Teach With Purpose: The Story Behind the I Know I Can Series

Every child deserves to feel confident when they open a book, but for me, this work became personal in a way I didn’t expect. The I Know I Can series was inspired by my middle child, who attends a beautifully diverse school. One day, he came home and said something that stopped me in my tracks—he told me he hated his brown skin. In that moment, I realized just how powerful identity, representation, and affirmation really are in a child’s life.

We sat together and talked. I told him about the magic of our differences—how people from every background, every shade, every story have shaped the world in extraordinary ways. We talked about the brilliance, strength, and beauty that exists in who he is, exactly as he is. I reminded him that he comes from that same greatness, and that he already carries it within him. That conversation didn’t just stay in our home—it became the foundation for something bigger.

The I Know I Can series was created to make sure children don’t have to question their worth or their potential when they sit down to read. It’s not just about building literacy skills, although that is deeply important. It’s about helping children see themselves as capable, confident, and worthy of success from the very beginning. Too often, students struggle not just because reading is hard, but because they’ve started to believe that they are not “good at it” or that they don’t belong in spaces where learning happens. I wanted to change that narrative.

Each book in the series is intentionally designed to support early readers while reinforcing a powerful message: you are capable. Through accessible language, engaging text, and affirming ideas, students are encouraged to take risks, build confidence, and develop a stronger relationship with reading. But even more than that, they are reminded of who they are. Representation matters, and when children see themselves reflected in stories—in ways that feel real, positive, and empowering—it changes how they engage, how they persist, and how they dream.

This series is for classrooms, for homes, for quiet reading moments, and for conversations that matter. It’s for the child who is learning to read, and for the child who is learning to believe in themselves. It’s for moments like the one I had with my son, where a simple conversation can begin to reshape how a child sees the world—and their place in it.

At its core, the I Know I Can series is about more than reading. It’s about belief. Because when children believe in themselves, everything changes. And every child deserves to say, and truly mean it: I know I can.

If you’re ready to bring this message into your classroom or home, you can explore and purchase the I Know I Can series digital download through our TPT store- hard copies coming this summer 2026. Click below to learn more and shop the collection—books created to build confident readers and empowered learners from the very first page.

At AffirmED Scholars, we believe every child is capable—especially the ones the system misunderstands. Explore resources designed to build confidence, close gaps, and remind every learner: you are not behind—you are becoming.