What is the secret to sparking intrinsic academic motivation? What is the key to promoting character development? The answer to both of these questions begins with meeting what researchers call our “basic psychological needs.” We are all familiar with our need for food, water, and shelter, but meeting basic physical needs like these is only half of the challenge. To move from surviving to thriving requires that a different set of needs be met. At Heart of Character we work with teachers and school leaders to promote understanding of these psychological needs and deliver high-quality, impactful strategies for meeting them. A convincing body of research has been amassed over the last nearly fifty years, and while its findings are widely accepted among academics, its implications have been slow to trickle down to educators and other practitioners. Some of these findings confirm our intuition and experiences, but many others challenge them. We hope you will follow this LinkedIn page and contact us if you want to learn more. The science of is motivation is fascinating, but the art of putting it to work for students is beautiful.