Module Introduction
Scientists have discovered that we have three, perhaps four, basic psychological needs that directly affect our motivation. Addressing these needs in students has the potential to greatly impact their intrinsic motivation and sense of belonging.
In this module, we:
- Review the four basic psychological needs that affect motivation and belonging
- Brainstorm examples of how educators and schools can meet the four basic psychological needs that affect motivation and belonging for their students
Module Resources
This toolkit includes additional resources, including classroom lessons and practices, staff meeting activities, videos, podcasts, articles, and professional development opportunities, as well as supporting materials for group facilitation on the topic of "Safety and Belonging in Schools".
Individual Exploration
Meeting Students’ Psychological Needs to Help Them Feel Like They Belong
(narrated by Vicki Zakrzewski, Ph.D., Education Director, Greater Good Science Center)
Reflection
- How is your school meeting students’ need for autonomy, giving them space to choose who they want to be and the lives they want to live? What is one thing your school could do to increase students’ sense of autonomy? How is your school meeting this need in teachers?
- How is your school meeting students’ need for relatedness, or helping them feel connected to people and groups? What is one thing your school could do to increase students’ sense of relatedness? How is your school meeting this need in teachers?
- How is your school meeting students’ need for competence, helping them to use and grow their skills and expertise, both inner and outer? What is one thing your school could do to increase students’ feeling of competence? How is your school meeting this need in teachers?
2.4 Take it Deeper: SWOT Analysis Psychological Needs
Create a SWOT analysis for your classroom or your role, to analyze the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats in how you currently meet the psychological needs of your students and/or how the school meets your own psychological needs.
Module Resources
This toolkit includes additional resources, including classroom lessons and practices, staff meeting activities, videos, podcasts, articles, and professional development opportunities, as well as supporting materials for group facilitation on the topic of "Safety and Belonging in Schools".
Use this exercise to assess how you currently meet the psychological needs of your students and/or how the school meets your own psychological needs.
Group Facilitation
Before facilitating groups, spend time in individual exploration in order to experience and embody the learning. And if you haven’t yet explored our introduction to SEL in California, make sure you explore those resources, too.
When facilitating groups, use the following resources:
This toolkit includes additional resources, including classroom lessons and practices, staff meeting activities, videos, podcasts, articles, and professional development opportunities, as well as supporting materials for group facilitation on the topic of "Safety and Belonging in Schools".
A revisable, turnkey powerpoint slide deck to use for professional learning sessions on the topic of "Safety and Belonging in Schools".
A powerpoint slide deck with welcoming and closing activities to include in professional learning sessions.
Additional Modules
Safety and Belonging in Schools
- Module 2.1 Why Belonging Matters
- Module 2.2 Knowing Ourselves First: Surfacing Our Beliefs About Social and Emotional Well-Being and Belonging in Schools
- Module 2.3 The Questions of Belonging: Interventions to Help Students Feel Like They Belong
- Module 2.4 Meeting Students’ Psychological Needs to Help Them Feel Like They Belong
- Module 2.5 Cultivating Belonging Through Teacher-Student and Peer Relationships
- Module 2.6 Building a Belonging School Through Trust and Psychological Safety
Do you want to dive deeper into the science behind our GGIE practices? Enroll in one of our online courses for educators!
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