Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Abraham Maslow developed a theory of personality that has influenced a number of different fields, including education. This wide influence is due, in part, to the high level of practicality of Maslow's theory.

Maslow set up a hierarchy of the five levels of basic needs. Beyond these needs, higher levels of needs exist. These include needs for understanding, esthetic appreciation and purely spiritual needs. In the list of basic needs, the person feels the second need only after the first has been satisfied, and so on.

With the help of your partner, build Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs with the blocks provided. As you place each block, give one example of how you and/or your partner attend to that need during YI classes.

Maslow's Needs (basic hierarchy)

Physiological

Safety (physical and psychological)

Love, affection & belonging

Esteem

Self-actualization

IN THE FOLLOWING SCENARIO, WHERE ARE THE STUDENTS IN MASLOW'S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS?

WHAT EFFECT DO YOU THINK THIS IS HAVING ON YOUR CLASS?

It's the last day before Thanksgiving break. Your group has been challenging all week, but today, they have picked out one student and are ostracizing her.

IN THE FOLLOWING SCENARIO, WHERE ARE THE STUDENTS IN MASLOW'S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS?

WHAT EFFECT DO YOU THINK THIS IS HAVING ON YOUR CLASS?

One female student has refused to pee outside (there are no indoor toilets available) all week.

WITH YOUR PARTNER'S HELP, THINK OF ONE EXAMPLE YOU'VE EXPERIENCED WHERE ONE OR MORE STUDENT ISN'T GETTING THEIR ESTEEM NEEDS MET.

FEEDING YOUR STUDENTS’ BRAINS

EXTEND YOUR HANDS WITH PALMS OPEN, FACING DOWN. LOCK YOUR THUMBS. CURL YOUR FINGERS TO MAKE TWO FISTS AND TURN FISTS UNTIL THE KNUCKLES TOUCH.

YOU ARE LOOKING AT A REASONABLE FACSIMILE OF YOUR BRAIN!

o The interlocking thumbs represent the right side of the brain controlling the left side of the body and vice versa.

o Your wrists represent the brain stem.

o Your knuckles and outside of your hands represent the cerebrum, or thinking part of your brain.

o The tips of your fingers represent the limbic, or emotional system. All learning is filtered through the limbic system.

So, how does this affect my teaching?

Since all learning is screened through the limbic system, design lessons with an element of novelty and fun to increase student engagement.

Moving new learning from working memory to long-term memory requires REM sleep. Take steps to assure you and your students are getting sufficient deep sleep.

Your brain weighs 6 % of your body weight (if you are of normal weight), but uses 20% of the calories! Learning takes energy! Feed students at regular intervals, snack in 2 hours, lunch in 4 hours, and another snack in 6 hours. Fruit sugars are the best “food” for your brain.

Hydrate your students’ brains! Make sure your students drink at least one liter of water (plain water, no sugar solutions or tea) during a full day class.