Thinking of Students' Needs

Time goes by too fast and before you realize, you are in another decade!  I have been retired for several years, and still have dreams at night about being called back to work, taking on one more year, or trying to get my foot in the door at a new job. I left teaching and tried another aspect of service to the community.

I worked for a family support agency and learned so much about families, the dynamics, and the challenges teens encounter before they even get to school in the morning. And now that we all are trying to navigate the pandemic, I can guess that many of the clients receiving services are in situations that are not going to help them and are probably causing feelings of hopelessness.

I know this is not true for everyone and I am not sure what the percentage would be for this group of adolescents. What I have learned, in the short time I was employed, is that if you are a teacher, you can probably figure out quickly which students are coming from situations that are chaotic, unpredictable, and unlike anything you have experienced for yourself.

Teachers should try to be mindful of the situations at the homes of our students. Schools can work with agencies to find out what is happening in homes that may present roadblocks to student learning and success. Home visits can provide additional insights. During a home visit, parents/guardians are able to sign releases of information for agencies and/or doctors treating the teen. Those roadblocks are real, happen frequently, and deny students' ability to have their basic needs met. 

When  talking about basic needs, I am referring to Maslow's Hierarchy. 




https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html

We need to try to make safe and secure environments at school for all students. Teachers cannot take a negative attitude towards the students who are lacking the basic needs. Until those needs are met, students are not ready to learn.