In this video, Dr. Muhammad explores the first goal of the HILL Model: Identity. Identity is made up of who we say we are, who others say we are, and the people we desire to be. Students are constantly making sense of who they are, and classroom instruction needs to be responsive to their identities. Because we are complex beings, we have racial, cultural, gender, environmental, and community identities, to name a few. Not only is it important to teach youths who they are, but educators should also teach students about the identities and cultures of others different from them. As learning takes place, one asks, “How am I learning about who I am and about the lives of others?”

In this video, Dr. Muhammad explores the second goal of the HILL Model: Skills. Skills are the requite proficiencies and competencies for every content area.  As learning takes place, one asks, “What disciplinary skills am I advancing?”  

Click to access the "A-Z: What Can Students Write?" list

In this video, Dr. Muhammad explores the third goal of the HILL Model: Intellectualism. Intellectualism is knowledge of people, places, things and concepts and the ability to put this knowledge into action. As learning takes place, one asks, “What am I becoming smarter about?”

In this video, Dr. Muhammad explores the third goal of the HILL Model: Criticality. Criticality is the capacity and ability to read, write, think, and speak in ways to understand power and equity in order to understand and promote anti-oppression. In Cultivating Genius, I (Gholdy) define oppression simply as any wrongdoing, hurt, or harm, including racism, sexism, homophobia, ableism, or any other oppression. Unlike lower case “c” critical, which is just deep and analytical thinking, Critical with a capital “c” is related to power, equity, and anti-oppression. As learning takes place, one asks, “How am I developing an understanding of power, equity, anti-racism and anti-oppression?”

It is key to start with love, to cultivate love and joy every day. This video presents 20 quick ways that you can engage in joy and happiness and love each day in your home.  

• Access the list of family joy activities outlined in the video
• Access the Brownie's book, the first Black children’s literary magazine published from 1920-1921

In this video, Dr. Gholdy Muhammad gives a brief introduction and some quick tips for selecting texts for your vocabulary word instruction for the HILL at Home remote learning lesson plans.

Click here to access the slides used in this video.