Lesson planner · classroom toolsI Can Statements Maker
Paste objectives or standards, one per line, and get kid-friendly "I can" statements. Print them as a poster for your board.
Works in your browser. Nothing you type is sent anywhere. Don't enter students' personal details.
What are I can statements?
I can statements are learning objectives written in student-friendly language, from the student's point of view: "I can find the main idea of a text." Posting and referring to them helps students know what they are learning and check their own progress.
How the maker rewrites objectives
- It removes "Students will be able to", "SWBAT", "The student will" and "We are learning to".
- It changes "their" to "my" and "they" to "I".
- With simpler words on, it swaps formal verbs for kid-friendly ones (identify → find, demonstrate → show, determine → figure out).
I can statement examples
- I can count to 100 by ones and by tens. (Kindergarten math)
- I can retell a story with a beginning, middle and end. (Grade 1 reading)
- I can explain how the author uses details to support the main idea. (Grade 4 reading)
- I can compare fractions using benchmark fractions like 1/2. (Grade 4 math)
- I can write an argument with a clear claim and evidence. (Grade 7 writing)
Frequently asked questions
Why use I can statements?
They make the learning target clear to students in their own words, which helps them focus and self-assess.
Should I can statements match standards?
Yes. Most teachers write them from the standard or objective, simplified so students can read and understand them.
How do I display I can statements?
Post the day's statements on the board or a pocket chart, read them at the start of the lesson and return to them at the end. Use Print as a poster for large text.