Allison Behne
When my son first got his PlayStation he was always asking me to play a game with him. My response was “I can’t figure out the controllers. If you want to play a game of cards, I will play, but if you want to play PlayStation, ask your dad.”
He smiled and said, “I’m a kid and I know how to use the controllers. You can learn to play the PS; you just don’t want to.”
What could I say to that? He was entirely right! I certainly could learn—I simply had no desire to. This makes me wonder how often can’t is used inaccurately.
How often do we hear I can’t?
- A child: “I can’t clean my room by myself.”
- A colleague: “I can’t get my whole class to grade-level expectations.”
- A friend: “I can’t lose weight.”
- Yourself: “I can’t ____________.”
Have you ever thought about what those words really mean? They indicate that progress has stopped and the speaker has decided there is no solution; they are giving up.
When an individual says, “I can’t,” do they really mean there is no possible way of doing it? It usually means one of three things:
- I don’t want to do it.
- I don’t believe I can do it.
- I don’t know how to do it.
In all three cases, it is a choice. Replacing I can’t can be a bit unsettling, because it takes the excuse away and holds us responsible. However, it also empowers us.
Next time you think, I can’t_________, stop and correct yourself. You can learn if you want to and if you believe in yourself.
News from The Daily CAFE
Expanding Vocabulary . . .
Can We Talk About These Words?*
This simple technique keeps everyone ready to tune in to interesting words and helps promote the idea that it really is fun to expand our vocabularies.
Math Matters . . .
Write Fractions to Describe Shaded Parts of a Rectangle*
Students will enjoy shading rectangles to represent fractions.
Conferring Corner . . .
Take Me to a Place
Take me to a place sends the reader back into the text to find evidence to support his/her thinking.
Focus on Health . . .
Take a Break
Are you concentrating on self-care by taking small breaks?