Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is a psychological concept that believes a child cannot succeed until their physiological needs are first met. This theory is based on the 5 tiered pyramid where the basic needs are at the bottom (tier 1 and 2) and the self-fulfillment needs are on top (tier 5). The overall question for this theory is: what is the child's motivation that drives the type of behavior they are expressing? Tier 5 is not achieved by everyone, and it is possible for people to move up and down amongst the tiers. Below is a list of the 5 tiers that represent Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory.

• Tier 1: Biological and Physiological Needs- air, food, drink, shelter, warmth, sleep, and sex. 
• Tier 2: Safety Needs- protection from elements, security, order, law, stability, and freedom from fear.
• Tier 3: Love and Belongingness Needs- friendship, intimacy, trust and acceptance, receiving and giving affection and love, and being part of a group. 
• Tier 4: Esteem Needs- achievement, independence, mastery, status, dominance, prestige, self-respect, and respect from others. 
• Tier 5: Self Actualization Needs- realizing personal potential, self-fulfillment, seeking personal growth and peak experiences.

Maslow's hierarchy of needs is used in educational environments in that it has greatly contributed to teaching and classroom management. Maslow looks at the physical, emotional, social, and intellectual qualities of an individual and how they impact their learning within the classroom. Before students cognitive needs can be met through literacy, their basic needs must first be met. For example, a student who didn't have breakfast and is hungry will not be able to do their best academically. Similar to this, a student who did not sleep well the night before will not be able to focus on academics because they are physically exhausted. A classroom culture that reflects Maslow's hierarchy of needs will be a successful classroom. Students need to feel physically and emotionally safe and accepted within the classroom culture in order to reach their full potential. 

I think that Maslow's hierarchy of needs does a fantastic job helping people understand the needs of children as well as adults. I feel that all teachers should be taught about Maslow's hierarchy of needs and the importance it plays in one's classroom. There are several schools that have taken this theory and made programs that will help students reach their full potential. Many public school systems provide free or reduced breakfast and lunch for their students in order to help them succeed in the classroom. In addition to this, The BackPack Program is a program that sends food home with students on Friday to ensure that the students will have food over the weekend. These are just a few of the ways in which Maslow's hierarchy of needs has heavily influenced the classroom and promoted academic success.