"Purpose Over Pointless Excuses"
Social
Emotional Learning
& Life Skills
CURRICULUM
OVERVIEW
Welcome to The Purpose Over Pointless Excuses (P.O.P.E.) - Social Emotional Learning (SEL) & Life Skills Curriculum™, an evidence based educational resource that combines strategies and methods utilized in Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), and Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS) training to provide practical Life Skills and foundational tools that students can immediately apply to their everyday lives. These tools will help our youth/young adults identify, assess, and solve problems and challenges that students face daily, such as retention, bullying, insecurity, low self-worth, poor decision making and emotional instability.
This course is designed to equip students with essential skills to navigate life’s challenges and build meaningful relationships. Throughout the year, we will focus on developing emotional intelligence, communication, problem-solving, self-management, and resilience. By mastering these skills, students will be better prepared for both personal and academic success.
Through discussions, hands-on activities, role-playing, and reflections, students will learn how to manage stress, set and achieve personal goals, and engage in positive decision-making. This course will empower students to understand themselves and others, fostering a community of empathy, respect, and responsibility. Let's work together to build a foundation for a successful future, both in and out of the classroom.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of our curriculum is to help youth/young adults identify their true leadership potential and self-worth so that they can become ambassadors to help transform the climate and culture of the campus. This will empower them to walk out of insecurity and into the security of their authentic selves and become productive adults and confident contributing leaders in society.
By the end of this course, students will:
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Develop emotional intelligence and self-awareness.
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Learn effective communication skills for building healthy relationships.
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Understand stress management and coping techniques.
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Build critical thinking and decision-making skills.
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Set personal and academic goals and plan to achieve them.
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Cultivate empathy, collaboration, and conflict resolution skills.
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Gain a deeper understanding of responsible citizenship and community involvement.
What are ACEs?
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events that occur before a child reaches the age of 18. Such experiences can interfere with a person’s health, opportunities and stability throughout his or her lifetime-and can even affect future generations.
What is SEL/PBIS?
The acronym “S.E.L.” refers to Social Emotional Learning and it is an educational method that aims to foster social and emotional skills within youth/young adults. CASEL’S 5 Pillars of Social Emotional Learning are 1.) Self Awareness, 2.) Self-Management, 3.) Responsible Decision Making, 4.) Relationship Building Skills and 5.) Social Awareness. The letters “P.B.I.S.” refers to Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports which are ideas and tools that schools use to improve the behavior of students.
What are LIFE SKILLS?
Life skills can be defined as skills that give people the ability for adaptive and positive behavior to effectively handle the demands and challenges of life. They may also be referred to as psychosocial skills because they are psychological in nature and include thinking and behavioral processes. Life skills have also been defined as behavioral, cognitive, or interpersonal skills that enable individuals to succeed in various areas of life.
