Tools of the Mind
Problems addressed
Externalizing behaviors/problems
Low educational/academic performance
Effectiveness

Promising

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Promising

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Life periods served
Children (4 to 13 years)
Where the program was applied
Education establishment
Country of application
United States
Description

This is a school program for the cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development of preschool and kindergarten children. The aim is to develop executive functions and emotional self-regulation skills, as well as to improve academic performance and prosocial behaviors in early childhood.
The program is implemented by trained teachers through targeted strategies, such as promoting make-believe play and eveloping the ability to focus.

Impact evaluations

Impact evaluation studies have shown significantly better results in applied math problems, vocabulary measures, classroom aggression and conduct problems, and executive function (working memory, reaction speed, rapid naming) [1] [2].

Bibliographic reference

[1] Blair, C. & Raver, C. C. (2014). Closing the achievement gap through modification of neurocognitive and neuroendocrine function: Results from a cluster randomized controlled trial of an innovative approach to the education of children in kindergarten. PloS One, 9(11), e112393. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0112393

[2] Blair, C., McKinnon, R. D., & Daneri, M. P. (2018). Effect of the Tools of the Mind kindergarten program on children's social and emotional development. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 48, 52-61.

Information source