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a ready-to-run workshopA Sense of Purpose
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Fostering a Sense of Purpose (Workshop)

Students who see purpose in what they do, a reason that matters beyond the grade, are more motivated, resilient, and engaged. Helping students find meaning and a sense that they matter transforms school from something to get through into something worth doing.

Key takeaway

Students who see purpose in what they do, a reason beyond the grade, are more motivated, resilient, and engaged; helping students find meaning and a sense that they matter transforms school from something to get through into something worth doing.

Format
PLC / team meeting
Length
45 minutes
Group size
Any (works 4-40)
Who can run it
Any teacher-leader
You will need
Slides (5)Printed handoutA unit in mindA timer
Aligned to
Learning Forward: Transformational ProcessesInTASC 3: Learning EnvironmentsResearch on purpose and meaning
Share / assign

Why it works

A sense of purpose, having goals and reasons that matter beyond oneself and feeling that one's efforts and existence have meaning and value, is a powerful contributor to motivation, engagement, resilience, and wellbeing (research on purpose, meaning, and mattering supports this). Students often experience school as meaningless hoops, which drains motivation, while those who find genuine purpose, connecting learning to their interests, values, future, and to contribution and mattering, are far more engaged and resilient. Teachers can foster a sense of purpose by helping students connect learning to what they care about and to meaningful goals, giving them chances to contribute and make a difference, helping them feel they matter, and fostering reflection on meaning and values. Fostering purpose is distinct from short-term motivation tricks: it taps the deep human need for meaning, and it serves students far beyond school.

The research: Research on purpose, meaning, and mattering.

The run-of-show

Choose your slot. The agenda, timings, and length update to match.

    The core activity: help students find purpose and meaning

    Teachers leave connecting learning to meaning, contribution, and mattering.

    Meaning makes school worth doingStudents who find purpose, learning connected to what they care about, chances to contribute, a sense that they matter, are more motivated and resilient. Foster meaning, not just short-term motivation.

    Facilitator notes

    School as meaningless hoops drains motivationWhen students see no purpose beyond the grade, motivation drains. Connect learning to what they care about, give them chances to contribute, and help them feel they matter.

    Adapt it

    Participant handout

    One page for every teacher. Print it, or save it as a PDF.

    K12 Academics · Professional Learning

    A Sense of Purpose: meaning and mattering

    <b>Worth doing:</b> connect learning to what students care about, give chances to contribute, and help them feel they matter.

    1. How I connect learning to what students care about and meaningful goals:
    2. How I give students chances to contribute and make a difference:
    3. How I help students feel they matter:
    4. How I foster reflection on meaning and purpose:
    5. A way to add purpose to a unit:

    Make it stick

    Meaning and mattering:

    Common questions

    Why does a sense of purpose matter?
    Purpose, reasons and goals that matter beyond oneself and a sense that one's efforts and existence have meaning, strongly supports motivation, engagement, resilience, and wellbeing. Students who find purpose are far more engaged than those who see school as meaningless hoops.
    How do I foster purpose?
    Connect learning to what students care about and to meaningful goals, give them chances to contribute and make a difference, help them feel they matter, and foster reflection on meaning and values. It taps a deep need, not a short-term trick.
    Isn't this just motivation?
    It is deeper than short-term motivation tricks. Purpose taps the human need for meaning and mattering, connecting learning to what students care about, their future, and contribution, which sustains engagement far beyond school.

    Go deeper

    Build it into a bigger day

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