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Students cannot learn and grow to their full potential when their needs aren’t being met – something we see clearly in the many places worldwide experiencing political unrest, conflict, climate disasters, and general uncertainty.. All behavior is communication, including challenging behavior; when our students are ignoring directions, throwing tantrums, skipping class, neglecting homework, or refusing to participate in the back of the room, they are telling us something. The ABCDE of Learner Needs provides an easy-to-implement framework for translating this behavior into understanding gaps–in Autonomy, Belonging, Competence, Developmental Appropriateness, Engagement, and Fun–so that teachers have a clear view into areas where extra support can be provided in service of their teaching goals.
The ABCDE of Learner Needs provides teachers with a simple, effective framework for understanding the foundational needs of their students and themselves, based on an adaptation of the five core human needs as defined by psychologist William Glasser, and decades of research from educators and child development experts. Reflection tools for each need are available on the ABCDE of Learner Needs website as printable worksheets for use in the classroom or as a self-reflection exercise or within each of the ABCDE of Learner Needs digital guides and are accessible tools as a first step in understanding where additional supports are needed. This tool also includes a deck of ABCDE of Learner Needs Practice Cards. Each includes a question or prompt to help teachers easily integrate Learner Needs into their daily practice.
The ABCDE of Learner Needs was originally created for United States-based teachers in the Inspired Teaching Institute – a year-long program for educators of all grade and experience levels. We then adapted it for use in a residency program for new teachers. During the pandemic, we began offering online training and created new online tools to make this more accessible to teachers around the globe who were experiencing new behavioral challenges both while online teaching and then when students returned to school with new social and emotional learning needs. We have also adapted the tool for specific use in an early childhood context and developed in-depth resource guides that combine the various forms of this tool we’ve been innovating in one location. The ABCDE of Learner Needs framework is integral to all of our professional development training, including our annual Teaching with Improvisation Fellowship. Fellows receive in-depth instruction over an intensive summer workshop, which both strengthens their understanding of the framework and equips them with the knowledge and tools for bringing the ABCDE of Learner Needs into their school community, to share with colleagues.
The ABCDE of Learner Needs Curiosity Cards were piloted at SXSWEDU in 2024 and in the year since, have been distributed to hundreds of teachers for use in their classrooms. With the addition of this physical resource, Inspired Teaching is ensuring that teachers have an array of access points to the ABCDE of Learner Needs framework, based on their specific classroom needs or needs of the lesson in that moment. We have enhanced our ABCDE of Learner Needs programming for early childhood educators, offering specific in-person professional development workshops for educators, and training teachers to lead professional learning in their school communities. In addition to the parent- or guardian-facing materials originally included in each ABCDE of Learner Needs Guidebook and for download on our website, we’ve expanded our offerings to include ABCDE workshops for parents.
Designed to be straightforward and useful in an array of situations, teachers can use the ABCDE of Learner Needs as a classroom activity for students, as well as a self-reflection tool. It is also relevant for parents and any other individuals or organizations focused on education. It is accessible via Inspired Teaching’s website. Institutions interested in in-depth curriculum can contact us directly.
