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Smiling Mind School Program

Smiling Mind

The Smiling Mind School Program supports students to develop social and emotional skills.
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A group of children on a flight of stairs, smiling at the camera

Overview

Alignment with Be You Domains

  • Learning Resilience

Alignment with Australian Curriculum

  • Health and PE
  • Humanities and Social Sciences

Target audience

  • Primary school
  • Secondary school

Target groups

  • Small group
  • Whole class
  • Whole school

Aims

The Smiling Mind School Program aims to support students to develop social and emotional skills as a key factor in supporting good mental health and wellbeing. The program aims to support the development of skills across three key domains: the development of emotion regulation skills, the development of skills to help support learning, the development of social awareness.

Program theory

The Smiling Mind Schools Program takes a mindfulness-based social and emotional learning (SEL) approach, integrating mindfulness theory and research into the well-known SEL frameworks used by schools across Australia.

Topics

Topics include attention, the senses, savouring, movement, recognising emotions, managing emotions, self-compassion, optimism, strengths gratitude, decision-making, goal-setting, empathy, kindness, positive relationships, positive communication, curiosity, growth mindset, resilience.

Cost

Smiling Mind School Program resources are available free of charge through the Smiling Mind app. Printed resources, including teacher manuals and student journals, are available to purchase. Teacher manuals $60 per unit or $330 for a set of 6; student journals $27 per unit (or can be purchased for a reduced cost in larger quantities). Online learning modules for teachers or face-to-face training programs range from $99 to $4500 depending on the approach and intensity the school is looking to take.

Program structure

The Smiling Mind School Program provides a tailored set of program materials to support a full year of learning with lessons and activities for each week of the school year. There are approximately 20 modules per year level, which can be delivered over 60-69 sessions ranging in length. Alternatively teachers can take a flexible approach and select modules that suit their needs. Programs throughout every school week can be integrated, with one active teaching and learning lesson (30-45 minutes) supported by at least 3 meditation exercises (5-10 minutes). In addition to the in-school learning, parents and carers can support the learning by facilitating the use of the Smiling Mind app within the home environment. The student journals also provide opportunities for students to engage their families in their learning with take-home activities.

Instructor

  • Educator
  • Wellbeing leader

Instructor training

Training is accredited by NESA in NSW. Online learning modules for teachers: 2 self-paced modules for teachers covering an introduction to mindfulness (90 minutes) and practical implementation in the classroom (90 minutes). Foundational whole-school training in person: Leading by Example introduction to mindfulness (90 minutes) and Bringing it to Life practical workshop (90 minutes). Mindful champion training: intensive 3-day training program for school leaders to lead a whole-school approach to the program. All our training is provided by highly experienced and qualified psychologists and mindfulness experts.

Supporting resources or materials available with program

  • Manual
  • Online webinars
  • Workbook

Ongoing support

Training is accredited by NESA in NSW. Online learning modules for teachers: 2 self-paced modules for teachers covering an introduction to mindfulness (90 minutes) and practical implementation in the classroom (90 minutes). Foundational whole-school training in person: Leading by Example introduction to mindfulness (90 minutes) and Bringing it to Life practical workshop (90 minutes). Mindful champion training: intensive 3-day training program for school leaders to lead a whole-school approach to the program. All our training is provided by highly experienced and qualified psychologists and mindfulness experts.

Parent involvement

  • Follow-up information provided after program
  • Written information provided to parents

Origin of program

Australia

Smiling Mind

Program authors

Smiling Mind

Address
26-28 Easey St,Collingwood VIC 3066 Australia
Phone
Email
education@smilingmind.com.au
website
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Ratings

3/4 Evidence
4/4 Implementation

Summary of evidence factors

This is a summary of the evaluation or research study characteristics that contribute to the program’s evidence rating.

Positive impact on at least one outcome for children and/or young people? Yes
Link between program description and theory of change Comprehensive
Study design Randomised control trial
Independence Completely

Summary of implementation factors

This is a summary of the program’s characteristics that contribute to its implementation rating.

Feedback sought from participants Yes
Feedback sought from instructors Yes
Groups program is not suitable for Assessed and reported
Training provided during study Face to face, all instructors, in person
Ongoing instructor support provided during study Yes

Context

This is a summary of the context in which the evidence for the program was established.

Study Participants

Primary school
Country of Study/s

Australia
Location of Study/s in Australia

VIC
Evaluation of program in culturally and linguistically diverse populations Yes
Evaluation of program in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people Yes
Evaluation of program in low socioeconomic groups Yes
Developmental based adaptations to program design and delivery No
Evaluation of program in children and young people with disability and/or learning difference Yes

Last updated: 19 November 2021