The study described in this paper explored the understanding pre-service teachers' have of PK-12 student needs (i.e. Belonging, Mastery, Independence, and Generosity) and the importance of meeting these needs in a climate of Invitational Education. 71 undergraduate teacher education candidates enrolled in a Classroom Management course at a mid-sized Southeastern university in the U.S, learned about the Circle of Courage. This included viewing the movie Freedom Writers to focus of on how this philosophy was incorporated in the movie. Following the viewing, the participants wrote an essay about the significance of meeting these student needs. This activity enabled the participants to link theory to practice, as it prompted them to take a reflective stance, identify some of the strategies they witnessed in the movie, and evaluate how these might benefit their future students.