Joe Booker

I believe that first graders have the same curiosity and are just as motivated to learn as sixth graders or high school students. Students curiosity has not declined from first grade but it is the fact that students know so little when they are in first grade. At such a young age children have motivation to learn through their curiosity to find out what many people already know. To these first graders new knowledge, is new knowledge they aren't worried about what it is they just want to absorb as much information as they can. Older students on the other hand know all the basics and have a good grasp in most of the concepts in the world this does not mean they are not curious. These students are curious as well, they are just looking for certain things that interest them and the answers they are looking for might be more complex or not actually exist. They might question religion, what happens when you die, aliens, government, and  life. Curiosity will never stop no matter how old you are, there will always be things we don't know and there will always be things that we want to know, just all apart of life.

Maslows hierarchy

Joe Booker

        I believe that children can learn if they are hungry or feel unsafe in their environment but it is very difficult. Children have basic needs that need to be fulfilled. When a child feels safe in their environment and are fed they can learn to the best to their ability.  If a child were to feel unsafe or remotely uncomfortable in their environment, there would be obvious reasons as to why they were not succeeding. According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, children's physical, emotional, and intellectual needs are interconnected. When a child is uncomfortable they are more concerned with being safe then learning. The problems with this hierarchy is that many people can learn even though it may be difficult. Not all children can go to school fed, not all children feel safe, and there are children who over come those adversities and become successful. When these children are in trouble it can motivate them to get out of the situation they are currently in. If a child feels discomfort in their homes, or they feel unsafe, they might feel that they are not supported or uplifted to do well.  A child requires support in order for themselves to do well.  I connected this to the movie about  Ron Clarke. Shameika was a child who had potential to be very successful, and her teacher, Ron Clarke, saw that in her.  Because she was always taking care of her siblings and having to take responsibility for her family, instead of her mother, she was being held back but Ron Clarke help her realize that she can rise above her situation and become successful.