experiences within Physical Education (PE) Teacher Education, the study's purpose was to examine the experiences of PE preservice teachers, a PE teacher, and the university faculty who implemented a CSPAP, and the students who participated in the program. Method: An 8-week before-school program was implemented in a middle school from Fall 2018 to Spring 2022. One hundred three preservice teachers assisted in implementing the program as part of coursework. Data were gathered through preservice teachers' journals and focus group discussions, interviews with the university faculty and PE teacher, and students' surveys. Results: Data were inductively analyzed, and themes were expand preservice teachers' view beyond PE, benefits for preservice teachers and students, and future opportunities. Discussion/Conclusion: Incorporating CSPAPs into PE Teacher Education curriculum through school–university partnerships can provide practical experiences for preservice teachers to build competency in implementing CSPAPs in schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis article introduces a middle-school level, NGSS-aligned, inquiry-based approach to teaching weather and climate concepts in grades six through eight using free online resources including Google Earth. Inquiry-based learning has been shown to improve student achievement, but Earth’s climate systems are complex and macroscopic, making inquiry-based teaching difficult. This tends to result in a teacher-centric approach to teaching climate in middle school, where lectures and authoritative videos predominate. Unfortunately, in this educational setting, many people develop climate misconceptions and tend to view climate change as a minor issue or a matter of personal belief. This lesson offers an alternative approach in which technology provides a scaffold to inquiry-based learning. After an unusual weather phenomenon such as a snowman in the desert is introduced, students use Google Earth to explore the contrasting forest and desert found on opposite sides of some mountain ranges. With Nullschool Earth, students explore daily historical wind data to model prevailing winds and develop an understanding of how patterns in the motion of air masses create the rain shadow effect. This lesson helps students begin to model the complex Earth systems that create climate and to understand the distinction between weather and climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Middle school is a time of transition associated with increases in peer victimization (PV) and stress that warrant additional attention. Middle school students (N = 256; 54.7% male; Mage = 12.24, SDage = .94) completed measures of PV, negative life events (NLEs), anxiety, and depression. Students were assessed across 6 time points to examine if PV and the number of NLEs at baseline (Time 1; T1) had a unique and interactive effect on symptoms of depression and anxiety concurrently and over three school years. Results suggest that T1 PV, T1 NLEs, and their interactions were significantly associated with concurrent depression. Moreover, the association between T1 PV and the trajectory of depression was moderated by T1 NLEs. Associations with anxiety were not as substantial; nonetheless, T1 PV was significantly associated with concurrent anxiety. Findings clarify the cross-sectional and longitudinal association between PV and NLEs on internalizing symptoms in middle school with an emphasis on the substantial risk of depression symptomatology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study examines the social impact and psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the growth of adolescents students, aged 11-13, on well-being and learning. Methods: Said review, therefore, will consider all the report of scientific works published since 2020 on the following platforms: SCOPUS, PsycoInfo, and Web of Science. Specifically, the research has selected all studies concerning students aged 11-13. Furthermore, the authors have restricted the scope of the study to two fundamental aspects of the above-mentioned subjects, such as their physical and psychological well-being and didactic learning following the COVID-19 pandemic. The justification for choosing such themes lies in the fact that the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the ensuing measures adopted to curb its spread have had -and very likely will continue having-sizable repercussions in the life of each individual, especially in students considered, whose psychological and physical well-being has been considerably affected. Results: In particular, during the peak of the pandemic and its subsequent phases, the various measures issued to limit contagion have completely compromised and disregarded the rights of children and youngsters. Suddenly, leisure, sport, play, relations, and socialization disappeared from their lives. Besides, in the early stages of the pandemic, remote teaching replaced face-to-face teaching, later to become an intermittent system in the red- and orange-labelled areas of the country. Consequently, such measures have severely limited opportunities for learning, growth, curiosity and creating relationships that are typical of both a school and outside environment. Concerning the well-being of the subjects considered, a review of the target literature indicates a wide range of psychological and physical disorders, such as malaise, eating and sleep disorders, addiction to games, internet, alcohol, and drugs. For what regards, instead, the realm of learning, most studies highlight a diminished school performance as the main implication of remote teaching. Furthermore, a remarkable number of studies reveals substantial social inequalities; specifically, students coming from middle class families have managed to maintain higher quality educational standards in a critical context such as the pandemic, while those students coming from socially disadvantaged families have had fewer learning opportunities both in terms of time and range of experiences (due to lack of electronic devices, Internet connectivity, homework, continuity of after-school activities). In summary, if the school system pre-COVID-19 already presented significant limitations in its ability to reduce existing social inequalities, school closures during lockdowns pose enormous challenges in developing effective policies to compensate learning losses and inequalities. Discussion: Therefore, based on the results shown, the necessity arises of an emergency plan with social and educational objectives to restore those social, emotional, and cognitive abilities that are compromised. In general, it is the responsibility of countries and governments to guarantee the right to education in these difficult times, while avoiding any type of inequalities and establishing a digital learning system, that allows to face situations such as those generated by the Coronavirus, thus preventing those situations of serious anxiety and stress that have affected most subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teaching middle school students with learning disabilities strategies for writing essays that incorporate information from source texts helps prepare them for academic success. The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the effects of self‐regulated strategy development (SRSD) writing instruction using technology tools implemented by special education teachers on the source‐based argumentative writing performance of middle school students with learning disabilities. In this quasi‐experimental, pretest–posttest design study, three middle school special education teachers engaged in online Practice‐Based Professional Development. The teachers then implemented SRSD writing instruction to teach source‐based argumentative writing with technology tools. Implementation of the SRSD writing instruction by special education teachers positively impacted the number of argumentative elements, quality, number of transitions and length of students' source‐based argumentative essays. Teachers implemented the intervention with high fidelity and quality and felt that the intervention supported their students' writing. Teachers and students were positive about the SRSD writing instruction. This study adds to the evidence base that SRSD is an effective writing intervention for middle school students with learning disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractStudents with disabilities are at an increased risk of experiencing poorer quality peer relationships than those without disabilities. Previous school-based efforts to promote positive peer interactions among students with and without disabilities have included individual skill development and broader initiatives such as inclusive school practices. In the current study, we investigate the effects of cooperative learning (CL) on peer relationships, peer academic supports, and classroom engagement of middle school students with and without disabilities over two years. Using 4 waves of data from a cluster randomized trial of middle schools, we hypothesized that CL would create positive gains in study outcomes among all students, but we anticipated that effects would be more pronounced among students with disabilities. Results confirmed these hypotheses and highlighted the potential role of CL in creating greater social integration among students with and without disabilities. The implications of these findings for practitioners and policymakers are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Addressing mathematics anxiety is important to ensure that students achieve good academic performance and maintain their mental health during the critical middle school period. However, previous studies have focused on the separate effects of the preconditions for mathematics anxiety, ignoring the interaction of factors. Therefore, this study aims to identify the determinants of mathematics anxiety from the perspective of complex systems via necessary condition analysis (NCA) and qualitative comparative analysis (QCA). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to identify configurations of preconditions of mathematics anxiety among middle school students. Methods: A total of 183 middle school students aged 16 to 19 years (Mage = 17.47, SD = 0.89) in China participated in this cross-sectional study. The outcome variable of the study is mathematics anxiety, and the condition variables include mathematics grade, parental support, learning motivation, learning planning, and learning interest. Results: The necessity condition analysis shows that not all the condition variables constitute the necessity condition of mathematics anxiety alone. Four paths for the influence of multiple condition variables on mathematics anxiety are identified via the configuration analysis. Notably, even students with high mathematics scores and learning interest still experience mathematics anxiety due to a lack of practical parental support and learning motivation. High levels of parental support can exacerbate the mathematics anxiety of students under two conditions: 1) a lack of learning motivation and learning plans, and 2) interest in learning but low mathematics scores and unclear learning plans. Discussion: This study highlights the need to consider the comprehensive impact of mathematics anxiety, and the findings will help educators and researchers identify the different characteristics of mathematics anxiety in student populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractMotivating girls to enroll in computer science (CS) courses is critically important. Stereotypes that girls are less interested than boys in CS may deter girls. Three preregistered experimental studies (N = 1,053) examined causal links between gender-interest stereotypes and middle school students’ CS motivation. Experiment 1 showed that stereotypes reduced girls’ motivation to enroll, mediated by a lower sense of belonging. Experiment 2 showed that underrepresentation is a cue to stereotypes. Experiment 3 demonstrated that providing information about other girls’ interest countered stereotypes and promoted motivation. Directly addressing stereotypes may be instrumental in promoting equity for all in CS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has considered the role of social learning in substance use and determined that social influences are powerful determinants of substance initiation. However, the relationships between peer, sibling, and parent behaviors and e-cigarette initiation among early adolescents, and rural youth in particular, have yet to be examined. The present study investigated how peer delinquency, sibling substance use, and parental approval contribute to risk of e-cigarette initiation across middle school while also examining these associations with alcohol use initiation. Adolescents (N = 663) self-reported perceptions of peer delinquency, sibling substance use, parental approval about substance use, and their own e-cigarette and alcohol use. Multilevel survival analyses were conducted to model the risk of initiation and predictors of this risk. Results indicate that the risk of e-cigarette initiation increased by 75% annually as youths progressed through middle school. All social factors were significant predictors of e-cigarette initiation, while perceived peer delinquency and parental approval predicted alcohol initiation. Results emphasize the importance of early intervention for preventing e-cigarette initiation and the influence of peers and parents on alcohol initiation and the influence of peers, siblings, and parents on e-cigarette use. Highlights: This study contributes to our understanding of the risk of e-cigarette and alcohol initiation across middle school in a sample of rural youth. Results suggest that the risk of e-cigarette initiation increased by 75% annually across middle school, but the risk for alcohol initiation remained higher and stable. Findings identified peer delinquency and parental approval as risks for both e-cigarette and alcohol initiation. Sibling substance use was significantly associated with e-cigarette but not alcohol initiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This program evaluation outlines the process, challenges, and outcomes of decolonizing middle school curriculum through an interdisciplinary approach. A diverse team of educators conducted a curriculum audit and restructuring initiative in a Western New York independent school. Faced with data analysis challenges, the team devised an Environmental Justice Education framework, drawing on Bullard's Environmental Justice Theory and Critical Race Theory. The resultant curriculum map, implemented with students, embraced an interdisciplinary, place-based approach, grounded in Indigenous history and contemporary events, and emphasized action- oriented learning. The impact on student learning was profound, as the infusion of justice-based, localized questioning facilitated meaningful dialogue and engagement. Students demonstrated increased awareness, ownership, and civic involvement, sharing newfound narratives with peers and family. This paper provides a comprehensive guide for educators seeking to cultivate critical questioning skills through a community place-based design model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than two-thirds of middle school students do not read proficiently. Research has shown that targeted interventions using explicit instruction methods can improve reading outcomes for struggling readers. A central feature of explicit instruction is the systematic implementation of instructional interactions, but it is not clear what specific instructional interaction practices lead to stronger outcomes for middle school readers. This study used a regression discontinuity design to compare the frequency and impact of instructional interactions experienced by U.S. eighth-grade students who received a targeted reading intervention (n = 1,461) with those who did not (n = 4,292). Results indicated that students who received intervention experienced far more instructional interactions with their teachers than did students who did not. However, the association between rates of interaction and student need in the intervention group was minimal, and the relationship between the rate of instructional interactions and reading growth was mixed. Implications for intervening with struggling students in the middle grades are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research examining the joint relationships between test anxiety, metacognition, and mathematics achievement revealing the mediational role of metacognition in the relationship between test anxiety and mathematics achievement is sparse. A mediation study was designed to redress this imbalance. The Children's Test Anxiety Scale (CTAS), Junior Metacognitive Awareness Inventory (Jr. MAI), and Mathematics Achievement Test (MAT) were distributed to 943 (442 males and 501 females) Grade 7 (n = 477) and Grade 8 (n = 466) students aged between 11–12 (Mage = 11.5, SD =.88) and 11–13 (Mage = 12, SD =.91) years, respectively. In this study, multiple mediation models were tested to explore the role of metacognition as a mediator of the effect of test anxiety on mathematics achievement. Results indicate that although both test anxiety and metacognition were significantly related to mathematics achievement, metacognition was not a statistically significant mediator in the relationship between test anxiety and mathematics achievement. Specifically, the knowledge of cognition component of metacognition was the only significant mediator, mediating the relationship between off-task behaviors and mathematics achievement. Findings support the beneficial role of metacognition with the rewarding side of a key implication that without developing metacognitive knowledge, efforts at alleviating test anxiety to maximize achievement in mathematics may well be fruitless. Educational and practical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research purposes and design: This study aimed to compare the effects of different explicit approaches used in modeling-based instruction on students' understanding of scientific models and modeling (USMM). In Study 1, a self-study approach was compared to a preliminary explicit approach. In Study 2, preliminary explicit approach and embedded explicit approach were compared. Methods: For the data analysis, t tests and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) were used to compare students' USMM under the conditions of using different explicit approaches. Findings: Results showed that in the first study, no statistically significant difference was found between self-study approach and the preliminary explicit approach in any of the USMM subscales. In the second study, students who learned with the embedded explicit approach had better understandings in all subscales of USMM, but not in the changing nature of scientific models (CNM) subscale, than those who learned with the preliminary explicit approach. Through qualitative analysis of the data, categories and examples of the teacher's embedded epistemic guidance were illustrated. Suggestions for future professional development and research instrument design are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Puerto Rican students are a growing population in U.S. mainland schools, yet few recent studies have focused on the school contextual and identity-based experiences of Puerto Rican youth. Using stage-environment fit and LatCrit theories, this qualitative study examined seven Puerto Rican adolescent students' perspectives on domains of school context, along with prominent aspects of how they defined "being Puerto Rican," in two urban middle schools. Based on qualitative analyses of student interview and focus groups, findings revealed that students' experiences with teachers, ethnic-racial climate, and sense of belonging were fundamentally contradictory, where examples of purported "equal treatment" were tempered by racialized experiences marked by stereotypes and the suppression of Spanish, especially among male students. However, dimensions of identity-based resiliency such as ethnic pride, sense of familismo with other Puerto Rican students, and being bilingual emerged as sources of strength. We discuss school-based possibilities for the delivery of critically conscious support and ethnic affirmation for students during this critical developmental period, based on our exploratory findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the population of emergent bilingual students in the United States continues to grow, it has become increasingly important to ensure that content area instruction is linguistically and culturally inclusive and accessible. Longitudinal survey and state mathematics assessment data were used to examine how the use of students' home language in the English-medium mathematics classroom related to growth in student achievement and attitudes towards mathematics learning. Surveys from 1,274 students attending four middle schools in a Spanish-dominant community reported on teacher and student use of Spanish as well as attitudes towards learning strategies and mathematics. Structural equation modelling revealed that teachers' use of Spanish predicted students' use of Spanish, which was associated with growth in comfort participating in the mathematics classroom. Increased comfort, moreover, was related to growth in mathematics self-efficacy and, in turn, increased interest in mathematics as well as growth on the state mathematics assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When teachers explain science concepts—for example, the solar wind, or plasma waves—some methods seem to be quick-acting and others long-lasting. Still others pose as many problems as they seem to solve. How, for example, does a parent explain how there can be solar wind without any air in space? How does a teacher explain how there can be plasma waves without any water? Locating metaphor between thinking and speech rather than within one or the other, we work out a single scheme to analyze two conversations with adult Koreans. These suggest that a text studied some ten years ago in middle school science class, replete with striking visual images, has left little more than everyday concepts. Instead of trying to use the striking visual images to refill gaps in the memory, however, the questions asked by a skilled science teacher suggest ways in which thinking could be freed from the middle school dogma of only three matter phases (solid, liquid, gas). To understand a metaphor like "solar wind", we need to replace fixed matters of fact with some more elusive facts of matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Sociology of Education is the property of Journal of Sociology of Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: The current research was conducted with the aim of designing a Heutagogy curriculum model for the second level of high school in Tehran. Methods: The method of this research is applied in terms of purpose and it was done in an exploratory way that in the qualitative part of the method of thematic analysis and research synthesis and the quantitative part was based on structural equation modeling, the method of data collection was done in a mixed method (quantitative and qualitative) and the research tools in the qualitative part were semi-structured interviews and questionnaires and in the quantitative part. The questionnaire resulted from the qualitative phase. In the qualitative section, the Lausche coefficient (CVR) was used to check the content and Cohen's kappa coefficient was used to check the reliability. In this section, to validate the designed model, experts in curriculum and educational psychology completed the relevant questionnaire. In the qualitative section, data analysis was carried out using thematic analysis and research synthesis based on basic themes, organizing themes, and comprehensive themes. The quantitative part was based on structural equation modeling. The statistical population of the quantitative part includes all the secondary school teachers of Tehran city, who were selected using Cohen's formula, with a sample size of 198 people. Results: At first, the fit of the models related to each of the elements was extracted and at the end, the overall fit of the model was confirmed. The research findings were based on the results of qualitative and quantitative analyzes of the eight elements of flexibility, purpose, educational technology, thinking, facilitation, learner, content and Evaluation for heutagogy curriculum was identified in the second year of high school. Each element had dimensions and components; the total number of identified dimensions was 28 dimensions. Conclusions: The findings predominantly corroborate the formulation of a heutagogy curriculum for the second level of secondary education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University Journal of Faculty of Education / Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi is the property of Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University Journal of Faculty of Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Gifted learners are often intellectually curious and require meaningful learning opportunities. This engineering investigtion fosters curiosity while also generating useable knowledge that connects to global issues through a STEM lens. This engineering exercise presents a valuable experience for gifted learners because it not only fosters creativity and is environmentally relevant, but it also compels students to develop and practice academic competencies. This investigation is designed to harness most gifted learners’ strong sense of empathy and heightened sense of justice to spawn useable knowledge that can help inform decisions and actions today and in the future. Specifically, the investigation will have gifted students determine if cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) are suitable as a non-toxic, environmentally benign adhesive for the construction of particleboard. Students become heavily invested in the project when they know they are working towards a more sustainable and safe product. In this study, the case study method was used. The project work conducted with middle school gifted students was handled as a case study, focusing on the process and outcomes. Students are able to meet many of the Next Generation of Science Standards (NGSS) enginerring performace expectations, complete aspects of all of the science and engineering practices, explore several engineering disciplinary core ideas, and consider several crosscutting concepts. This project can be fine-tuned to best meet the needs of any gifted student. This investigative approach incorporates science and engineering practices and encourages students to combine their previous and new science content knowledge with procedural knowledge in relevant ways. Gifted students gain valuable STEM experiences and use novel science equipment to solve a real world problem. This activity exercises students’ executive functions for problem solving, organizing, and develops skills including the ability to interpret data and draw pertinent conclusions. The next step in this research is to use pre and post student surveys to quantitatively show the impact of this engineering investigation on improving science and engineering practices, attitudes, content knowledge, and to see how it may influence authentic STEM research projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study puts forth the counternarrative of the first author Gislaine, a first-generation undergraduate student, Latina, and computer science major. Gislaine participated in a research internship and STEM mentorship program led by the second author, Meredith. Through this program, Gislaine designed and taught CS lessons to predominantly low-income, African-American middle school students over an 8-day urban summer school program. By analyzing Gislaine's written account of her journey to CS, as well as planning documents and written reflections on her daily experiences mentoring youth, we explore how Gislaine's intersecting social identities shape her experiences both as a CS learner and as a mentor to youth. Gislaine's counternarrative illuminates the systems of oppression present in schools and the CS field, while also highlighting Gislaine's transformative approaches to mentoring students in CS. Gislaine's narratives emphasize the importance of humanizing CS and leveraging students' strengths to promote equitable access to CS education. Through her experiences, she underscores the significance of recognizing and addressing systemic barriers, while also advocating for inclusive and empowering educational practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Online teaching and learning has had a presence in K12 public education since the 1990s. Following the COVID-19 global pandemic, there has been a surge in online learning and an increase in research surrounding the role of online teaching and learning within the K12 context. However, while the inclusion of online pedagogies flourishes throughout middle-grade educational settings, there is limited contemporary research that speaks specifically to effective online instruction of young adolescent learners. This scoping review examines the existing body of literature pertaining to online pedagogies within the middle grades in an effort to map the current trends, gaps, and overall state of research pertaining to national and international middle-level online pedagogy. Researchers screened research and pedagogically centered peer-reviewed articles published between 2013 and 2024. The reviewed articles were charted according to standardized details—e.g., author(s), publication year, research purpose, study location, participant demographics, methodology, and outcomes—to identify themes relevant to online pedagogical approaches, national or international contextual considerations, connection to the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE) characteristics, and more. The findings speak to trends and gaps within middle-grade online pedagogical research with recommendations for additional examination of research and pedagogy specific to middle-grade online teaching and learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of a new middle-school-classroom forgiveness curriculum in promoting forgiveness and reducing anger. The students in this study were 153 fourth through eighth graders in three regional parochial schools. The students were assigned to forgiveness education or control groups in the fall semester and reassigned to the opposite group in the spring semester. Before-and-after assessments of forgiveness and anger were collected in both the fall and spring semesters. The quantitative results showed that levels of forgiveness increased as expected in both semesters, but anger did not change in expected ways. The qualitative results showed that the children's conceptualizations of the forgiveness process aligned closely with the core forgiveness curriculum content. The results suggest that meaningful work can be accomplished to promote forgiveness in the middle school classroom using this newly developed, efficient, and effective curriculum that can be implemented by teachers and staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzed the comprehension strategies and visuals in two science textbook series for grades 6, 7, and 8 as means of better understanding a core element of the ecological component of science literacy. The iScience [Biggs et al. in iScience (Grade 6), McGraw-Hill, 2015a, iScience (Grade 7), McGraw-Hill, 2015b, iScience (Grade 7), McGraw-Hill, 2015c)] and Interactive Science [Buckley et al. in Interactive Science (Grade 6), vol 1, Pearson, 2015a, Interactive Science (Grade 6), vol 2, Pearson, 2015b, Interactive Science (Grade 7), vol 1, Pearson, 2015c, Interactive Science (Grade 7), vol 2, Pearson, 2015d, Interactive Science (Grade 8), vol 1, Pearson, 2015e, Interactive Science (Grade 8), vol 2, Pearson, 2015f] textbook series were analyzed for the frequency of comprehension strategies used in during-reading activities as well as the explicit references of visuals and the level of visual captions. Analysis revealed comprehension monitoring, graphic organizers, and question answering were the most frequently used comprehension strategies. Although the numbers, do not highlight the lack of instruction in those strategies. Further, most visuals were explicitly referenced and had descriptive captions. Findings from this study point to the need for science educators to critically examine how comprehension and visuals instruction are included in the textbooks they use in their classrooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis paper explores how minoritized Computer Science (CS) students articulate their sense of critical agency to positively impact the world around them, both for today and the future, when participating in a Girls Who Code program focused on ethics, equity, and underrepresentation in computing. Observations, interviews, and surveys were conducted across five sites in which students read a graphic novel (entitled Power On!) about inequities in technology and CS education and experienced activities about computing for social good. Students described their agency through “educator,” “advocate,” and “creator” roles with computing, and described key curricular and pedagogical factors supporting their critical agency in CS for All. Implications for CS curricula, professional development, and policy efforts geared toward increasing equitable access and engagement with CS are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing research literature in computing and IT education shows that there has been limited work on investigating how offense based learning approaches using hacks can enhance learning of mobile security topics. In an effort to fill this research gap, we performed an experimental study with a unique, nifty user hack driven offense based learning strategy to effect mobile security awareness and interest in cybersecurity at the high school and middle school levels, as described in this work. A highlight of our novel study is our original CovertEyeOp mobile app, which was designed and developed strategically to be the driving force towards implementing our hacking based offense driven leaning technique. In this research, we carried out a comparative analysis of our app based offense driven learning approach with other relevant works on mobile security education. To conduct experiments with our user hack driven offense based learning strategy, we created a hands on experiential learning activity using our CovertEyeOp app, which educates users about security and privacy issues in mobile devices by hacking them and enabling them to self-discover issues with user permissions given to mobile apps. We offered this unique mobile app based learning activity to 90 participants (both students and teachers) primarily from the high school community across different states over multiple years and have collected quantitative plus qualitive data in the form of survey responses from these various users. Additionally, we discuss our earlier experiments of hosting an older version of our mobile app based lesson with 100 middle school students. We analyze this gathered learner data from the overall 190 participants' survey responses to determine whether our app driven offense based learning approach works and makes a difference in terms of fostering K-12 learning and engagement through acquired evidence of increased mobile security awareness and interest in cybersecurity. Overall, our study results in unique findings that show the prospects, benefits, and efficacy of including a user hack driven offense based learning strategy in K-12 teaching of mobile security topics. In the process, it advocates for the usage of this unique, non-traditional learning approach in cybersecurity education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND METHODS RESULTS CONCLUSIONS Schools are important contexts for preventing sexual violence (SV) among adolescents. Evaluating whether programming is effective requires surveying youth about SV experiences. However, school communities often have concerns about asking students, particularly those in middle school, about these experiences. This study sought to understand the types of concerns that school district leaders have related to surveying middle school students about SV and to identify ways to mitigate these concerns.We conducted semi‐structured interviews with superintendents and school board members (n = 19) across Washington State and used inductive thematic analysis.Concerns regarding surveying students about SV centered around 3 main themes: community norms and misconceptions, parental/caregiver discomfort, and survey language and administration. Concerns were particularly salient for sixth‐grade students. Suggestions for mitigating concerns included: providing clear motivation and reframing messaging to community members, involving parents and students in the survey process, and modifying survey language and administration.Researchers administering surveys to middle school students on sensitive topics including SV may face pushback and must consider flexible approaches to allow research and evaluation to be conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Precipitating Change Project was a 5-year development, implementation, and research study of an innovative 4-week middle school curricular unit in computational weather forecasting that integrates students' learning and use of meteorology and computational thinking (CT) concepts and practices. The project produced a list of CT skills and definitions that students use to predict the weather, CT assessment instruments, and a CT classroom observation protocol. Data was collected from 306 eighth grade (ages 13–14) students in rural indigenous communities in the Artic and urban and suburban Northeast communities in the USA. The project met its goal of producing an intentional instructional sequence that integrates disciplinary science and CT practices to increase students' science knowledge and their ability to use CT skills and processes. The results indicate that teachers were able to use the curriculum to embed CT practices into the classroom. Students, in turn, had the opportunity to practice using these skills in class discussion as evidenced by the classroom observation data, and students' science knowledge of CT content and practices significantly increased as evidenced by their performance on the weather content and CT skills pre- and post-assessments. While statistically significant gains in science knowledge and CT skills and practices were evident in all settings (urban, suburban, and rural indigenous communities), there were noticeable differences in gains in students' CT skills and practices between the three settings and additional research is needed in a diversity of settings to understand this difference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alcohol use ranks as one of the most prevalent health-risk behaviors among Taiwanese adolescents. Possible selves—personalized future-oriented cognitions about the self—are significant motivators of one's actions, which may potentially influence adolescent drinking behavior. This study aimed to estimate the content domain-specific possible selves and their associations with drinking behaviors among Taiwanese adolescents. A total of 225 Taiwanese seventh and eighth graders from a public junior high school were recruited. An anonymous self-reported questionnaire was used to collect data during two time-points at six-month intervals. Results showed that having a "physical appearance" related hoped-for possible self and a "friendship" related feared possible self was associated with adolescent alcohol use after six months. Whereas, having the "physical appearance" related hoped-for and feared possible selves were associated with alcohol problems, at both, baseline and six months later. Future studies could clarify the meaning behind "physical appearance" related possible selves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphological processing is the use of morphological structure during word reading. This study investigated whether middle school students applied morphological structure automatically when reading words. In addition, this study asked whether students with word reading difficulties (WRD) applied morphological structure in a way that differed from proficient word readers. Participants were seventh- and eighth-grade students (n = 80). Students were divided into two reading ability groups: proficient word readers (n = 55) and students with word reading difficulties (n = 25). Four computer-administered experimental tasks measured automaticity in reading morphologically complex words and morphologically simple words. A backward masking measure assessed whether students were applying morphological structure automatically to support task accuracy. Students were significantly more accurate in masked performance with morphologically complex words than with morphologically simple words on an oral word reading task. Students with WRD benefitted more from morphological structure on this task than proficient readers did. Findings suggest that proficient word readers and students with WRD automatically apply morphological structure when reading words aloud. In addition, middle school students with WRD may rely more on morphological structure than their proficient peers. However, there may be differences in morphological processing based on the nature of word reading tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiences of underrepresented women and ethnic minorities in computer science (CS) fields are at the heart of understanding the factors that impact the critical transitions students face when entering into Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) careers. The research, conducted using a grounded theory approach, gauges student and teacher perspectives, specifically investigating minoritized student perspectives that influence their entrance and continuation into an educational pathway. The study's outcomes underscore the crucial roles of (1) Student Family Encouragement, (2) School and Community Engagement, and (3) Professional/Teacher Mentorship as critical junctions that school districts should be aware of when creating student pathways into college and career, particularly for underrepresented groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous research has uncovered disparities in children's attitudes toward science based on gender, income, parenting, geographical location, and school resources, among other factors. However, less is known about socioeconomic influences on science attitudes within the evolving rural middle class. The present study investigated the relationship between indicators of socioeconomic status on middle schoolers' attitudes toward science in a predominantly middle class, white, rural sample within the midwestern United States of America. Methods: Parents were asked for demographic information and consent for their child participating in the study. Middle school children were invited to complete a short survey quantifying their attitudes toward science. Results: Science attitudes did not vary based on gender. However, students with at least one parent that earned at least a bachelor's degree or from a household income exceeding $90,000 had more positive attitudes toward science than those whose parents did not obtain a college degree or whose household income was less than $90,000, respectively. Regression revealed that household income and parent's assessment of their child's interest in a scientific career significantly predicted a child's attitudes toward science, but gender and highest degree earned by a parent did not. Conclusion: This study found differences in children's science attitudes within a rural, predominantly middle-class population. This finding contributes to the literature by revealing differences in science attitudes relating to higher levels of parental education (bachelor's degree) and income ($90,000) than previously identified. This highlights additional opportunities to support children's science growth and promote equitable science opportunities for everyone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research in social psychology and education proposes that adopting a growth mindset of intelligence is an important mediator for the well-being and performance of students at school. As a consequence, wise interventions have been developed to target student mindsets and change their beliefs about how much their intelligence can grow with training and experience. However, the efficacy of mindset interventions is highly debated, as effect sizes vary widely across studies. Here, we hypothesized that the study environment and, in particular, the teacher's mindset about intelligence is an important moderator of mindset intervention efficacy. We tested this hypothesis by randomly assigning six middle schools from underprivileged neighborhoods in the Paris area in France to a no intervention condition, a condition with mindset interventions delivered only to the students, and a condition with mindset interventions for teachers and students. The results show that the combined teacher and student mindset intervention condition was the most efficient for increasing the student's growth mindset. This finding suggests that a short and easy-to-implement mindset intervention for teachers can help students develop a growth mindset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This research aimed to assess the application of Marzano's Dimensions of Learning principles among teachers in public middle schools in Erbil Governorate. Specifically, it examined differences in application levels based on gender and years of experience. Utilizing a descriptive-analytical method, the study involved a sample of 328 middle school teachers. A questionnaire with 50 items across five dimensions—positive attitudes toward learning, acquiring and integrating knowledge, expanding and refining knowledge, purposeful use of knowledge, and productive habits of mind—was used. Results indicated a low overall application level, with an average score of 2.26. Significant differences were found based on gender, favoring female teachers, and years of experience, favoring those with 10 or more years.

In the case of a physical education and sport teacher, the way in which he or she orients his or her mindset can contribute significantly to communicating and working effectively with students and can positively influence the outcomes of the educational process. The aim of this paper is to conduct a comparative analysis of students’ performance on the Y-Balance test, evaluating and comparing their results to identify and understand differences and similarities in functional ability and balance. The objectives of the study: to identify and analyze student balance levels between the experimental group (who played weekly basketball) and the control group (who followed the regular school curriculum); to analyze differences in performance on the Y Balance test between the two groups of students to determine if playing weekly basketball had a significant impact on balance compared to the control group; To differentiate the results of the Y Balance test in the group that practiced basketball during the experimental period (September – December 2023) and the control group that followed the standard school curriculum, in order to highlight possible changes in balance; To analyze and interpret the balance results obtained, providing an understanding of how regular basketball practice can influence students’ balance.

Research has shown that students with disabilities are more likely to maintain a lower social participation status than their peers. One aspect of social participation is the social relationships between these students and their peers. This study examined the friendship and hang out networks of students with and without disabilities in a highly diverse middle school in Southern California. Results indicated that students with disabilities were significantly less nominated as friends and significantly less nominated as hang out partners. Further regression analyses examined the students' friendship and hang out networks. For both, the hang out and friendship in-degrees, results supported the hypothesis that students with disabilities have exhibited lower social participation compared to their peers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Well‐designed online educational games can improve students' math knowledge, skills and engagement; however, more research is needed to understand how to formatively assess components of students' mathematical understanding and learning as students solve problems in online educational games. In this study, we examined how 7th‐grade students' (N = 760) in‐game performance (ie, strategy efficiency, mathematical validity of the first action, mathematical errors) and help‐seeking behaviours (ie, hint requests) correlated with their algebraic knowledge in an online mathematics game. The k‐means cluster analysis identified four groups of students based on their in‐game metrics, and some variabilities in their in‐game performance were found. Although hint requests were available, only a few students showed a high percentage of hint requests during their gameplay. The regression analysis revealed that students' in‐game performance and help‐seeking behavioural patterns explained a significant amount of variance in students' algebraic knowledge above and beyond their prior knowledge. Our results suggest that how students interact with the online learning game is related to their later math performance, and qualitative aspects of student behaviours captured using log data provide meaningful information to students' algebraic understanding. Practitioner notesWhat is already known about this topic Well‐designed online educational games can improve students' math knowledge, skills, and engagement.Several studies found that some in‐game metrics, such as in‐game progress or correctness of tasks, are positively associated with learning outcomes.However, many studies used simple metrics like the correctness of each task or the number of problems completed to measure students' performance in the game.Few studies measured more in the moment or qualitative aspects of student in‐game performance, for example, how efficiently students solved problems in the game.What this paper adds In‐game metrics measuring more in the moment and qualitative aspects of students' problem‐solving explained a significant amount of variance in students' algebraic knowledge above and beyond students' prior knowledge.Students' strategy efficiency and strategic planning were positively associated with students' math problem‐solving performance.Although hints were available for almost all problems, only a few students exhibited a high level of help‐seeking behaviours, and the students with the lowest in‐game performance who needed help the most showed low help‐seeking behaviours.Implications for practice and/or policy Classifying students into profiles could provide ways to identify students with different levels of problem‐solving skills and help teachers provide more personalized instruction.Teachers could use this information as a formative assessment to identify the core areas of intervention needed, particularly for students struggling with math concepts taught in the game.Instructional strategies that make hints more appealing or engaging to students might be needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing measures of belonging in schools do not explicitly elevate the contextual and cultural insights of the educators and students they were designed to assess. Our study addresses this shortcoming through the co-creation of an Opportunities to Belong survey measure for urban middle schoolers. The tool was developed in partnership with practicing educators and normed around Black and Latinx students (N = 225). Results of a multilevel confirmatory factor analysis revealed strong evidence for single factor structure. A within-persons multilevel model revealed that shifts in opportunities to belong predicted fluctuations in student engagement across different academic courses. Implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As evidenced by national data, a large proportion of students in middle school, content area classrooms in the United States (U.S.) may be considered developing readers. Evidence-based literacy practices and explicit instructional practices can support these students' literacy development. Yet, research suggests that teachers often miss opportunities to integrate evidence-based literacy practices to support students' access to text, and little is known about middle school teachers' use of explicit instructional practices. In this observation study, we document 17 U.S. middle school teachers' use of both explicit instructional practices and evidence-based literacy practices across 51 lessons in general education language arts, science, and social studies classrooms. We find that most explicit instructional practices and literacy practices were infrequently utilized across all content areas; within some content areas, some of these important practices were not used at all. We discuss the contexts in which explicit instruction and/or evidenced-based literacy instruction did occur, and the importance of school-wide literacy models and related professional learning opportunities to increase middle school content-area teachers' ability to support developing readers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical education, along with the other fundamental motor activities in the field, is an integral part of the measures regarding harmonious physical development and maintaining an optimal state of health. The specialized literature, from the last period, is rich in studies, articles and works that analyze the content and way of organizing physical education and sports activities. It requires the finding of new methods and means by which to act in practice and the continuous improvement of the existing ones, of the so-called classic, traditional ones based on the new objectives facing this educational object. The importance of motor skills also emerges from the fact that an appreciable number of practitioners and theoreticians of the field argue that the whole set of motor actions and especially their execution method depend to a large extent on the level of development of these skills. This research aims to carry out a theoretical and practical study on the possibilities of developing the forms of force manifestation.

AbstractEngineering design practices in STEM education focus on reflecting the discipline-specific work of engineers in a manner that is suitable for the student level and course learning objectives. Using an engineering design context also facilitates student identification of global problems and feasible solutions to address such problems. In this article, within the framework of STEM approach, an engineering design activity that can be applied in middle school mathematics course is presented. Additionally, examples of students’ experiences of the engineering design-based mathematics activity are given. The "Cold Storage Design Activity" was executed in a classroom setting, and the implementation process underwent examination and evaluation. 12 eighth-grade students from a middle school in Turkey took part in the implementation. The middle school were able to successfully perform an engineering design process and effectively overcome challenges through teamwork. The results of the activity show that middle school students are excited and eager to participate in a design activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to examine multilevel models posited to predict student perceptions of teacher feedback quality. A cross‐sectional survey design was used, involving 1072 middle school students. We incorporated two clusters of variables: (a) student characteristics (gender, prior knowledge, parent education, homework expectancy, homework value, homework cost, and help seeking) and (b) the characteristics of the classroom context (perceived homework quality, autonomy support, and teacher monitoring). Perceived feedback quality was positively related to perceived autonomy support and homework quality at the individual and class levels. Meanwhile, perceived feedback quality was positively related to homework expectancy, homework value, and help seeking at the individual level. Practitioner points: At the student level, homework expectancy, value, help seeking, homework quality, and autonomy support predicted student‐perceived feedback quality.At the class level, homework quality and autonomy support predicted student‐perceived feedback quality.It would be desirable to place more emphasis on homework quality and autonomy support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the effect of design-based science instruction (DBSI) on sixth grade students' science achievement, as well as their development in relation to science process skills. 213 sixth grade students from three public schools participated in the study. A pilot was conducted in the unit of Systems of the Human Body and the main study was carried out during the units of Force and Motion, Matter and Heat, and Sound and its Properties. While the experimental group was taught through the DBSI method, the control group was taught in accordance with the inquiry-based curriculum-oriented science instruction. Mixed between-within subjects ANOVA showed that at the end of the treatment, the mean scores of the experimental group concerning all dependent variables were found statistically higher than those of the control group. The achievement scores of both groups increased over time; however, the effect size values indicated that the increase in the achievement scores in the experimental group was greater than that in the control group. Regarding the science process skills, while scores of the students in the experimental group increased over time, no significant change occurred in the control group. The results showed that the DBSI exerts a positive influence on middle school students related to their science achievement and science process skills. Based on the findings, suggestions were made for science teachers and researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual health education should meet the needs of all students. One strategy educators can use to ensure instruction meets students' needs is to encourage the submission of anonymous questions, allowing students to gain information without fear of instructor or peer reactions. We investigated anonymous questions submitted by middle school (7th-grade, ages 12-13) students during a sexual health education curriculum in Ohio, USA. Questions (n=893) were organised into 12 categories: reproductive anatomy (n=186), LGBTQ+ topics (n=130), sexual behaviour (n=120), class-related questions (n=99), pregnancy (n=78), slang (n=52), STIs (n=44), protection/birth control (n=33), relationships (n=19), consent (n=14), health services (n=9), abstinence (n=1), and unrelated questions/comments (n=108). After categorising questions, we conducted thematic analysis with the three largest categories (reproductive anatomy, LGBTQ+ topics, sexual behaviour). Results revealed students wanted to know about the normality of the processes and functions of their bodies. Students also expressed concern and had internalised social norms about LGBTQ+ topics. Student questions about sexual behaviour suggested they wanted to learn more about the purposes and processes of sex, e.g., how people have intercourse. Findings underscore the need for inclusive, comprehensive and medically accurate sexual health education for early adolescents. We discuss implications for student health/well-being, educator development, and school staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The maker movement propagated throughout educational spaces alongside promises that technological and design literacies could be harnessed to shape equitable social futures. However, researchers have highlighted the ways makerspaces can reinforce hierarchies of race, gender, and class. This paper builds on research that seeks to support girls' making through broader sociopolitical and ethical commitments. We consider what an everyday pedagogy of feminist abolition looked like in a makerspace, with a focus on how educators responded to emergent social needs within and across gender lines. Our data sources (extensive field notes, audio–video recordings, photographs, and student interviews) are drawn from Hubspace, a 6‐week summer program serving Black, Latine/x, and South Asian middle school youth and grounded in expansive forms of storytelling, coding, engineering, music, writing, and art. In closely analyzing routine forms of educator reflection alongside the design decisions, pedagogical moves and forms of student sense‐making they supported, we found that student and educator sociopolitical learning emerged together to build what became possible in the culture of the space over time. Across three cases, we show how such pedagogies offered lived models and creative languages for practicing restorative and just social relationships. Each of the cases tell the story of different moments when gender became important to the ways participants were working to recognize and desettle received terms of thought and generate alternate forms of thinking, living, and relating, or the making of new stories and worlds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A group of middle school students, working with educators in Washington Heights, NYC, designed a school-wide oral history project as a strategy to enrich the cultural and socio-emotional well-being of our school. As part of New York State's required SEL intervention, we developed a Longitudinal Oral History Project, led by middle school students at S2, where we gathered peer-to-peer narratives about socio-emotional dynamics from middle schoolers growing up in working-class and immigrant households in times of pandemic and racial uprisings. The oral history protocol, the implementation of the interviews, the analysis, and the presentation of our results were youth-led, and compelling. Narrating rich and complex stories of joy, fear, courage, and care, our project centers the expertise of immigrant students of color, coming out of COVID-19 in the throes of early adolescence. The youth found great relief in discovering that their fears and anxieties were widespread and experienced a sense of power by influencing school policy with the compelling results of their inquiry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ensaio: Avaliação e Políticas Públicas em Educação is the property of Ensaio: Avaliacao e Politicas Publicas em Educacao and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)