Today my sister started teaching her students about Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. To introduce it, she had them write down what they felt was essential for life - what we cannot live without - on index cards.
The kids came up with the basics like food, water, oxygen, and shelter, as well as the luxuries you'd expect like internet, cell phone, Playstation, etc.
As she was writing all of their answers on the board, her student with autism and serious processing delays was still working on his card.
After what of course felt like an eternity, he handed his card in. Hearing his answers brought tears to my eyes.
There on his card was written: art, hope, help, and strength.
While everyone focused on our external needs, he zeroed in on what it means to be human and survive in this world.
Even writing about it now is getting me misty eyed. This is a student who is so in his own world that people assume he knows nothing and hears nothing. The kind of kid we teachers are often guilty of looking past, because it's easier than asking five times and waiting several minutes for a response. The very kind of kid we should be reaching out towards.
So I ask you, next time a student is too frustrating to deal with, too slow to respond, or seems to be in a other world, give them your time and patience. What you get back may surprise you.
Wow! Life lesson for us. Great post.
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