Job Training and Seminar Classes
Let’s hear what a coach and job-training teacher who used The 5 Needs materials has to say:
The 5 Needs in Life program is always a great way for me to begin the year with my students. It helps me explain the questions: why jobs are needed, how to perform our best on the job, and the consequences/rewards for the choices we make. The 5 Needs in Life is also thought provoking and generates thoughtful classroom discussions. Another benefit of teaching The 5 Needs in Life is that I can continuously revisit each of the needs throughout the year. The students begin to see how the Five Needs show up in their daily lives at work and at home. Hopefully they begin to understand that when a need is not being met it can affect other aspects of their lives or performance on the job.
With the Five Needs in my lesson plans, I hope to help my students become more self-confident, gain an understanding of their freedoms, respect their boundaries, and appreciate their relationships with others. In all, I want to help my students become the best citizens, workers, and family members that they can. The Five Needs in Life is a great resource for helping me provide impactful lessons for my students.
Quentin A. Jones
Special education teacher & track coach, Fauquier High School
Teachers can use The 5 Needs materials in casual as well as structured ways. They are free to do what works best for their students.
One idea for middle school is to have a 7-week series: one week for introduction, one for each of the five needs and one for closing. During these sessions, the students learn how to identify each need, or not. Students talk about ways to meet their needs, especially for those going into the world of working.
Questions to ponder:
- How will meeting, or not meeting, The Needs impact my life?
- Love and Belonging? What does that really mean?
- What Freedom and Boundaries are you talking about?
- What kind of Power are you talking about?
- So, you think Fun is a real need in my life?
- Will Learning about The Needs help me make friends? Be happy?
- How will I set boundaries at home and socially?
- What does it mean to really have fun?
- Will The 5 Needs help me learn to deal with bullying?
- My parents need this! How can I make them learn this stuff? (a student actually asked this!)
- How will I stay alive on my own? Where will I sleep? What will I eat?
- What will it all cost and how will I ever pay for it all?
- Why will staying in school help me in life?
- What can I do for fun in the “real world?”
- What is this stuff about “loving myself” anyway?
- How can I find friends and figure out where I belong?
Most students care about their grades and want to learn. However, some are not able to make the grades for a variety of reasons, so they give up. What if you can make learning worthwhile by providing projects that also earn credit towards graduation. This can happen using The 5 Needs in Life materials and workbooks.
Some students will often become interested in learning as they see how it impacts them personally. The 5 Needs projects provide an opportunity to increase self-esteem and confidence when students learn they can do some of the academic work their way. This can be done in all classes and has been used in general education and special education classes.
Projects are provided in the back of “We All Have Needs” as well as “People of All Ages Have Needs.” Other projects can be found in Project Based Learning guides and by brainstorming with the students, who are often very clever about creating projects.
Feel free to contact Wendy at wendy@the5needs.com to discuss your class needs and together we can create a plan that will help you incorporate The 5 Needs with your work and possibly enhance student learning.
