Our first graders are discovering the magic of the word “yet!” During a lesson in social-emotional learning, the students explored how adding yet to a sentence such as, “I can’t do this” can turn frustration into hope, becoming “I can’t do this yet.” The power of yet is a concept in growth-mindset philosophy that encourages us to add the word “yet” to things we believe we cannot achieve. By adding the word “yet,” we remind ourselves that we can transform limitations into opportunities, and affirm that we believe in our ability to improve over time.

“Through stories, games, and discussions,” shares First Grade Teacher McKenzie Corbett, “the students are learning that making mistakes and facing challenges are part of growing.” The students practiced using “yet’” when something felt tricky, reminding themselves that with time and effort, they can improve.

“We feel passionate about teaching our students the power of ‘yet’ because it helps them see that learning is a journey, not a destination,” explains First Grade Teacher Jasmine Dorame. “We love showing them that just because they can’t do something now doesn’t mean they never will—it just means they haven’t mastered it yet. Watching their confidence grow as they realize their potential is incredibly rewarding. It’s important to us to help them build resilience and believe in themselves, even when things get tough.”

By the end of the lesson, the students were excited to share how the power of yet made them feel stronger and ready to take on new challenges.

You might not be able to do it at that moment, but maybe sometime later you will. You just have to keep practicing!
Evie H. ’36

You might not be able to tie your shoes or write a story, but if you keep trying, you'll be able to do it...just not yet.
Leon S. ’36