I Can Statements PDF – Free

I Can Statements are powerful learning tools. When these resources are used correctly, these statements can help students understand what they are expected to do and why.

WHAT IS AN I CAN STATEMENT?

An I Can Statement is a simple statement that describes what an individual is expected to do to reach student learning targets. I Can Statements are often used in schools and classrooms to help students understand expectations.  They are written in student-friendly language so they are easy to understand.

I Can Statements can be used in different subjects too! You can list specific learning objectives based on your state standards or topics so the students understand clearly what they need to master. This can help students feel more confident and motivated in their learning and hopefully improve student achievement.

HOW TO USE I CAN STATEMENTS IN THE CLASSROOM

There are many ways to use I Can Statements in the classroom for your learners. Here are a few ideas:

1. Write I Can Statements on the board or on a piece of paper for the entire class to see.

2. Give each student a copy of the I Can Statements for the day or week.

3. Post I Can Statements around the classroom as a reminder of expectations.

4. Use I Can Statements when introducing a new lesson or concept.

5. Refer to I Can Statements throughout the lesson to help students stay on track.

6. Give students time at the end of the lesson to reflect on which I Can Statements they met during the lesson.

7. Use I Can Statements as a assessment tool. After a lesson, have students choose which I Can Statement they feel best describes what they learned.

ARE I CAN STATEMENTS EFFECTIVE?

There are many benefits to using I Can Statements in the classroom.  I can statements help to:

• make learning goals explicit. Students can reference the statements to know exactly what they need to do to be successful. This clarity is especially helpful for struggling students or students with different learning styles. 
• increase student engagement. When students see that they can accomplish a goal, they are more likely to be motivated to try. 
• promote a growth mindset. By using language such as “I can”, students focus on their ability to improve rather than their current level of expertise.

EXAMPLES OF I CAN STATEMENTS KINDERGARTEN AND OTHER GRADE LEVELS

The posters that you can download for FREE at the bottom of this post are suitable for pre-K, kindergarten, and first grade.  Below each statement explains why it is important to achieve the skill.  You can read that information out loud to your students as you display the posters.

I CAN RAISE MY HAND

I can raise my hand is a phrase often used in schools. It means that the person speaking has the right to speak or be heard. The phrase is usually used when someone wants to ask a question or make a comment. Sometimes, people will also use the phrase I can raise my hand if they want to show that they are paying attention or if they want to show that they are ready to participate. Using this phrase shows that you are assertive and confident in what you have to say. It is also a good way to get the attention of the person you are speaking to.

I CAN BE NICE TO MY FRIENDS

Being nice to your friends means being kind, thoughtful, and considerate towards them. It means taking the time to listen to them and support them, whether they’re going through a tough time or celebrating a success. 

Nice people are always pleasant to be around, and their friends know that they can count on them for a shoulder to cry on or a word of encouragement. Being nice is about making your friends feel good – and that’s what true friendship is all about.

I CAN KEEP MY HANDS AND FEET TO MYSELF

It’s a concept we learn early on in life: Keep your hands and feet to yourself. But what does that really mean? When we tell children to keep their hands and feet to themselves, we’re teaching them about personal space and body autonomy. 

It’s important for everyone to feel comfortable in their own space, and to be able to control who has access to their body. That can mean anything from not hitting or kicking others, to not hugging someone who doesn’t want to be hugged. Respecting personal space includes being aware of the way our words and actions might make others feel uncomfortable, and making sure we have consent before touching someone else. 

Simply put, keeping our hands and feet to ourselves is a way of showing respect for others.

I CAN BE QUIET WHEN I AM WORKING

It can be difficult for kindergartners to sit still and focus on their work.  When teachers say “I can be quiet when I am working,” they are reminding their students that it is possible to be quiet and focused even when they are feeling antsy. 

This phrase is also a reminder that the student’s actions have consequences: if they choose to be noisy and disrupt the class, they may miss out on important learning opportunities. By contrast, if they choose to be quiet and focus on their work, they will be better able to learn and succeed in school. In other words, the choice is up to the students: they can either be quiet and focused, or they can be disruptive and unfocused. The decision is theirs, but the teachers hope that their students will make the choice that will help them learn and succeed in school.

I CAN KEEP MY BODY CALM.

This phrase is a reminder to students that they can control their bodies even when they feel upset or excited. It is important for students to learn how to keep their bodies calm, because it can help them to think more clearly and make better decisions. 

When students are feeling upset, they might not be able to think as clearly as they normally would. This can lead to them making poor decisions, or acting out in ways that they might later regret. On the other hand, if students can learn to keep their bodies calm, they will be able to think more clearly and make better decisions. 

The ability to keep one’s body calm is an important skill for students to learn, and it is something that they can practice every day.

I CAN RESPECT MY FRIEND’S OPINIONS

Friends can have different opinions on things, and that’s okay! It’s actually a good thing, because it means that we get to learn new things from each other. 

However, it’s important to remember to respect our friends’ opinions, even if we don’t agree with them. That means listening to what they have to say, and considering their point of view. It also means being willing to have a discussion about our differences, instead of getting into an argument. 

Respecting our friends’ opinions is an important part of being a good friend. It shows that we care about them and their thoughts, and that we are open to learning new things from them.

I CAN THINK BEFORE I SPEAK

Before we say something, it’s important to think about what we’re going to say. That way, we can make sure that our words are kind and helpful, and that they won’t hurt anyone’s feelings. 

Sometimes, we might say something without thinking first, and later realize that it was mean or hurtful. If we take a moment to think about what we’re going to say before we say it, we can avoid saying things that we might later regret. 

Thinking before we speak is an important skill to learn, because it can help us to be kinder and more thoughtful friends.

I CAN SHARE

Sharing is an important part of being a good friend. It means that we are willing to share our time, our toys, and our attention with our friends. 

When we share with our friends, we are showing them that we care about them and want to spend time with them. We are also helping to build strong friendships, because sharing is a key part of being a good friend. 

So next time you’re playing with your friends, remember to share! It will make your friendship stronger and better.

I CAN ASK FOR HELP

Sometimes, we might need help from our friends. That’s okay! Asking for help is actually a sign of strength, because it shows that we are willing to admit when we need assistance. 

When we ask our friends for help, we are showing them that we trust them and value their opinion. We are also giving them the chance to show how much they care about us by offering their help. 

Asking for help from our friends is an important part of being a good friend. It shows that we trust them and value their opinion, and it gives them the chance to show how much they care about us.

I CAN LISTEN TO MY TEACHER

Teachers are there to help us learn, and one of the best ways to learn is by listening to our teachers. When we listen to our teachers, we are showing them that we respect their knowledge and experience. We are also giving them the chance to share important information with us. 

I CAN WALK IN A LINE

When we are walking in a line, it is important to stay in our own space and not touch the person in front of us or behind us. This shows respect for personal space and helps everyone to stay safe. 

It can be tempting to reach out and touch the person in front of us when we are walking in a line, but it’s important to resist the urge. We should also avoid talking while we are walking in a line, so that everyone can stay focused and stay safe. 

Walking in a line is an important safety skill, and it’s one that we should all practice. By staying in our own space and not touching or talking to the people around us, we can help everyone to stay safe.

I CAN USE KIND WORDS

When we use kind words, we are showing our friends that we care about them and want to make them feel good. We are also helping to build strong friendships, because kind words can make people feel happy and appreciated. 

I CAN IDENTIFY MY EMOTIONS

Sometimes, we might not know how we’re feeling. This can be confusing and frustrating, but it’s actually very normal! 

One way to help us figure out how we’re feeling is by learning to identify our emotions. This means taking a moment to notice how our bodies are feeling, and what our thoughts are. Once we know how we’re feeling, we can start to figure out why we’re feeling that way. 

Identifying our emotions is an important skill to learn, because it can help us to understand ourselves better. It can also help us to communicate our needs to our friends and family. 

I CAN TAKE A BREAK IF I AM UPSET.

When we’re feeling upset, it’s important to take a break. This means taking some time for ourselves to calm down and relax. You can try deep breathing, listening to music, stretching, or taking a walk.

Sometimes, we might try to keep going even when we’re feeling upset. But this can actually make our emotions worse, because it doesn’t give us a chance to calm down. 

Taking a break when we’re feeling upset is an important part of taking care of ourselves. It helps us to calm down and relax, so that we can deal with our emotions in a healthy way. 

HOW DO YOU WRITE YOUR OWN I CAN STATEMENTS?

You can write I can statements for specific subjects, core competencies I can statements,  learning targets in math and language arts, social emotional learning, functional skills, etc. You can use the common core standards too!

Simply write in your own words what you want the student to accomplish and put the word I can in front of it.  For example:

• I can read these 10 sight words.
• I can write the lowercase letters.
• I can read informational text.
• I can explain the details of a story.
• I can write a poem.
• I can add two digit numbers.
• I can write a fiction short story.
• I can use the playground equipment safely.
• I can wash my hands before I eat.

If you need grade-specific examples, you can check these out.