🧠 From “I Can’t” to “I Can Try”: 4 Free Tools to Combat Learned Helplessness in the Classroom

Have you ever had a student who just… gave up? Maybe they fall asleep in class. Maybe they say “I don’t know” before you finish the question. Maybe they’ve already decided college—or success of any kind—isn’t for them.

I see it every day. At my school, students complete graduation requirements that qualify them for any Cal State university. But only 33% applied and were accepted this year. Some chose other paths—but many didn’t apply because they didn’t believe they could make it.

This is learned helplessness. And it’s hurting our kids more than we realize.

What Is Learned Helplessness, Really?

At the 2025 Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Convention, I attended a standing-room-only session titled “Combatting Learned Helplessness in the Classroom” with presenters Danielle Edison, Michelle Griffin, Lene Cantrell, Natalie Richardson, and Amy Yarbrough. The urgency in that room was palpable—educators everywhere are looking for ways to reach students who are giving up before they even start.

One key insight stuck with me:

“Their brains are creating a reality of limits—because they believe in their limits more than they believe in themselves.”

That hit hard. I realized how often students’ refusal to participate or take risks in learning comes from a deep belief that they can’t, not that they won’t.

It changed how I see group projects, too. I used to think the kids who didn’t contribute were just coasting. But now, more and more students are telling me they stayed quiet because they didn’t believe they had anything to offer.

So I made some tools. And I want to share them with you.

“I Am” Statements for a Growth Mindset

Daily affirmations that replace negative self-talk with empowering identity statements like “I am capable” or “I am learning.” These are perfect for morning meetings, SEL check-ins, or student notebooks.

🎯 Try This: Have students pick a statement each Monday to repeat all week. Watch how their internal dialogue shifts.

2. Reframing Mindset Tool

A step-by-step worksheet to help students move from a fixed to a growth mindset. It prompts students to reflect on a challenge, name their emotions, and rewrite the narrative with realistic optimism.

📘 Inspired by CEC’s strategies on fostering autonomy and resilience, this tool walks students through identifying their own power—even in hard moments.

3. 7 Common Mistakes That Reinforce Learned Helplessness (Educator Reference Sheet)

A printable quick-reference for teachers outlining what not to do when trying to help struggling students. (Spoiler: Giving too much help is one of them.)

🧩 I can use this with my co-teachers during PDs and planning meetings to make sure we’re fostering independence, not dependency.

4. “I Don’t Know” Reframing Sheet

A student-facing tool that turns “I don’t know” into “Can I get a hint?”, “Can you remind me where we left off?”, or “Can I ask a friend?”

💬 This was a game-changer in my room. I laminated them, clipped them to desks, and told students they’re not allowed to say “I don’t know” without grabbing this first.

Final Thoughts

When students don't believe they can succeed, no amount of content knowledge will change their outcomes. But beliefs can be changed—and it starts with small, daily actions.

As Louise Hay reminds us in her book You Can Heal Your Life:

“The only thing you ever have control of is a thought.”

These tools are about helping students control their thoughts—so they can begin to control their outcomes.

If you're feeling stuck with a student who shuts down, who never raises their hand, who shrugs at every assignment… try focusing on what is working. Build from assets. Ask: