Fifth- and sixth-grade students (N=600) were assessed regarding smoking activity, parents' smoking, four dimensions of self-esteem, and attitudes toward school. Multivariate analyses showed students were more likely to begin smoking if they had parents who smoked, had low self-esteem, and disliked school and feared failure. (Author)

Describes a Montessori teacher's experience with a sufferer of Tourette's syndrome, a dysfunction characterized by motor and vocal tics. Studies the progress over a school year, including work on academic skills utilizing the Montessori method and behavior. Shares research, successes, and failures in trying to reach the child. (SD)

Examined learning styles of African-American, Chinese-American, Greek-American, and Mexican-American fourth, fifth, and sixth graders who completed Learning Style Inventory and Group Embedded Figures Test. Found children from different areas of American subculture had different patterns of preferred learning strategies. Findings suggest need for…

Examined effects of differential teacher training in use of drug education curriculum on 12 grade 5 classrooms of students' knowledge levels, problem-solving and coping skills, attitudes toward planned decision making, behavioral intentions, and tobacco and alcohol use. Found significant differences in intentions to take a drink but not on other…

Describes a project that modified the fill rate survey from "Output Measures for Public Libraries" to assess the library needs of middle school children. The resulting development of an up-to-date, graded nonfiction collection and its impact on library use by middle schoolers is discussed. The modified survey form is included. (five…

Examined stressful events in lives of 309 10 to 15 year olds and stressful events and psychological symptoms reported by their parents. Findings suggest that young adolescents' stressful life experiences as well as their parents' stressful events and psychological symptoms are factors associated with increases in adolescent emotional/behavioral…

This study of fifth graders identified 22 behavioral cues to develop and test a peer-report measure of social transactions used to infer liking by peers. Sixteen of the 22 cues described positive behaviors, indicating that positive behaviors may play a more important role in relational communication among children than negative transactions. (TJQ)

Examined whether 52 middle school students who received free or reduced-price meals suffered lower general or area-specific self-esteem than did 52 students who did not receive such benefits. Also examined whether self-esteem varied by grade level. Using Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale, found no significant differences for either group…

Researchers from University of Victoria (Canada) and East China Normal University (China) have worked on development of career guidance materials for middle schools. Conducted needs assessment of Chinese middle school students, their parents, and teachers. Results were juxtaposed with Canadian sample, highlighting both similarities and differences…

Young adolescents (n=396) from single- and two-parent families carried pagers for one week, reporting on daily activities, companionship, and quality of subjective experience. Found that adolescents' overall patterns of time use and subjective experience were similar in both family types, although similarity was achieved by reorganization of…

Hospice of North Carolina developed and pilot tested curriculum materials dealing with death, loss, and grief for grades K-3, 4-8, and 9-12. Middle school curriculum was tested in 4 schools with 211 students. Findings from general information questionnaire administered to students suggest that middle school students experience many significant…

Used three-wave longitudinal design to examine relationships among emotional restraint, peer drug associations, and gateway drug use among 1,256 middle school students. In reciprocal model, low emotional restraint was significantly related to subsequent increases in gateway drug use among boys. In contrast, peer drug models and peer pressure were…

Tested model of middle school science and mathematics achievement with national probability sample of 3,116 seventh grade students. Collected data from students and parents over three time periods in seventh and eighth grades. Concluded that, although prior achievement had dominant influence in schooling process, other variables including parental…

Intended for coaches of school competitive problem-solving teams, this publication details 70 suggestions for building, motivating, and training problem-solving teams in grades 4 to 8. The tips cover a range of topics related to preparing for competition, the competition itself, and post-competition. The pre-competition suggestions include: (1)…

Some studies indicate that children exposed to acute violence can experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), showing symptoms such as avoidance and lack of concentration. Eighty-eight sixth graders in five different classes at a Central Virginia upper elementary school were observed for behavioral indicators of PTSD, including lack of…