The One Word I Teach My Students That Changes Everything

In my classroom, “I can’t” is never the end of a sentence, it’s just the beginning. One of the most powerful things I teach isn’t found in any textbook. It’s a single word: YET.

When a student says, “I can’t do this,” I gently interrupt:
“You can’t do it... what?”
And they reply in unison:
“YET, Mrs. Geyen.”

That moment might seem small, but it’s everything. It’s a shift from defeat to possibility. It tells their brain, “You’re just not there yet. But you will be.”

This word rewires how they view challenges.
It removes shame from struggle.
It builds resilience, persistence, and hope.

I model this constantly. I openly tell my students, “I’m still learning too. I haven’t mastered everything. But I won’t stop at ‘I can’t do it.’ I always add ‘yet.’”

Learning is hard. Growth is slow. And that’s okay.
We don’t need perfection, we need progress. After all, no one is perfect.
Because the truth is, the most important lessons aren’t about math or grammar.
They’re about mindset.
And "yet" might be the most valuable thing I’ve ever taught.