Lead with heart—use these prompts to turn values into action
As we put things into this world, it’s worth taking the time to ask the right questions.
That’s where Read by 4th’s Purpose Prompts come in. These reflective questions are grounded in our shared values and help promote values-driven decision-making and stronger solutions.
We’re all used to asking: Will this help more children read at grade level? That’s our “north star,” but it’s just the start. There’s a whole world of things to think about, like how we work together, who we center, and whether our strategies truly reflect the values we say we stand for.
These prompts invite partners to pause and reflect before jumping into a big idea. Even if you’re not officially part of the Read by 4th movement (yet!), we hope these get your wheels turning and bring a little more heart to your work.
Are we focusing on gaps or gifts?
How might this idea help a child feel strong and capable?
Who else should be at the table and how can we invite them into the conversation?
What could aligning our efforts for maximum impact look like? And how can we share our strengths in ways that are sustainable?
What community solutions are already working, and how might we build on them?
How are we listening to those we serve or involving them in the decision-making process?
Why does this work matter most right now? What’s at stake if we wait?
Where might we slow down just enough to do the right thing and not compromise quality?
What is the "why" behind this challenge? How might systemic, historical, or social factors be contributing to its root cause?
How might we design for the most marginalized so our solutions work better for everyone?
How are we integrating the Science of Reading?
What are the unspoken rules, rituals, or beliefs shaping behavior? Are we assuming any norms without question?
How can we make this work simpler, shorter, and jargon-free?
How might we meet people where they are through format, language, and tone?
What do we want to learn from this project? How will we stay open to what the findings teach us?
What does the research say? And what gaps exist that we need to dig deeper into?
What have we promised to each other and those we serve? Are we living up to that?
What does feedback that builds trust and momentum sound like?
If love led the way, what would change?
When this work gets hard, how will we remember why we started?
Values shouldn’t sit on a shelf. They’re tools for making decisions, setting priorities, and choosing how we show up. Here are a few ways to use these prompts:
Kick off your next meeting with a question prompt. Let it guide your convo and open up new ideas.
Assign each team member a value to champion during collaboration. It’s a great way to spark healthy debate and engage different perspectives.
Sort and rank the values. What rises to the top? What feels missing? What does that say about where your team is—and where you’re headed?
Pick your favorite question. Trust your gut and talk about it. There’s magic in intuition.
Let us know how you're using these Purpose Prompts and if they’re helping you develop more meaningful early literacy solutions.
