As soon as I got into the hospital, I stopped caring about anything but my most basic needs – getting rid of pain, getting food, sleeping. Nothing else mattered much to me, although I did call my office to cancel my classes. It was many days before I started thinking about my job, my relationships, or the hundreds of little tasks that make up our regular lives.
Children are the same way. If their basic needs are not met, they will not be motivated to learn. Who cares about verbs when you are hungry? Who wants to do math games when you are lonely or scared? Maslow’s hierarchy of needs can be an important reminder for us to consider why children are not engaged in learning?
Here are the four basic needs that Maslow identified. How well are these needs met in your classroom?
- Physiological Needs: Are the children sleepy, or hungry? Have they been sitting too long and need to move around? Is the room too warm, or cold? Are the children able to go to the bathroom when they need to? Are they sick with a cold or asthma?
- Safety Needs: Do the children feel safe in your room? Are they afraid of other children? Are they worried about being criticized? Is their home life safe? Is the neighborhood a safe environment?
- Love and Belongingness Needs: Do the children show caring behavior toward each other? Do they get enough one-on-one attention from you – especially those children who might not get enough attention at home? Do you carry out community-building activities? Do the children get enough time to socialize with each other?
- Self-Esteem Needs: Are the children academically successful or are they struggling? Is the work too easy or too hard? Do they have a sense of competence and confidence in their abilities? Do some children see themselves as stupid or bad?
Please share in the comments how you have been able to meet the basic needs of your students!
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In my brief stint as an Educator in Training/ Substitute Teacher I saw a lots of BASIC NEEDS not being met - especially Huger and Love/Attention.
ReplyDeleteThe students I called upon appeared shocked that I acknowledged them or gave them individual attention. Their face would ask, "Why are you talking to me...could I be important?" Which would indicate to me how the Teacher treated them (or not treated them.)
Compliments are tricky (especially for a male teacher jajajaja) so I would always say, "That's a great color!" referencing a shirt or something. Usually in a few minutes, that student would be VERY attentive to the "teachings of the day." :)
Hunger was more difficult to tackle - one time when i had a 3 day assignment, I noticed some hungry-looking kids (do you know that look?) The second day I said, "I like to eat fruit sometimes when I have class discussions, it helps me think. It may help you too, so come up one row at a time and have some fruit." I had a basket of apples, tangerines, bananas, and small boxes of raisins. At first they were hesitant. So, I took the basket to each student (desk to desk)and an "empty basket" returned with me. At the end of the day, my principle told me that I was forbidden to do that again (then she thanked me.) Please check with your school for "regualations" before attempting this.
Here's what we can do to help fight hunger (best practices): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RUYkzJio24&feature=player_embedded
Is there a such thing as giving your students too much attention. I'm a para in a Pre-K disability class. I hug my students and refer to them as my babies. I get on the floor and play with the trains with them, I give high fives, tickles, squeezes, stickers, and lots of praise. I feel for my class these are the greatest motivators. If you know of more motivators please share.
ReplyDeleteDinell, It sounds like you are a passionate and caring teacher! I think that it's important to show young children affection. You can also consider the particular preferences of the child. Some children do not like to be hugged or touched. You also have to be sure you are using appropriate touch, of course. How much we hug children and show physical affection is also a cultural preference. Some cultures show a great deal of physical affection, as you do, and others would think this is too much--so if this is appropriate with the families in your center, it sounds wonderful!
DeleteAs for motivation, the important thing is to remember that the best motivation comes from success itself, not from our praise. Instead of praise, try using positive feedback to help children to see how they are learning and what they are successful at. For example, "Wow, Sandra - you are able to zip your coat now. You couldn't do that when you first came to school!" See this post for more information: http://www.thepositiveclassroom.org/2012/02/turn-around-problem-behavior-with.html
In general, I think children really benefit from attention that results in a positive, strong, relationship with a caring adult!
Currently I am in my second Pre-K classroom as teacher’s assistant and the teacher I worked with last year advised me not to be to emotional with the children. She told me about an experience she had with another T.A. The teacher told the T.A. not to give a child a hug good-bye if she was not going to hug every child good-bye. I can see where she was coming from, but I feel it is important to give children who may not be getting that extra love at home. Just like all things it should be done in moderation.
ReplyDeleteI try to have a little one on one time with each student, whether I am talking about what they had for dinner, discussing a new book, or anything topic of their choice. I try to make each child feel special and comfortable in the classroom.
Another example, in my classroom there is a little boy who comes to school tired every single day. No matter what time of the day or where he is, he wants to sleep. I have mentioned to the parents that he should try and get more rest at home. That did not really work since the child’s parents own a restaurant and work late hours keeping the child with them. To accommodate the student I allow to him to relax in the cozy area if he is feeling sleepy. Is there anything else I should be doing?
Latia, you bring up great points! I think there is a line we can cross in being too emotional with children - when we use them to fulfill OUR needs for affection. But some children need our attention desperately. A simple hug is appropriate and perhaps even more important is one-on-one attention, conversation and listening.
DeleteIt is difficult to see children who are not getting their basic needs met - like sleep. Our brains and bodies really can't function properly without sleep, so if there is no way to convince parents that the child needs a better sleep schedule, then by all means help him get the sleep he needs. Perhaps he can go down for nap earlier and stay asleep a little later, too. I would continue to give the parents the message (kindly, without judgment) that his sleepiness is affecting his opportunity to learn at school. To some degree, keeping a child up at night is abusive. The might not realize the extent of the problem because the don't get to see him at school. Good luck!
Dr. Rand,
ReplyDeleteI find that as teachers, we really need to stay in tune with our students' needs beyond academics. Sometimes our students need way more than a an academic teacher, but rather they need to know we love and support them when they aren't getting these needs met at home. We need to be in tune with every aspect of their lives because this leads to a well developed and hopefully successful student in and out of the classroom. I've found that I spend more time giving my students positive reinforcement and praise because they crave it. They don't receive that at home and the littlest thing makes them feel wanted. By showing that you care, it even boosts their self esteem, so you're hitting the major needs.
Jaclyn