Summary
Smart Brain Wise Heart, offered by the Heart Math Institute, provides a lesson-based approach to SEL. It includes programming for grades 4-10 and demonstrates evidence of effectiveness in grade 10. Translated materials for Smart Brain Wise Heart are available in Spanish and Mandarin, with resources for parents available in Spanish, German, Indonesian, Chinese, Hebrew, Portuguese, and Dutch, among others.
Strategies supporting educational equity (CASEL)
Not available at this time.
Implementation
Below are key implementation details for this program. These specifications help determine if the program is a good fit for your school or organization.
Grade(s)
Elementary (K-5), Middle (6-8), High School (9-12)
Setting
Classroom, Home
Language
English, Spanish, Additional Languages
Cost
Varies by subscription level; For additional information please contact the provider
# Lessons
8
Program Design
Tier 1 (Universal)
Technology Requirements
Video/audio required; computers required
Staffing Requirements
No additional staffing required
Professional Development
Onsite In-Person, Virtual, Offsite, Train the Trainer
Outcomes
Advocate for reducing stigma associated with emotional and mental and behavioral health
Compare & contrast emotional, mental-behavioral illness, mental well-being and concurrent disorders
Decreased suicidal behavior
Describe how self-harm or suicide impacts other people
Describe laws related to minors accessing mental health care
Explain how to help someone who is thinking about attempting suicide
Identify school and community resources that can help a person with emotional, mental and behavioral health concerns
Improved Academic Performance
Improved attitude/behavior related to suicide
Improved identification of individuals at-risk for suicide
Improved Identity Development/ Agency
Improved Prosocial Behavior
Improved School Climate
Improved School Connectedness
Improved SEL Skills and Attitudes
Improved Teaching Practices
Increased help-seeking behavior
Reduced Emotional Distress
Reduced Problem Behavior
Evidence of Effectiveness
Results from a quasi-experimental evaluation conducted in the 2004–2005 academic year (published in 2007) supported the effectiveness of the Smart Brain Wise Heart program (previously called Test Edge). This evaluation was conducted on a sample of 749 adolescents in 10th grade (43% white, 36% Latinx, 21% Other; approximately 14.3% of students qualified for free or reduced-price lunch (FRPL)). The study found that students who participated in the program reported significantly lower levels of test anxiety, negative affect, emotional discord, and interactional difficulty at post-test compared to students from the control group (posttest occurred four months after baseline and analyses controlled for baseline differences in the outcome measure).
Published Studies
Refer to the provided CASEL for the most up-to-date published studies.
Bradley, R. T., McCraty, R., Atkinson, M., Arguelles, L., Rees, R. A., & Tomasino, D. (2007). Reducing Test Anxiety and Improving Test Performance in America’s Schools: Results from the TestEdge National Demonstration Study. Unpublished evaluation report.