How I CAN Statements Can Work For You

Many teachers, schools and districts are buzzing about I CAN statements.  What is all the hype and are they really worth integrating into your classroom?  The decision is ultimately yours, but here is a little look into my experience with I CAN statements and how I used them to enhance my curriculum and my teaching.

What is an I CAN Statement?

In a nutshell, I CAN statements are simple sentences designed by the

teacher or the department.  (Secondary folks often choose something a little diffferent, such as “As an artist, I will…)  Either way, these statements are based off the power standards or learning objectives from the curriculum, but they are written in student-friendly language.   I CAN statements break down lofty objectives into learning targets students can read and understand.  They cover specific learning for each lesson, and there can be more than one I CAN statement for each Power Standard.

For example:

The neat thing about I CAN statements is that if they are used consistently and accurately, they can help students become more responsible for their learning and more reflective of their own work.  I CAN statements also easily transition into assessments and allow for students and teachers to have a better discussion of their work.

How did I set this up?

I began with a list of I CAN statements designed to match my curriculum for each grade level.  (Feel free to download a sample of my list below)

I printed out a copy to keep handy while I was lesson planning.  I also had all my I CAN statements printed and laminated in large, color coded strips.  It is a lot of printing indeed, but laminating makes sure I will have them to use for years to come.

Some teachers prefer to write I CAN statements on the board, possibly under a catchy sign like this one.

My whiteboard space was a hot commodity, so I came up with an ulterior method.  I had two large, metal doors in my classroom, so I made a space for each grade level and posted new I CAN statements each week using magnets.  I kept the grade level space constant throughout the year and referred to them often throughout each lesson.

As I designed my digital lesson plans, I included I CAN Statements at the bottom and ticked them off my printed list.  This way I knew what statements to pull for the following week and I was able to keep a running record of the I CAN statements that I had used, as well as those I still needed to use.

For all grades K-5, I referred to the I CAN statements as I walked around the room during work time.  Including these statements in discussions of their work helped students focus on the goal and the “why” behind each lesson.  The I CAN learning targets were also included in a short printed summary that students in k-2 glued to the back of each work.  This is similar to Jessica’s Itty Bitty Message.

Students in grades 3-5 completed a self-reflection at the end of each lesson that included the I CAN statements.  Feel free to download a sample self-reflection form like the one below.  Students simply glued this reflection to the back of their project before turning it in.

In my experience, I CAN statements were a nice fit.  They are clear simple statements that bridge the gap between curriculum planning and the daily art room experience.  As a bonus, they can also be used to enhance communication with students and parents.  The learning is right there, broken down and easy to follow and understand.

How do you use I CAN statements? 

What are some ways you are making the learning targets clear to your students?