Grade Students Research Articles

The ‘Universe in a Box’: a hands-on activity to introduce primary school students to cosmology

Abstract Physics Education Research shows that active learning and interdisciplinary strategies can enhance students’ engagement in physics. In primary school, the implementation of active learning pedagogies such as Inquiry-Based Science Education aims to encourage students’ autonomy and participation in their learning process. Indeed, active learning promotes pupils’ creativity, helping them develop the skills that increasingly determine their future employability and personal development, introducing them to STEM. In this regard, stories and storytelling can help improve teaching and students’ physics learning. Telling the Universe and its history can afford this job. The Big Bang, the Cosmic Microwave Background, and the formation of stars and planets are valuable tools for introducing primary school students to physics and the scientific method while fostering their curiosity about science. Moreover, it helps the instructors monitor the development of peculiar misconceptions on these topics, preventing them from fully understanding physics phenomena. In this paper, we present an innovative short-term program (one session of three hours) called ‘The Universe in a Box’ to introduce primary school students (grades 4–5, ages 9–10) to cosmology. We illustrate our design and the educational purposes of the program and present the outcomes from its implementation in five different laboratories in Sardinia, Italy, from 2022 to 2024 (60 students involved). This work can furnish a theoretical and methodological guide for primary school teachers and instructors on integrating formal curricula with contemporary physics topics using interdisciplinary approaches, engaging their students in STEAM (STEM plus Arts).

Investigating the Effect of Internet-Based Applications on Secondary School Students' Academic Achievement in Science, Motivation and Awareness of Web 2.0 Tools

In this study, the effect of internet-based applications on the academic achievement, motivation, and awareness of Web 2.0 tools of 6th grade middle school students on "Matter and Heat" was examined. The study group consisted of 73 (experimental: 50, control: 23) 6th grade students from a public school in Istanbul, Turkey. The study was conducted with an experimental design with pretest-posttest control group among quantitative research models. In the experimental group, science lessons were taught with the support of web 2.0 tools such as Nearpod, Canva and Quizizz, while in the control group, no additional application was made and the lessons were taught as specified in the curriculum. The data of the study were collected with the “Motivation Scale in Science Education”, “Matter and Heat Achievement Test” and “Awareness Scale for Web 2.0 Tools”. T-test and one-way factor analysis (ANCOVA) test were used to analyze the data. The results of this study showed that the academic achievement test scores of the experimental group students were higher than the control group and there was a significant difference between the academic achievement test scores of the experimental and control groups. The results showed that the science motivation scores showed a significant difference in favor of the experimental group and the science motivation scores of the experimental group students who were supported with web-based applications were higher than the control group. In addition, according to the results of the one-way analysis of covariance regarding the awareness of web 2.0 tools, there was a significant difference between the experimental group and the control group in favor of the experimental group in the post-test scores. In this study, the importance of planning and implementing science lessons supported by internet-based applications at the secondary school level was revealed.

The Effects of Virtual Tutoring on Young Readers: Results From a Randomized Controlled Trial

In-person tutoring has been shown to improve academic achievement. Fewer studies have examined the impact of virtual tutoring and have focused on older students. We present findings from the first randomized controlled trial of virtual tutoring for young children. Students in grades K–2 were assigned to 1:1 tutoring, 2:1 tutoring, or a control group. Virtual tutoring increased early literacy skills by 0.05- SD for all students and 0.08- SD for a sample excluding English learners and students with disabilities (i.e., students not eligible for additional support services). One-on-one tutoring tended to produce larger gains, especially for students initially scoring well below benchmark (0.15- SD). Effects are smaller than typically seen from in-person early literacy tutoring programs but still positive and statistically significant.

A Nature-Based Intervention and Mental Health of Schoolchildren: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial.

Nature-based therapeutic or preventive interventions for mental health are increasingly popular, but their effectiveness for improving mental health is not well documented. To investigate the effectiveness of the Open Sky School Program (École à Ciel Ouvert), a 12-week nature-based intervention for elementary schoolchildren in grades 5 and 6, for reducing mental health symptoms. This 2-arm, cluster randomized clinical trial was conducted from February 27 to June 16, 2023, in French-language elementary schools in Quebec, Canada, with green space within 1 km. Participants were teachers and students in grades 5 and 6. In the intervention group, for 2 hours per week for 12 weeks, classes were taught outdoors in a nearby park or wooded area. Teachers were encouraged to engage students in basic subjects and in 10 or more mental health activities (mindfulness, philosophy, and/or art therapy). Control group schools conducted classes as usual. The primary outcome was change in student mental health (internalizing and externalizing symptoms, social problems) based on teacher- and student-reported 30-item Social Behavior Questionnaire (SBQ) scores (3-point scale) from baseline to the immediate postintervention follow-up, assessed in per-protocol and intent-to-treat mixed-model analyses. Secondary outcomes were student self-reported changes in depressive symptoms, positive or negative affect, pro-environmental efforts and/or attitudes, and nature connectedness. A total of 33 schools participated (53 teachers, 1015 students), including 16 schools (25 teachers, 515 students) in the intervention group and 17 schools (28 teachers, 500 students) in the control group. Student mean (SD) age was 10.9 (0.75) years; 507 (50.7%) were girls. Per-protocol and intent-to-treat mixed-model analyses showed no differences in mental health symptom change between groups; for example, the adjusted mean difference in SBQ scores between the intervention and control groups for externalizing symptoms was -0.04 (95% CI, -0.13 to 0.04) in the intent-to-treat analysis and -0.06 (95% CI, -0.16 to 0.04) in the per-protocol analysis. Post hoc analyses revealed low mental health symptoms at baseline, with low variability. Slightly greater reductions in symptoms were observed in the intervention group, but only for children with higher mental health symptoms at baseline (P < .05 for interaction). For example, for children with internalizing symptoms 1 SD above the mean at baseline, internalizing symptoms decreased by 0.38 SD (mean change, -0.15; P < .001) in the intervention group vs the control group. In this large cluster randomized clinical trial in daily-life elementary school settings, 12 weeks of classes in green space for 2 hours per week did not reduce mental health symptoms in students aged 10 to 12 years in either the per-protocol or the intent-to-treat analysis. However, this low-cost, safe outdoor intervention may provide unmeasured or longer-term benefits for children with higher risk of mental health symptoms. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05662436.

PUBLIC SPEAKING ANXIETY DURING ORAL PRESENTATION: FACTORS AFFECTING AND HOW STUDENTS OVERCOME IT

The main focus in this research is to investigate the factors affecting public speaking anxiety among students during oral presentation and to explore students’ strategies to overcome public speaking anxiety. The participants in this this case study research are 2nd grade of senior high school students at Daruttaqwien Islamic Boarding School. This research utilizes observation and interview to explore more deeply about factors causing public speaking anxiety and students’ strategies to overcome it during oral presentation. The results of this research found that the students experienced various factors affecting public speaking anxiety such as lack of confidence, language factor, grammar factor, pronunciation factor, and peer factor. Meanwhile, the students’ strategies in overcoming public speaking anxiety were think positively, preparation, practice, and deal with audience. Hopefully, the results of this study can be helpful as a reference for students and teachers in order to aware about public speaking anxiety, so the approach for overcoming public speaking anxiety can be found simultaneously.

Students’ performance in clinical class II composite restorations: a case study using analytic rubrics

BackgroundThe analytical rubric serves as a permanent reference for guidelines on clinical performance for undergraduate dental students. This study aims to assess the rubric system used to evaluate clinical class II composite restorations performed by undergraduate dental students and to explore the impact of gender on overall student performance across two academic years. Additionally, we investigated the relationship between cumulative grade point averages (CGPAs) and students’ clinical performance.MethodsAn analytical rubric for the assessment of clinical class II composite restoration in the academic years of 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 was used by two evaluators. These two evaluators were trained to use the rubric before doing the evaluations. The scores were based on a 4-point scale for the evaluation of five major parameters for pre-operative procedures (10 points), cavity preparation (20 points), restoration procedures (20 points), and time management (4 points). At the same time, chairside oral exam parameter was 15 points based on a 5-point scale. Descriptive statistics were calculated for the different analytical rubric parameters, and the independent t-test was used to compare the scores between the student groups and the evaluators. Other tests, such as the Kappa test and Pearson’s correlation coefficient, were used to measure the association among CGPA, evaluators, and gender participants.ResultsThe overall score out of 69 slightly increased for females/males (61.28/59.42) and (61.18/59.49) in the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 academic years, respectively, but the differences were not statistically significant. In the 2022/2023 academic year, female students scored significantly higher than male students in pre-operative procedures, as evaluated by both evaluators (p = 0.001), and in time management, as assessed by both evaluators (p = 0.031). The Kappa test demonstrated a moderate to substantial level of agreement between the two evaluators in both academic years. Strong and significant correlations were noted between students’ CGPA and some tested parameters (p = 0.000).ConclusionThe overall performance was very good and high among both genders, but it was marginally higher among females than among males. This study found some differences in performance between male and female students and variability in the evaluations by the two raters ranging from moderate to substantial agreement and similar performances for students with different CGPA.

A Reading Comprehension Program for Primary School Students

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of the reading comprehension program prepared for primary school fourth grade students on students’ reading comprehension skills. In this context, students’ attitudes toward reading, reading motivation, fluent reading skills and reading comprehension strategies were considered in the study. The research was ­carried out with a quasi-experimental design. The research was carried out with 353 students. The reading comprehension skills development program prepared by the researcher was applied to the experimental group for a total of 30 hours for 15 weeks. After the implementation of the program, posttests were applied to the experimental and control groups. The students in the experimental group of the reading comprehension program developed according to the results of the research; reading attitude, reading motivation, reading speed, prosodic reading and reading comprehension scores increased significantly compared to the scores of the control group students.

Academic language use in middle school informational writing.

Learning to write the complex academic language (AL) associated with a discipline (like science) is a critical task in education, with middle school being a key developmental period. However, we need more research to guide how we assess students' learning to write AL, especially if we want to create assessment that guides more effective instruction. We evaluated middle school students' informational writing for six different measures of AL to determine which ones were most strongly related to writing quality and were most indicative of the unique features of informational writing. We also examined which metrics were sensitive to growth across middle school. Our sample consists of informational compositions from 285 students in Grade 5 (n = 175) and Grade 8 (n = 110) in a Midwestern state in the United States. Path modelling was used to determine the degree to which the AL metrics are associated with writing quality and narrativity in each grade. Overall, the six measures of AL explained 70% of the variance in students' writing quality. We found that a new measure, number of long words, outperformed other more established measures at the word level and should be used in assessment of informational writing quality. We also found that automated scores at the sentence level better detected development across middle school grade levels than typical rubrics of writing quality. Results provide promising avenues for the assessment of malleable aspects of AL in middle school informational writing.

Analysis of Students Ability on Countable and Uncountable Nouns in Writing Descriptive Text of MTsN 13 Agam

This research was due to the problems that were found in MTsN 13 AGAM. The first some of students did not know how to differentiate the countable and uncountable nouns. The second, some of students felt reluctant to write in English. The third, some of students had limited vocabulary. Furthermore, this research is aimed to find out how was the student’s ability on countable and uncountable nouns in writing descriptive text of MTsN 13 Agam. The researcher used quantitative research. The population in this research was MTsN 13 Agam. There were four classes for the ninth grade students in MTsN 13 Agam. the total population was 105 students from class nine of MTSN 13 Agam. The researcher used cluster random sampling in choosing the sample. The total sample of this study was 24 students. The instrument that use for this research was written test. The researcher gave the students 45 minutes time, and the researcher ordered the students to write a descriptive text. In conclusion, this research has provided valuable insights into the students' ability in using countable and uncountable nouns in writing descriptive texts. The findings showed that the students have a relatively good proficiency in this aspect. Based on the data above, it can be concluded that the majority of the students have good to excellent ability in using countable nouns where 23 students can use at least 3 countable nouns in their writing and only one of them that cannot use any countable noun. However, the same cannot be said for uncountable nouns as there are more students who scored poorly in this area where the total of 13 students got the score between 0-40 which categorized as poor. This could be due to various reasons such as lack of exposure to English as a language, limited.

Pengaruh Kedisiplinan Guru Terhadap Pendidikan Karakter Siswa Kelas XI di SMA Negeri 1 Tapa

This research aims to observe the influence of teacher discipline on the character education of XI grade students at SMA Negeri 1 Tapa. This research uses a quantitative approach with a descrpyive method. The data in this research are primary data that is obtained by distributing quetionnaires to XI grade students at SMA Negeri 1 Tapa. The sample size is 65 respondents, consisting of all XI grade students. The data in this research are analyzed by using a simple linear regression alongside with the utilization of IBM SPSS 21.0 software. The results of this research show a positive and significant influence of teacher discipline on the character education of XI grade students at SMA Negeri 1 Tapa. The partial results indicate that the teacher discipline variable has a positive influence on the students character education, with an R Square determination coefficient value of 0.311 or 31,1%, which means that the independent variable could explain the dependent variable (Character education). In comparison, the remaining 69,9% is influenced by other variables that are not analyzed in this research.

An Analysis of the English Textbook “Bright” Used for the Ninth Grade of MTSN 6 Agam

This research analyzed the English textbook "Bright" used for ninth grade students at MTsN 6 Agam. This study aims to assess how well the textbook is in accordance with the appropriateness of content based on the 2013 curriculum from the National Education Standardization Agency (BSNP). The method used in this research is qualitative content analysis to assess the appropriateness of the English textbook "Bright" used for ninth-grade students at MTsN 6 Agam. Especially focused on comprehensively analyzing the content of the textbook based on standards set by the Education National Standardization Board (BSNP). Data were gathered from the entirety of the "Bright" textbook, supplemented by documentation notes with an English teacher. The researcher served as the primary instrument, ensuring methodological rigor and transparency throughout the study. The analysis involved coding and reduction techniques to identify patterns and themes related to content appropriateness. Findings from the research aimed to provide insights for English teachers, students, textbook writers, and future researchers. The study contributed to the understanding of how well the "Bright" textbook aligned with educational standards and offered recommendations for improving English teaching materials. The research findings indicated that the English textbook "Bright" used at MTsN 6 Agam aligned well with the objectives and curriculum set by BSNP. Data analysis from documentation notes with teachers showed that the textbook generally met the criteria for content appropriateness. While there were minor shortcomings in its ability to supplement other subjects, the "Bright" textbook was deemed relevant, accurate, and inspiring for students. Overall, the textbook portrayed national themes that strengthened pride and appreciation for the nation's culture. This conclusion provides valuable insights for curriculum developers, affirming the suitability of the "Bright" textbook for teaching English at MTsN 6 Agam and advocating for continuous improvement in English education in Indonesia.

Students’ Perception of the Use of Cartoon Movie as a Media in Learning Vocabulary at Senior High School

The purpose of this study is to analyse students’ perceptions of the use of cartoon films as a medium in vocabulary learning. The subjects in this study were 36 students in the tenth grade of SMA Negeri 10 Gowa for the 2023/2024 school year using purposive sampling techniques. This study used a qualitative descriptive method. The data collection techniques in this study were interviews and field records. The data analysis techniques used in this study were reducing data, displaying data, and drawing conclusions. Based on the study results, it was shown that the respondents used three aspects of perception, namely the cognitive aspect, the affective aspect and the conative aspect. Of the three aspects, there were two dominant aspects, namely the cognitive and the affective aspects. The results of students’ perceptions show that the use of cartoon movies as a medium in vocabulary learning is very good because students get a lot of new vocabulary, students became aware of word pronunciation and correct word writing, become more happy to learn English, more enthusiastic to learn and remember a lot of new vocabulary.

Validation of Nutrition Literacy Questionnaire for High School Students

Background: Nutrition literacy is the individuals' motivation and ability to obtain, process, and understand nutrition information and the skills needed in order to make appropriate nutrition decisions. The present study was conducted to determine the validity and reliability of the Chongqing Middle School Nutrition Literacy Scale (CM-NLS). Methods: The CM-NLS questionnaire was translated into Farsi and then back-translated, and its face validity and quantitative and qualitative content validity were investigated in a descriptive-cross-sectional study. This review was conducted using the opinions of expert faculty members. Besides, the Persian version was tested in a sample of 400 students of the first grade of high school in Bandar Anzali city. For this purpose, two schools were randomly selected and sampled using census method. Cronbach's alpha test method was used to examine reliability, and confirmatory factor analysis was used to evaluate construct validity (RMSEA=0.062). Results: In checking face validity, changes were made in the questionnaire, and some items were removed in content validity evaluation by calculating content validity ratio (CVR) and content validity index (CVI). In reliability analysis, Cronbach's alpha coefficient was calculated as 0.74 for functional literacy, 0.82 for interactive literacy, and 0.84 for critical literacy. The results of confirmatory factor analysis showed a good fit to measure the construct validity. Conclusions: Based on the results obtained, the CM-NLS questionnaire with 33 items, is a valid and reliable tool and can be used to measure the nutrition literacy of high school students.

Investigating students’ arguments with real-life functional situations throughout a sequence of collaborative activities

Recent years have seen increasing interest in providing students with opportunities for developing important argumentation skills in the mathematics classroom. Social interactions with peers to critique alternative ideas, justify arguments, and build consensus, have been found to promote deep thinking and meaningful development of concepts. In this study we explored 9&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt;-grade students’ interactions during a sequence of specifically designed argumentation tasks on real-life functional situations to investigate the appropriateness of their arguments. Data were collected from the students’ written task responses, student reflections, small-group observations, individual interviews with the group members, and teacher interviews. Analysis of the level of appropriateness of the students’ individual and group written responses in each activity focused on three aspects: identifying variables, forming relations between them, and noticing contextual features of the real-life situation. We found evidence of students grappling with selecting two suitable variables and with conceptualizing the nature of their relation. It also appeared that aspects of the students’ social interactions played a role in students ignoring correct arguments and accepting incorrect arguments. We discuss implications for small-group argumentation and suggest avenues for future research.

An Analysis of SRSS-IE Externalizing Cut Scores to Facilitate Data-Informed Decision-Making in K–12 Schools

We report the results of a convergent validity study examining the externalizing subscale (SRSS-E5, five items) of the adapted Student Risk Screening Scale for Internalizing and Externalizing (SRSS-IE 9) with the externalizing subscale of the Teacher Report Form (TRF) with two samples of K–12 students. Results of logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curves analyzed with a sample of 195 K–5 students from 13 schools across three states suggested the following preliminary cutting scores for the SRSS-E5 for use at the elementary level: 0 to 1 for low risk, 2 to 3 for moderate risk, and 4 to 15 for high risk for externalizing behaviors. Results of the same analyses with a sample of 227 students in Grades 6 to 12 suggested the following preliminary cutting scores for the SRSS-E5 for use in middle and high (secondary) schools: 0 to 4 for low risk, 5 to 6 for moderate risk, and 7 to 15 for high risk for externalizing behaviors. For both samples, sensitivity and specificity levels were acceptable, as was the correct classification rate. We discuss findings and limitations and emphasize the importance of replication before shifting screening practices from the SRSS-IE 12 (12 items) to the newly adapted SRSS-IE 9 (9 items).

Gender-specific factors of suicidal ideation among high school students in Yunnan province, China: A machine learning approach.

Suicidal ideation (SI) assumes a pivotal role in predicting suicidal behaviors. The incidence of SI among high (junior and senior) school students is significantly higher than that of other age groups. The aim of this study is to explore the gender differences in SI among high school students in Yunnan Province. A total of 6180 students in grades 7-12 in Yunnan province, China from May 2021 to May 2022 participated in this survey. Univariate analysis was employed to describe the influencing factors of male and female students' SI. Subsequently, data were stratified by gender. Adopting machine learning technique, including Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (Lasso) and Boruta algorithm, and logistic regression model to estimate the direction and effect magnitude of the influencing factors. The prevalence of SI was significantly higher for females (31.34%) than males (16.73%). The logistic regression model was established using the variables screened by Boruta algorithm, indicated that anxiety, depression, suffering emotion abuse or emotion neglect in childhood, non-suicidal self-injury, evening chronotype are common risk factors for SI in male and female students. Notably, female students who exhibited aggressive behavior, have experienced bullying, and were in the junior high school learning stage were more likely to report SI than their male counterparts. Females showed more vulnerability to SI than males especially among females in junior high school, reporting aggressive behavior and bullying experiences. Tailored prevention strategies, informed by these gender-related distinctions, should be developed and implemented.

TECHNOLOGIES FOR DEVELOPING STUDENTS' PHRASEOLOGICAL COMPETENCE IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE LESSONS (BASED ON EXAMPLES FROM GRADES 5-9)

This article explores the significance of developing phraseological competence in English language lessons for students in grades 5-9. It highlights the importance of idiomatic expressions, collocations, and fixed phrases in achieving effective communication and language proficiency. The article presents various technological tools, including interactive learning platforms, digital storytelling tools, online phraseology resources, video and multimedia resources, and mobile applications, that can enhance students’ understanding and use of phraseological units. Practical classroom examples illustrate how these technologies can be integrated into lesson plans to foster engagement and collaboration among students. Ultimately, the article underscores the role of educators in equipping students with the necessary skills to navigate the complexities of the English language, preparing them for success in diverse contexts.

Покращення рухової активності в учнів 5 класів засобами рухливих ігор

The purpose of the work is to substantiate theoretically and verify experimentally the effectiveness of the method for improving 5th grade students’ motor activity by means of mobile games. Material and methods. The pedagogical experiment was carried out on the basis of the Krolevets Lyceum No. 1 of the Krolevets City Council of the Sumy Region. It enrolled 32 students of 5th grade from the main medical group. They were divided into a control group (CG, n=16, 5-A grade) and an experimental group (EG, n=16, 5-B grade). The term of the pedagogical experiment was September-November, 2023. Pupils of CG and EG studied according to the Model curriculum "Physical culture. 5-6 grades" for institutions of general secondary education. During Physical Education lessons in the CG, the teacher followed the planned tasks and work plan. A developed method of improving motor activity by means of mobile games was implemented in EG. Research methods: theoretical analysis of scientific and methodical literature, pedagogical experiment. The level of motor activity was determined on the basis of a set of indicators: the time of students’ motor activity with a reflection of its content and quality at different moments of the regime, which was determined with the method of individual timing; the amount of motor activity using the pedometry method for quantitative assessment of motor activity; the intensity of motor activity by the pulsometry method (calculation of heart rate in bpm) when various types of muscle activity were performed; methods of mathematical statistics. The results. At the ascertaining stage of the pedagogical experiment, the following indicators of the 5th grade students’ motor activity level were obtained: in CG, 3 students (19%) had a high level, 7 students (44%) had an average level, and 6 students (37%) had a low level. In EG, 3 students (19%) had a high level, 6 students (37%) had an average level, and 7 students (44%) had a low level. It is necessary to note that the indicators of CG and EG were at the same level. At the formative stage of the pedagogical experiment, a method for improving the motor activity of 5th grade students by means of mobile games was developed and implemented. The developed method was implemented into all forms of physical culture and health work in institution of general secondary education. Its content included mobile games directly during Physical Education lessons and during other forms. The developed method was implemented in three directions, in particular with students, teachers and parents. At the control stage of the pedagogical experiment, the following indicators were obtained: in CG, 4 students (25%) had a high level of motor activity, 7 students (44%) had an average level, and 5 students (31%) had a low level. In EG, 6 students (38%) had a high level of motor activity, 7 students (44%) had an average level, 3 students (18%) had a low level. Thus, in CG there is a significant percentage of 5th grade students who have a low level of motor activity, while in EG there are high and average levels of motor activity among 5th grade students. This fact proves the effectiveness of developed method for improving 5th grade students’ motor activity by means of mobile games. Conclusions. The method we had developed for improving 5th grade students’ motor activity by means of mobile games confirmed its effectiveness during the experimental test and can be recommended for use in the practical activities of a Physical Education teacher.

Using random forest to identify correlates of depression symptoms among adolescents.

Adolescent depression is a significant public health concern, and studying its multifaceted factors using traditional methods possess challenges. This study employs random forest (RF) algorithms to determine factors predicting adolescent depression scores. This study utilized self-reported survey data from 56,008 Canadian students (grades 7-12) attending 182 schools during the 2021/22 academic year. RF algorithms were applied to identify the correlates of (i) depression scores (CESD-R-10) and (ii) presence of clinically relevant depression (CESD-R-10 ≥ 10). RF achieved a 71% explained variance, accurately predicting depression scores within a 3.40 unit margin. The top 10 correlates identified by RF included other measures of mental health (anxiety symptoms, flourishing, emotional dysregulation), home life (excessive parental expectations, happy home life, ability to talk to family), school connectedness, sleep duration, and gender. In predicting clinically relevant depression, the algorithm showed 84% accuracy, 0.89 sensitivity, and 0.79 AUROC, aligning closely with the correlates identified for depression score. This study highlights RF's utility in identifying important correlates of adolescent depressive symptoms. RF's natural hierarchy offers an advantage over traditional methods. The findings underscore the importance and additional potential of sleep health promotion and school belonging initiatives in preventing adolescent depression.

School Poverty Level Moderates the Effectiveness of a Physical Activity Intervention.

To explore whether school poverty level and funding modified the effectiveness of an evidence-based Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program called Health Empowers You! implemented in elementary schools in Georgia. Secondary data analysis of a multi-level, cluster-randomized controlled trial. 40 elementary schools in Georgia in 2018-2019. 4th grade students in Georgia. Intervention schools implemented the Health Empowers You! program to increase school-day physical activity. The outcome was average daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, school free-reduced price lunch (FRPL) percentage and per pupil expenditures were effect modifiers. Separate linear mixed regression models estimated the effect of the intervention on average daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, with interaction terms between intervention status and (1) school FRPL percentage or (2) per pupil expenditures. The effect of the intervention was significantly higher in schools with higher FRPL percentage (intervention*school % FRPL β (95% CI): .06 (.01, .12)), and was modestly, but not statistically significantly, higher in schools with lower per pupil expenditures. Findings support the use of the Health Empowers You! intervention, which was effective in lower income schools, and may potentially reduce disparities in students' physical activity levels.