The document emphasizes the importance of addressing students' basic psychological needs for effective teaching and learning. It highlights that when students feel safe, accepted, valued, and connected, their behavior improves and they are more likely to succeed academically. Teachers are encouraged to understand their students' backgrounds and needs to create supportive learning environments.

1. Understanding Students’ Basic Psychological NeedsAleasha A. LewisCUIN 607February 25, 2010

2. Words of WisdomTeaching is difficult under the best educational conditions, and this failure to take into account the needs of students or teachers makes what is already a hard job almost impossible. Any method of teaching that ignores the needs of teachers or students is bound to fail. -William Glasser (1990)The Quality School: Managing Students Without Coercion

3. Students are more likely to behave and learn when their personal and psychological needs are met, particularly when they feel:safe, accepted, valued, meaningful, involved, belonging, competent, loved, free, powerful, content, interested, independent, cooperative, collaborative, loved, community, responsibility, supported, engaged, intelligent, warmth, entertained and self-actualized.

4. TEACHERS CAN:Have a major impact on how students:B e h a v e

5. L e a r n

6. F e e l a b o u t t h e m s e l v e s - -DESPITE FACTORS OUTSIDE THE CONTROL OF TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS

7. Students spend one-fourth of their waking lives in school!

8. By creating environments that responds sensitively to students’ needs, teachers can ensure that most student behavior will bePOSITIVE AND GOAL-DIRECTED.

9. We must ask ourselves WHY so many children enter school excited and eager to learn, only to leave feeling unliked and unsuccessful.The ANSWER IS: FAILURE TO MEET STUDENT NEEDS.

10. The effectiveness of any teaching strategy or behavior change approach is influenced by the degree to which it responds to students’ needs.

11. Needs/Development Theorists MaslowLong & MorseBrendtro, et al.CoopersmithKohnGlasserGarbarinoDreikursEriksonGreenspanKarr-Morse & WileyBowlbyMasterson & CostelloNielsenElkindLipsitzSeligmanDishion, French & PattersonPipherothers

12. While the condition of being “at-risk” is influenced by social factors, such as poverty, racism, sexism, family dysfunction, substance abuse and students’ developmental backgrounds, It is also related to the quality of schooling in our society.