Finds that, when middle school students write about relevant personal experiences before reading, they enjoy and comprehend the text more, are more on-task, offer more sophisticated responses to characters, and like the texts more. (SR)

Surveyed more than 900 students in the rural northwest at the 4th-, 6th-, 8th-, and 10th-grade levels for alcohol and drug use. Measured self-reported usage of 17 substances. Reports descriptive statistical results by gender and grade-level usage rates. Discussion includes targeting drug prevention programs for specific grade and gender levels…

The purpose of this study was to explore how individual differences--specifically abilities--were used in the construction of computer-mediated learning artifacts while working within a project-based learning environment. A case study design was used with five participants purposively selected from 61 eighth grade geography students at a small,…

This article describes a technology-based approach for dealing with a misconception that some students hold concerning the equivalency of geometric transformations. Students can begin to conceptualize transformations in terms of the relationship between preimage and image figures rather than focus on the motion of a figure. (Contains 7 figures.)

Generalizing or making claims that extend beyond particular situations is a central mathematical practice and a focus of classroom mathematics instruction. This study examines how aspects of generality are produced through the situated activities of a group of middle school mathematics students working on an 8-week population-modeling project. The…

This report summarizes evaluation results of the 2005-2006 Dell Math Academy Program at 5 high schools and 1 middle school in AISD.

The interactive science notebook (ISN) is a perfect opportunity for science educators to encapsulate and promote the most cutting-edge constructivist teaching strategies while simultaneously addressing standards, differentiation of instruction, literacy development, and maintenance of an organized notebook as laboratory and field scientists do.…

This study examined the relationship between transition from elementary to middle school and achievement gaps in math and science in eighth graders with (N=296) and without (N=1608) learning disabilities (LD). An abundance of research suggests that motivation and achievement decline during the early adolescent years, and that this decline is often…

There are potentially successful students who are failing one or more subjects every year. Many students are spending more than the normal 3 years at the middle school level because of this failure. A program was designed to increase the self-esteem, motivation, and interest of at-risk students, thereby improving their grades. A second aim was to…

Students' abstract reasoning abilities can differ from one society to another. Students' profiles play significant roles in these differences. The aim of the study is to determine the relationship between middle school students' cognitive development levels and their profiles (age, gender, and science achievement) using the Science Cognitive…

Eighth graders' ideas about thermodynamics, and their understanding of thermodynamics principles, were assessed before and after they attended a one-semester course on thermodynamics. Results characterized students' views concerning scientific explanations of phenomena, parsimonious versus descriptive explanations, the application of science…

Contains reflections that chronicle the author's use of the writing portfolio with eighth graders. Identifies a series of five phases which the students passed through on their way to creating portfolios. Offers these phases as useful indicators of the progress of the portfolio experience. (PRA)

Tested the benefits of matching high-anxiety German and American 8th graders with teacher-centered instruction and low-anxiety students with student-centered instruction. Data from student interviews and diaries indicated that anxiety alone was did not necessarily significantly deter achievement, and instructional patterns alone did not account…

Describes how one 8th-grade English language arts teacher works to keep her students as the primary focus in her curriculum. Discusses how she uses a class council to connect with literature, discuss upsetting issues or incidents, and solve problems. Outlines activities that further the social and emotional learning component of her curriculum.…

This study examined the effects of concept mapping on the science achievement of middle grade science students. The subjects were 182 eighth-grade students, distributed into eight intact earth science classes by ability levels. The ability level variable also was examined as a possible effect on student achievement. Two teachers were involved in…