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  • More
    • Home
    • Dr. Lathardus Goggins II
    • Request a Workshop
    • Contact
    • Gaining the Permission
    • Humane Teaching
    • Bringing the Light ...
    • SEL, PBIS, Restorative
    • Harnessing AI
    • We Know What Works
  • Home
  • Dr. Lathardus Goggins II
  • Request a Workshop
  • Contact
  • Gaining the Permission
  • Humane Teaching
  • Bringing the Light ...
  • SEL, PBIS, Restorative
  • Harnessing AI
  • We Know What Works

Umoja Supplemental Resources

Umoja

Lesson 1

SEL Core Competency: Self-Awareness

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Identity is the distinguishing character(istics) or personality of a person (self). The recognition of such characteristics shapes one's sense of self (self-awareness) to include self-esteem, self-worth, and self-efficacy. "Who one thinks one is" is an interaction between the self and the world, think of Ta-Nehisi Coates' Between the World add Me. By exploring the dimensions of one’s identity, one can better understand the quality of relationships between the self and the world. This is beginning of understanding which relationships are healthy and those relationships that are detrimental. This lesson it’s meant to help explore the complexities of one’s identity and play‘s one in a position to reflect on the health of those identities and seek where there is support/guidance for the development of healthy identities.

Lesson 2

SEL Core Competencies: Self-Awareness, Responsible Decision-Making, Social Awareness, & Relationship Skills

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Community is not just the mere proximity of a group of people. Community is formed by the set of common values, beliefs, rituals (i.e. culture) shared amongst a group of people; the common unity. It is the fidelity of practice of these concepts that determines the strength of bonds/relationships - community. This lesson is meant to help highlight and uplift those common values, beliefs, and rituals in order to move from the unconscious or implicit to the conscious and explicit.

Lesson 3

SEL Core Competencies: Self-Awareness, Social Awareness, & Relationship Skills

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Ubuntu - “I am because we are, therefore we are because I am.” This philosophy/perspective recognizes the secret connection between the individual and the community. Acknowledging that an individual's significance comes from one's connection to the group/community. Likewise, the significance of the community is its ability to nurture the individual.  The quality of each (the individual and community) is their own commitment to the other, and to ignore that commitment brings destruction.

Lesson 4

SEL Core Competency: Self-Awareness

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The beauty of African people and culture.  Growing up/being educated in a European-centered society, we are exposed to European norms of beauty. Furthermore, because of anti-black/African racism, African images are often presented as grotesque and inferior. This annihilation of African beauty can (if unchallenged) can produce a self-hate or distorted self-image for which body enhancement and adornment become pathological.

Lesson 5

SEL Core Competencies: Social Awareness & Relationship Skills

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Culture is to humans…

Lesson 6

SEL Core Competencies: Social Awareness

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Songs matter

Lesson 7

SEL Core Competencies: Self-Awareness & Social Awareness

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Unity with the universe. Eurocentric modern philosophies all too often seek to take humans out of the realm of nature. Even those “spiritual” minded individuals operating from this Eurocentric modernist perspective will seek to separate spirit from nature juxtaposed the spiritual against science. The actuality is that humans are a part of nature. We (humans) are animals. We are part of the web of life on the planet Earth of this solar system in the Milky Way Galaxy in this Universe. Just as anything we create from the resources from this Earth, Solar System, Galaxy, Universe.  Consider the second implication of the Biological Plan [there are ten basic implications that form the rationale for human development (rites of passage). The first four are considered to be the Biological Plan]:

  1. The Creator does not create for failure.
  2. All humans are one with the Cosmos (the Creator and creation).
  3. Every person has the capacity to succeed.
  4. We are born with a driving intent to express the capacity to succeed.

Social Emotional Learning

The Five Core Competencies

Social and emotional learning (SEL) is an integral part of education and human development. SEL is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.


The CASEL 5 addresses five broad, interrelated areas of competence and examples for each: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. The CASEL 5 can be taught and applied at various developmental stages from childhood to adulthood and across diverse cultural contexts to articulate what students should know and be able to do for academic success, school and civic engagement, health and wellness, and fulfilling careers.

Five Core Competencies

Self-Awareness

Responsible Decision-Making

Self-Management

The ability to understand one’s own emotions, thoughts, and values and how they influence behavior across contexts. This includes capacities to recognize one’s strengths and limitations with a well grounded sense of confidence and purpose. 

Such as:

  • Integrating personal and social identities
  • Identifying personal, cultural, and linguistic assets
  • Identifying one’s emotions
  • Demonstrating honesty and integrity
  • Linking feelings, values, and thoughts
  • Examining prejudices and biases
  • Experiencing self-efficacy
  • Having a growth mindset
  • Developing interests and a sense of purpose

Self-Management

Responsible Decision-Making

Self-Management

The ability to manage one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors effectively in different situations and to achieve goals and aspirations. This includes the capacities to delay gratification, manage stress, and feel motivation & agency to accomplish personal/collective goals. 

Such as:

  • Managing one’s emotions
  • Identifying and using stress-management strategies
  • Exhibiting self-discipline and self-motivation
  • Setting personal and collective goals
  • Using planning and organizational skills
  • Showing the courage to take initiative
  • Demonstrating personal and collective agency

Responsible Decision-Making

Responsible Decision-Making

Responsible Decision-Making

The ability to make caring and constructive choices about personal behavior and social interactions across diverse situations. This includes capacities to consider ethical standards and safety concerns and to evaluate the benefits and consequences of various actions for personal, social, and collective well-being. 

Such as:

  • Demonstrating curiosity and open-mindedness
  • Identifying solutions for personal and social problems
  • Learning to make a reasoned judgment after analyzing information, data, facts
  • Anticipating and evaluating the consequences of one’s actions
  • Recognizing how critical thinking skills are useful both inside & outside of school
  • Reflecting on one’s role to promote personal, family, and community well-being
  • Evaluating personal, interpersonal, community, and institutional impacts

Social Awareness

Additional SEL Resources

Responsible Decision-Making

The ability to understand the perspectives of and empathize with others, including those from diverse backgrounds, cultures, & contexts. This includes capacities to feel compassion for others, understand broader historical and social norms for behavior in different settings, and recognize family, school, and community resources and supports. 

Such as:

  • Taking others’ perspectives
  • Recognizing strengths in others
  • Demonstrating empathy and compassion
  • Showing concern for the feelings of others
  • Understanding and expressing gratitude Identifying diverse social norms, including unjust ones
  • Recognizing situational demands and opportunities
  • Understanding the influences of organizations/systems on behavior

Relationship Skills

Additional SEL Resources

Additional SEL Resources

The ability to establish and maintain healthy and supportive relationships and to effectively navigate settings with diverse individuals and groups. This includes capacities to communicate clearly, listen actively, cooperate, work collaboratively to problem solve and negotiate conflict constructively, navigate settings with differing social and cultural demands and opportunities, provide leadership, and seek or offer help when needed. 

Such as:

  • Communicating effectively
  • Developing positive relationships
  • Demonstrating cultural competency
  • Practicing teamwork and collaborative problem-solving
  • Resolving conflicts constructively
  • Resisting negative social pressure
  • Showing leadership in groups
  • Seeking or offering support and help when needed
  • Standing up for the rights of others

Additional SEL Resources

Additional SEL Resources

Additional SEL Resources

Black Child SEL @ SuccessfulAcademics.com


What is SEL? - CASEL.org



Additional Resources

Facing the Rising Sun

Coalition for African-centered Rites of Passage

Saint Rest Publications

49 Lessons

Saint Rest Publications

Coalition for African-centered Rites of Passage

Saint Rest Publications

Promoting Authenic Self

Coalition for African-centered Rites of Passage

Coalition for African-centered Rites of Passage

Coalition for African-centered Rites of Passage

Learn more
  • Dr. Lathardus Goggins II

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