(To respond, click on the pencil underneath this post.)
According to the Hierarchy of
Learning below, "motivation, creativity, curiosity, problem solving, and
memory all come AFTER the four basic levels of self-esteem, relationship,
safety, and physical needs are satisfied." What are your thoughts or experiences?
I find the theory behind the hierarchy of needs to be very true. I have been in a training before and really needed leave to go to the restroom. However, you don't want to be rude and you don't want to miss anything. When you hit a certain point, all your brain can think about it is that you need to use the restroom. You won't be able to get anything out of the speaker because you cant think of anything else. I think when students are in self preservation mode, they are unable to see how their actions affect anyone else. Their own anxiety, fear, and lack of self esteem hinder their ability respond appropriately to situations. When a student is has to worry about their own physiological and safety needs, learning is the last thing on their mind.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree Beth. I had a student this year who came to school with a big hole in her shirt under the arm. I have her first period. I took the time to sew up the hole right at the beginning of class. She thanked me several times and worked really hard in class after that. Something so simple that didn't take long, but was important to her.
DeleteIt takes time to build a relationship of trust with a traumatized child. As teachers, we all know the hierarchy and believe it to be true, but the one hour we see these students each day gives little time to build those trusting relationships while trying to accomplish the academic goals of teaching with rigor and having them prepared for the state testing.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Kim. I feel such pressure to teach my standards that I rarely allow time to just check in with my students and see how they are doing. Sometimes they want to know about me and I try not to share too much because we just get off topic and then I feel like I have wasted my time. Just two chapters into this book I see that I need to make some changes and make a plan to try to build stronger relationships with my students.
DeleteIf students' physiological needs are not met, then they are not focus on subsequent needs in the chart. So, if a student does not have food, they will not be worried about their learning. (problem solving, creativity, etc.)
ReplyDeleteHere is another example with safety, if a child lives in an environment where they feel they are not safe, how can they build a relationship with friends or teachers.
When looking at the “Hierarchy of Learning” I think that we as educators spend most of our time focused on the top of the pyramid. We want our students to learn, be motivated, problem solve and reach their level of learning. However, it is difficult to achieve these things when other areas are not being met. From basic needs, physical and emotional safety, friends, self-esteem and self-respect all of these things need to be met to reach the learning level . I think that many times we are measured by what happens in the learning level and things below are not considered when evaluating growth and achievement of our students. I think teachers do what we can to help meet some of these needs but this becomes difficult as we have to focus on the learning which leaves us little ability to use our energy elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteI think Coach Renfro "hit the nail on the head" with this response. I tend to focus on the top of the pyramid as well because I am judged based on what my students have learned during the year, so I naturally focus on this level.
DeleteRealistically, I know and I have attended many workshops that teach us to focus on building a relationship with our students. Many times I have been told, "Students don't care what you know until they know you care." I fully believe this to be true, and I know I need to spend more time trying to build these relationships with my students. In the long run, I am sure it will make me a better teacher (and a better person) and them a better student.
I agree with all the things Coach Renfro said about the top of the pyramid and how all of us sometimes fall short of meeting their basic needs. Even as a counselor I try to help with those needs but the middle school student does not always want our help. Children need to know we care so we can help them learn and grow.
DeleteMrs. Lori I know that we all try and do what is best for our students and how frustrating it is when students do not want our help. I think all we can do is continue to offer them help and that they come around to what is best for and can help them.
DeleteI definitely agree that teachers are also caught in a crossfire between knowing our students and their backgrounds and fulfilling what growth expectations are. I do think that most teachers know the importance of the bottom of the chart, but we are somewhat like Billy with having to deal with knowing what Billy needs and taking the time to give it, and knowing there are only so many hours in our day to meet what the top part of the chart requires from teachers. This puts teachers in emotional distress because we are trying to fit every aspect in the chart in. When this happens, we all give a little, but we are not able to give enough to any part of the chart. Billy will get small does of everything, but not enough to move his window and begin to trust.
DeletePertaining to this "Hierarchy of Learning" chart, I did not consider that some students come into this world behind due to in utero circumstances. I am familiar with this chart, but I did not think about what has happened before this chart begins. I am intrigued to learn more about how to help students catch up emotionally, psychologically, and physiologically.
ReplyDeleteWhen beginning a new year with a class, we all know how important it is to understand each child as a person before we understand them as a student. Having those basic needs met quickly is all about building relationships and letting them know that they matter to you. I find that sharing fun facts about myself encourages them to open up and see that we are all human and alike. Making them all feel included and part of a group encourages that good classroom discussion and participation that teachers yearn for throughout the year. In subjects like ELA where students need to be creative, I have seen the importance of students feeling comfortable with you and in your room before being asked to share their creativity.
ReplyDeleteI couldn’t agree with Audra more. Relationships are everything. Students can tell when you care about them and what they learn vs just teaching them the material. Most of them get nearly zero attention at home, so, making them feel wanted at school may make their day that much better and produce better results. As always, some years are easier than others to make those positive relationships but we still have to try to make that connection. Then, the learning will handle itself.
DeleteWe all know Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Theory to be true. My mom has preached this to me from the moment I decided I wanted to teach. My goal as a teacher has always been to build relationships then to teach. Students will be successful when they feel safe, loved, respected, valued, etc. HOWEVER, there are specific students who come to mind that I was not able to build those vital relationships for a variety of reasons. I think those are the students that will always haunt me. I look forward to seeing how this book will help me reach "those students" in my future classes.
ReplyDeleteI think this model applies to all humans not just kids. For any human to thrive in any environment their basic needs need to be met. If I am hungry, I'm not able to focus and do my job as well as if I am not hungry. If I am scared or I don't feel safe, I will be focused on finding a point of escape or how I can defend myself instead of the task at hand. For students, this is even more of an obstacle because their brains are still developing, so safety, love and basic needs being met before we try to teach these students is the most important thing. We cannot teach or reach students if they don't feel safe and respect from themselves, and their teachers. Once they are not afraid, then is when we see what creativity they have to offer.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen this model and it absolutely makes sense now that I see it. I have students that love to talk about their day or things that are not part of the lesson. At the middle school age, many of these students are labeled by their peers or past teachers as "annoying, off-task, etc." type of kids. When thinking back to some specific students that I have had that would fall under this type, these are the exact students that need the safety and self-esteem built through these conversations. In today's world, so many of our youth do not talk. They are glued to their phones and communicate solely through pictures and "likes" to give them the self-esteem that they need to thrive. This is why that it is not just important, but it is imperial that we have the teacher-student relationship time to get to know our students and help them fulfill these needs if we want the academic needs to be met.
ReplyDelete