52 Verbs. 52 Actions. 52 Opportunities to Grow.
BE THE VERB! is an interactive, action-based personal growth and youth development card system designed to inspire young people to think critically, build confidence, develop healthy relationships, discover their strengths, and become active contributors to their communities.
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52 cards
One for every week of the year
Ages 11–18
Adaptable for families & educators
5-part structure
Verb · Meaning · Reflect · Do It · Go Further
No screens needed
No equipment or expensive materials
The BE THE VERB! Card Deck
Created by artist, educator, entrepreneur, and father Isaías D. Rodríguez, BE THE VERB! is rooted in decades of experience working with students, creative education, community engagement, and the belief that growth happens through action. Words have meaning, but actions give them power.
What's on each card?
Every BE THE VERB! card follows a simple five-part structure:
The Verb
A powerful action word such as CREATE, LISTEN, HELP, EXPLORE, or REFLECT.
What It Means
A short, accessible explanation of the verb and why it matters.
Reflect
A thought-provoking question encouraging curiosity, self-awareness, and meaningful conversation.
Do It
A practical, achievable activity that transforms the word into a real-life experience.
Go Further
An optional challenge encouraging deeper exploration, collaboration, leadership, or community involvement.
The Six Cs of Positive Youth Development
The deck incorporates the research-informed Positive Youth Development framework, organized around six essential areas of growth:
Competence
Developing skills, knowledge, creativity, and problem-solving abilities.
Confidence
Building self-belief, courage, resilience, and a willingness to try new things.
Connection
Strengthening healthy relationships with family, friends, schools, and communities.
Character
Practicing honesty, responsibility, integrity, and positive decision-making.
Caring
Developing empathy, compassion, gratitude, and concern for others.
Contribution
Applying personal strengths and learned skills to make a positive difference.
Learning through experience
BE THE VERB! emphasizes experiential learning rather than memorization. The learning process follows a repeating cycle:
One Card. One Week. One Year of Growth.
The 52-card system encourages participants to explore one action verb each week throughout the year. Participants can work independently, with friends, in classrooms, with family members, or as part of structured youth development programs.
There are no winners or losers. The goal is not perfection, but participation, self-discovery, meaningful conversations, and personal growth.
Draw a card
Once a week, pull a card from the deck. Each one introduces an action verb with a reflection question, an achievable activity, and an opportunity to apply the experience to everyday life.
Reflect & respond
Take a few minutes to engage with the prompt. There's no wrong answer — just your honest thoughts, ideas, or feelings in response to the verb.
Be the verb
Take one real action inspired by your card. Small or big — it counts. Through small, consistent actions, you build positive habits and a greater sense of purpose.
Made for every kind of learner
The first 52-card deck is designed primarily for middle school and high school students (ages 11–18), while remaining adaptable for families, educators, mentors, and community organizations.
A ready-made weekly ritual
Use one card every Monday as a warm-up, journaling prompt, or class discussion starter. Works great for morning meetings, advisory periods, and SEL time. No prep required.
Works great for morning meetings, advisory periods, and SEL time.
More than a card game
BE THE VERB! is designed as a flexible educational and personal development tool that can be used in:
- Middle school and high school classrooms
- After-school and enrichment programs
- Youth leadership and mentorship programs
- Family activities and conversations
- Community organizations and makerspaces
- Creative workshops and team-building experiences
- Individual journaling and personal growth
A philosophy rooted in action
As a father of two sons and an educator who has worked with young people for decades, Isaías D. Rodríguez believes education extends far beyond the classroom. Young people thrive when they have opportunities to explore their identities, express themselves creatively, make meaningful decisions, experience belonging, and contribute to something greater than themselves.
"Personal growth is not simply something we talk about, but something we practice every day."
Be the word. Do the work. Make a difference.
Be the first to get it
The deck is coming soon. Sign up and we'll let you know the moment it's ready — plus early access pricing for our founding community.
No spam, ever. Just one email when the deck ships.
Because 1 + 1 = WE.