Whats Your Purpose?

Your purpose statement will be a reminder of your commitmentsto yourself and others. It will help
keep you on track when you get frustrated, tired, or feel inadequate.
Because purpose statements have a foundation in what you want to contribute, or give, they are
powerful reminders when you feel down, to look beyond yourself to your bigger picture.
Your purpose statement is a combination of:
Who you want to be
What you want to do
Why you do it
and
How you want to accomplish it
The following information will help guide you through the steps to create your personal teaching
purpose statement.
Your Passion is Your Power
If your purpose holds no personal passion, it is probably not your path. Passion gives you energy to
achieve, create, learn, belong to, or make something happen. Enthusiasm is the outward expression of
energy and excitement about something important to you. Passion combined with enthusiasm makes
your purpose come alive.
Here are some examples of Purpose Statements written by teachers:
I will inspire children to value education and teach opportunities for self-growth and development.
I am an educator! In everything I do, I will be guided by my values and shall give it my interest, my
enthusiasm, my passion, and most importantly, myself.
My purpose is to guide each student on the road of success and develop lifelong learning skills by
providing a nurturing, respectful, high quality learning environment.
Creating Your Teaching Purpose Statement
Step 1
Answering the following questions can give you perspective on your motivation.
a) What excites you about teaching?
______________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________
b) What most frustrates you about teaching?
_______________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

c)

What are you most enthusiastic and/or motivated about?

___________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Step 2
Every purpose requires action, and action words are verbs. Below are action words that might help
shape your purpose statement.
A) Highlight the verbs below which most resonate, excite, or motivate you.
accomplish
choose
purpose
build
improve
encourage
enthuse
forgive
give
integrate
master
motivate
participate
produce
train
reform
respect
share
sustain
value
teach

affect
communicate
connect
defend
dream
enhance
explore
foster
heal
lead
mediate
nurture
persuade
practice
receive
relate
restore
speak
team
volunteer
pursue

alleviate
compete
construct
discover
direct
enlighten
express
further
implement
mentor
model
open
play
promote
reduce
remember
sacrifice
stand
touch
develop
realize

believe
acknowledge
counsel
create
distribute
educate
entertain
facilitate
gather
inspire
make
mold
organize
present
provide
refine
renew
serve
support
understand
write
(add your own
word...)

B) List 4 words that best represent what is most important to you they may be from the words
above or any ones that are meaningful to you.
1. _______________________________________

3. _______________________________________

2. _______________________________________

4. _______________________________________

Your values are your compass, your purpose statement is the destination you have
chosen to travel and your goals are the map and steps to get there

Step 3
What do you value?
What principle, cause, value, and/or role would you be willing to offer to your students?
For example, a characteristic or value might be:
Determined, consistent, fair, truthful, empathetic, hopeful, sincere, positive, caring, patient, nurturing,
supportive, considerate, understanding, fun, happy, helpful, kind, focused, etc.
A role might be: Teacher, leader, mentor, friend, trusted adult, etc.
Write the words or phrase here:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Step 4
Who are you here to help?
Every purpose implied that someone or group will be helped. The more specific you can be, the more
focused and powerful your energy will be.
I am here to assist and/or help: _________________________________________________________

Putting it all together is as easy as 1, 2, 3, 4!

Utilizing your choices from steps 1-4, the following is to assist you in writing your purpose statement.
When all is done, please edit it to make it as congruent as possible for you.
Your answers from Steps 1, 2, 3, 4
Your
lead
in

My purpose is to
or
I am a teacher because

Step
1

Perspective or motivation

Step
2

Your action words:

Step
3

What you value:

Step
4

For who
And/or because
Or

My purpose statement: ___________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

My purpose statement: ___________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

The mediocre teacher tells. The good

teacher explains.
The superior teacher demonstrates. The
great teacher inspires.
---William Arthur Ward