Motivation

Today in class we were learning about motivation.  The last two topics we’ve learned about (memory and motivation) I secretly wish we had done earlier in the semester, for my own selfish reasons of course!  Learning about the SQ4R and levels of motivation make sense!  I am glad to have these new tools for learning I believe they will help me in my education and career.

I was looking at Maslow’s levels of motivation and thinking about me and the students is in the kindergarten class that I work in.  Sometimes it is hard to make a proper motivator for the children that have parents that love them so much that sometimes they don’t realize that they are doing everything for their children creating learned helplessness. Where is the motivation in doing things for yourself when you don’t have to?  Then I think about the children on the other end of the spectrum.  These are the ones that are coming in with hungry tummies or wearing clothes that aren’t proper for the weather.  How can I expect them to focus on letter formation when they are cold or hungry? 

I am bothered a bit when thinking about trying to be aware of the many needs of the students I will have.  What if I make the mistake of thinking that a student isn’t performing at their best level and it is because they aren’t having the basic level of deficiency needs being met?  I would absolutely hate to be so absorbed in meeting curriculum that I couldn’t see that a student needs something different from me.  What about the student’s that hide this because of pride or embarrassment?  I hope by educating myself from this class I will have the insight to help the students in my career.   I will do the best with what I have at that time and in the moment….

Now looking at the classic image of the person chasing the dangling carrot I wonder which level of Maslow's needs are they trying to meet?  Do they need the basic needs of food, shelter and safety to be met or are they chasing the dangling carrot of success and fulfillment? (I guess this gives me something to chew on....yes that's a bad joke!)