Growing numbers of students are entering classrooms without their most basic needs being met. How is a student expected to learn about the rock cycle or the Great Schism if they haven’t eaten breakfast and they are worried about going home after school? On the other end, how are teachers to educate these students who are clearly not in the mindset to learn? Fortunately most schools have a variety of support teams, counseling services, and the like to provide assistance to struggling students, but the challenge remains in how to provide the necessary assistance to help these students succeed. Students must have several needs met in order to be motivated and capable to learn. These motivations, according to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs are: Physiological, Security, Social, and Ego/Esteem which if met, allow growth to occur in the final stage of Self-Actualization. If any of the subordinate needs are not met, it can be extremely difficult to make any progress. Until it is fully recognized that what happens at home is inextricably linked to success at school, teachers will continue to be faced with the daunting task of trying to teach to students who are more focused on their own dilemmas than the goals of the school. This is nothing new, but I think it is essential for all educators to consistently keep a fresh perspective in their practice.
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