Articles tagged with Middle School
University of Missouri researchers are using a video game to teach middle schoolers about science and improving literacy outcomes for second graders through speech recognition software. The programs aim to increase student engagement and prepare them for future careers in various fields.
The study found that indoor bars, private parties, and nightclubs were high-risk places for transmitting the Delta variant, with men being more susceptible. Previous infection conferred a 95% protective effect, while two doses of mRNA vaccines provided 67% protection against symptomatic infection.
A new study found that preadolescent endurance runners who experience weight loss, have a history of bone stress injury, or follow a vegetarian diet are more likely to use dietary supplements. The study discovered that supplement use was associated with lower food intake and energy deficiency.
A 27-year study suggests that income inequality is linked to lower maths scores among US children, with even richer students experiencing negative effects. The study found that states with higher income gaps saw poorer maths results, while reading grades were not associated with income inequality. Policymakers may need to consider redu...
A study found that girls in secondary school are less motivated by traditional fitness tests, which often involve running and measuring heart and lung performance. To address this issue, experts recommend new teaching strategies and online interventions like exergames to promote healthy lifestyle habits.
Middle school teachers who praised students more often than reprimanding them saw a significant improvement in class-wide on-task behavior, with some classrooms experiencing improvements of up to 60-70%. The study also found that high-risk students benefited from increased praise, leading to improved grades and reduced behavioral issues.
The UC Davis Center for Integrated Computing and STEM Education has received a $2.4 million grant to establish an initiative introducing Black/African American girls to engineering and robotics. The Ujima Girls in Robotics Leadership Project offers a free, hands-on program teaching girls middle and high school engineering and leadership.
A multidisciplinary team at KU is working with middle school teachers to develop education modules that expose students to science, psychology, and engineering design. The goal is to address barriers faced by women and minorities in the field, such as gender stereotyping and self-efficacy.
A University of Illinois study suggests that tree cover around schools improves standardized test scores, regardless of student demographics or school resources. The study found that even small amounts of tree cover closer to the school made a significant difference.
Researchers found that 94% of middle school teachers experience high stress, with varying coping mechanisms. The study suggests reducing teaching burden is critical for improving student outcomes academically and behaviorally. School districts can provide initiatives and programs to promote mental health and reduce teacher stress.
According to a nationally representative survey, about 27.5% of high school students and 10.5% of middle school students reported current e-cigarette use in 2019. The study found that JUUL was the most commonly used brand among high school and middle school students.
A new program, Me & You: Building Healthy Relationships, was effective in reducing dating violence perpetration and victimization among early middle school ethnic-minority students. The program uses a life skills decision-making model to teach youth better communication and problem-solving skills.
A new study found that students who stay in elementary school until grade 7 outperform those who transfer to middle school. This is particularly true for sixth-grade students, who achieve better results in both reading and mathematics tests when staying in elementary school.
Lataisia C. Jones, a postdoctoral fellow at Children's National Hospital, has been selected as an AAAS IF/THEN Ambassador to serve as a STEM role model for middle school students. She will share her passion for research and science with young people near and far, inspiring them to pursue their own STEM dreams.
Research shows that families are less engaged in middle school but still reap benefits when parents are involved earlier. Parents can make a difference by attending school functions, volunteering, or helping with homework.
A study found that an intervention increasing sense of social belonging reduced disciplinary incidents, failing grades and absences by 34%, 18% and 12%, respectively among middle-school students.
A new study by University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers finds that proactively addressing students' anxieties with reassuring classroom activities can lead to higher grades, better attendance, and fewer behavioral problems. The intervention boosts students' sense of belonging and reduces fears about fitting in.
Middle and high school students slept 31 minutes longer and felt less sleepy for homework after their school district changed to later start times. The study found significant benefits of delayed school start times on adolescent sleep duration, alertness, and academic engagement.
A pilot program focusing on positive expressions of masculinity improved middle school boys' attitudes toward relationship violence, reducing beliefs that coercion and violence are acceptable. The 'Reducing Sexism and Violence Program - Middle School Program' also taught empathy, healthy relationships and bystander intervention skills.
The AAAS IF/THEN Ambassadors program connects U.S.-based women in STEM careers with middle school girls, promoting diversity and inclusion. The initiative highlights the variety of STEM professions available, drawing from a coalition of science, education, and entertainment organizations.
The University of Illinois is launching a 3-year program to improve diversity in STEM fields through targeted support for school counselors and year-round STEM experiences. The program aims to increase diversity among underrepresented groups, with partnerships from various organizations. By providing additional resources and support, t...
A new study found that middle school students practicing meditation as part of a Quiet Time program showed significant improvements in social-emotional competencies and psychological distress. The study demonstrated the value of such programs in enhancing social-emotional learning and mental health in middle school students.
A pilot study reveals that over a third of middle school kids had abnormal blood sugar or cholesterol levels. Two students were found to have diabetes, highlighting the need for routine screening in this age group.
A Rutgers study found that white math teachers in predominantly black middle schools responded more negatively to students' behavioral and academic issues. This can lead to long-term negative consequences for student performance and highlights the need for targeted recruitment of black teachers.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison created a robot named Minnie to serve as a reading buddy to middle school kids, resulting in increased excitement about books and attachment to the robot. The study showed that social learning through interaction with the robot improved comprehension and motivation for reading.
Lehigh University, TE Connectivity, and Broughal Middle School collaborate to promote STEM education through a manufacturing course and annual expo. The program benefits students from both institutions, providing hands-on experience with engineering techniques and industry partnerships.
A new study found that a brief, web-based program is effective in delaying drinking initiation among female ninth-grade students. The program was more effective than traditional education when combined with personalized feedback.
According to Penn State researchers, most PA high school and middle school students are tobacco-free, but e-cigarette and cigarette use remain a cause for concern. The survey found that 4.3% of middle schoolers and 22.4% of high schoolers reported using tobacco products in the past 30 days.
Middle school students who used personalized DNA and genealogy learned as much as their peers who used case studies. The curriculum encouraged students to explore their personal histories and cultures, fostering engagement with science and promoting understanding of complex topics like race and genetics.
A new study found that cooperative learning significantly reduced students' association with deviant peers and growth in alcohol use among middle schoolers. By increasing students' contacts with prosocial youths, cooperative learning helps interrupt the tendency for socially marginalized students to cluster into groups of deviant peers.
A UH-led research found that Hispanic middle school students who worked with high school health mentors, called compañeros, lost significantly more weight and kept it off longer. After six months, 80% of students with compañeros decreased or maintained their BMI, compared to 64% without.
Researchers developed a portable x-ray fluorescence spectrometry (PXRF) device to measure calcium levels in soils. The device provides accurate data on 20 elements in 60 seconds, improving field assessments for soil scientists.
Middle school students from diverse backgrounds report feeling safer and less lonely in ethnically diverse classrooms. Researchers found that students in diverse schools showed more tolerance and less prejudice towards peers of other ethnicities. The study highlights the benefits of diversity on personal and social well-being.
A new study found that students in ethnically diverse middle schools report better self-reported well-being and views on race, particularly when exposed to different ethnic groups in their academic classes. The researchers emphasized the importance of class placement to reap the social benefits of school diversity.
A study led by NYU's Steinhardt School found that believing the system is fair predicts lower self-esteem, risky behaviors, and decreased classroom attention in middle school students. This reversal occurs over time as youth become more aware of structural barriers and inequities.
A new AASM position statement recommends starting schools at 8:30 a.m. or later to optimize daytime alertness, reduce tardiness, and support peak academic performance. This delay is associated with improved mental health, driving safety, and reduced depressive symptoms.
A University of Michigan study found that middle school boys who feel secure about their race are more likely to form diverse friendships. The researchers discovered that these boys tend to have more clarity about their ethnicity or race, which leads to greater friendship diversity.
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture's 'On My Own' financial literacy program has received a $75,000 grant from the SunTrust Foundation to expand its reach in Tennessee. The program aims to provide middle school and high school students with essential skills such as creating a budget, reading a paycheck, and understandi...
The Lemelson-MIT Program announced the award of 42 Junior Varsity (JV) InvenTeam grants to promote STEM education among middle and high school students. The initiative provides invention-based activity guides, professional development, and hands-on materials to enhance science, technology, engineering, and mathematics learning.
A recent study by University of Illinois researcher Dorothy L. Espelage found that nearly half of middle school students reported experiencing verbal sexual harassment, with 43% saying they were targeted in the past year. The study also revealed that students who dismissed their experiences with sexual harassment were more likely to pe...
A five-year study found BioEYES significantly improves elementary, middle school, and high school students' science knowledge and positive attitudes towards science. The program increased students' ability to imagine themselves as scientists, with the greatest effect on attitude changes among younger students.
A Chapman University study finds that Orange County adolescents are more likely to vape when their school is located near e-cigarette specialty retailers. The study also reveals a high prevalence of e-cigarette use among local teens, with 27.5% of high school students having tried e-cigarettes.
A new study from Brown University finds that schools with collaborative relationships, safe environments, and high expectations outperform those without these elements. Improving school climate can help retain teachers and improve student achievement in math.
A North Carolina State University study found that teachers' beliefs about climate change affect students' perceptions, with 92% of students mirroring their teacher's belief in global warming. However, students diverge from their teachers when it comes to understanding the human causes of climate change.
A University of Houston study found that 'intentionally brief' middle school mentoring programs increased math and English grades, as well as life satisfaction and reduced absences. The program provided mentor training and utilized social science theories to support student outcomes.
A study by Arizona State University researchers found that middle school years are a challenging time for mothers, with increased stress and depression. The authors suggest two interventions to minimize mother's stress: early information dissemination and ongoing support.
Researchers found that students who are socially influential can shape their peers' behaviors and social norms, leading to a 30% reduction in student conflict reports. The Roots program, which engages these student influencers in spreading anti-conflict messages, is a promising solution to curb school bullying.
A new study by NYU's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development found that participating in extracurricular activities can be protective for low-income youth academically. Community engagement and sports were the most highly associated with better academic performance, while school-based activities had little effect.
A new study by University of Georgia researchers found that middle-schoolers who feel pressured into exercising are less likely to engage in physical activity. The study suggests that children are more likely to identify with exercise when they feel in control of their choices.
Researchers found that Massachusetts school food regulations led to significant improvements in competitive foods and beverages, with middle school compliance rising from 13% to 69% and high school compliance increasing from 28% to 80%. The study suggests that states can successfully implement similar standards nationwide.
A study published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience found that cognitive training can improve the brain performance of middle school students from poverty-stricken backgrounds. The program, called SMART, resulted in a 25% increase in gist reasoning and an 18% improvement in fact retention among students who received the training.
Two studies published in JAMA Pediatrics examine the impact of school breakfast programs on children's eating habits and academic performance. One study found that schools offering Breakfast in the Classroom (BIC) had higher participation in the national school breakfast program and attendance, but no differences in math or reading ach...
According to a study, schools with all five USDA nutritional components were attended by only 1.8% and 0.3% of middle and high school students. The study found that having fruits or vegetables available, absence of higher-fat milk, and three or more standard components were associated with lower odds of overweight/obesity.
A recent study published in School Psychology Quarterly found that cyberbullying increases with age, especially during transitions from elementary to middle school. The research highlights the importance of targeted interventions to address gender- and culturally sensitive bullying prevention strategies.
A study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that It's Your Game…Keep it Real significantly reduced dating violence behaviors among minority youth. The program delayed sexual behavior and promoted healthy relationships, resulting in lower rates of physical and emotional victimization and perpetration.
A targeted violence intervention program was found to reduce violent behavior and increase competencies to deal with violence among middle school students. The program showed a significant decrease in violent behavior and victimization rates, with students reporting 'never' getting beaten up or threatened with a gun.
A study by Yvonne Terry-McElrath and colleagues found that most elementary, middle, and high school students are exposed to food commercialism at school. The percentage of schools with exclusive beverage contracts decreased from 2007 to 2012, but fast food remained available in many schools.
Psychology researcher Nilanjana Dasgupta aims to identify solutions to the 'leaky pipeline' issue, where women and minorities lose interest in STEM subjects. The study explores classroom dynamics and peer relationships to enhance STEM teaching practices and attract more girls and students of color.
A new study found that cross-ethnic friendships in urban middle schools help youths feel less vulnerable and safer. This research suggests that diverse classrooms with opportunities for students from different ethnic groups to interact can lead to reduced loneliness and victimization.
The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) hosted a car competition for 97 Colorado schools, with teams racing solar and lithium ion powered vehicles designed and built by students. The 'Sweet and Sassy' team from Woodlands Academy took top honors in the solar design category.