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I Know I Can –Classroom time: 1 hour

Kids 2 College

Designed to spark youngsters to begin their own career exploration, the I Know I Can story draws the connection from elementary classroom education to higher education and careers, sends the message that college is possible, and encourages young children and their families to start thinking about college early. I Know I Can is a partnership between the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education, UA College Savings Plan, and numerous school districts and volunteers across Alaska.

 

Now available in Yup’ik translation.

 

 

ABOUT

Volunteers engage 2nd grade students in taking initial steps to identify a career goal and learning plan.

  • Volunteers read and discuss the I Know I Can book with students, and share information about their own career and learning path
  • Students draw pictures of their career dreams on postcards, which are mailed back to students during 4th grade as a reminder of their early goals
  • Students receive their own copy of the I Know I Can book with activities designed to engage family discussion of early goals

 

 

To learn more about I Know I CanSM click here to download the full overview

FAQ's

How do I bring I Know I Can to my local school?

Interested schools are asked to complete the program application as early as possible during the school year, prior to the due date. Late applications will be dependent on supplies.

In order to be considered, a school must complete an application and have someone willing to coordinate the program for the school. Depending on existing partnerships, this might include seeking volunteers with college and career training to read to the students.

Can schools participate without an external coordinator or volunteer?

Although it is wonderful to have a guest share I Know I Can with your students, it is not a requirement. The 5-minute training presentation located on our website under Volunteer Tips & Tools, is helpful for teachers who host their own activity too!

What is the application deadline?

Applications are due September 15 each year.

How many volunteers are required for the program?

Ideally, we ask for 2 volunteers per classroom.

Are there any requirements for the volunteers?

Ideally volunteers should have completed one of the following: college, career training, apprenticeship program, or military training. Other volunteer options in smaller, rural communities could include: elders, high school students planning to apply to college, or current college students.

Is there a training for volunteers?

A web-based training presentation is available to help volunteers better understand the program details and what is expected of volunteers in the classroom. In addition, a volunteer packet and sample discussion questions are also available.

List of School Districts that have participated in previous years

 

  • Alaska Gateway
  • Anchorage
  • Annette Island
  • Bering Strait
  • Copper River
  • Craig City
  • Chatham
  • Delta-Greely
  • Denali Borough
  • Dillingham City
  • Fairbanks North Star Borough
  • Galena
  • Haines Borough
  • Iditarod Area
  • Juneau Borough
  • Kashunamiut
  • Kenai Peninsula Borough
  • Ketchikan Gateway Borough
  • Klawock City
  • Kodiak Island Borough
  • Lower Kuskokwim
  • Lower Yukon
  • Matanuska-Susitna Borough
  • Nome Public
  • North Slope Borough
  • Northwest Arctic Borough
  • Petersburg City
  • Pribilof Island
  • Saint Mary's
  • Sitka Borough
  • Skagway
  • Southeast Island
  • Southwest Regional
  • Unalaska City
  • Valdez City
  • Wrangell Public
  • Yukon-Koyukuk
  • Yupiit

List of Communities that have participated in previous years

  • Akiachak
  • Akiak
  • Ambler
  • Anaktuvuk Pass
  • Anchor Point
  • Anchorage
  • Anderson
  • Angoon
  • Atmautluak
  • Barrow
  • Bethel
  • Big Lake
  • Brevig Mission
  • Buckland
  • Cantwell
  • Chefornak
  • Chevak
  • Craig
  • Deering
  • Delta Junction
  • Dillingham
  • Diomede
  • Eagle
  • Eagle River
  • Elim
  • Fairbanks
  • Gambell
  • Glennallen
  • Golovin
  • Gustavus
  • Haines
  • Healy
  • Homer
  • Hoonah
  • Huslia
  • Juneau
  • Kaktovik
  • Kasigluk
  • Kasilof
  • Ketchikan
  • Kiana
  • Kipnuk
  • Kivalina
  • Klawock
  • Kobuk
  • Kodiak
  • Kongiganak
  • Kotzebue
  • Koyuk
  • Kwethluk
  • Kwigillingok
  • Manokotak
  • McGrath
  • Mekoryuk
  • Mentasta Lake
  • Metlakatla
  • Mountain Village
  • Nenana
  • New Stuyahok
  • Newtok
  • Nightmute
  • Noatak
  • Nome
  • Noorvik
  • North Pole
  • Northway
  • Nunapitchuk
  • Palmer
  • Petersburg
  • Point Hope
  • Point Lay
  • Russian Mission
  • Saint Mary's
  • Salcha
  • Sand Point
  • Selawik
  • Seward
  • Shishmaref
  • Shungnak
  • Sitka
  • Slana
  • Soldotna
  • St. Michael
  • St. Paul
  • Stebbins
  • Sterling
  • Takotna
  • Talkeetna
  • Tanacross
  • Tanana
  • Tetlin
  • Thorne Bay
  • Togiak
  • Tok
  • Toksook Bay
  • Trapper Creek
  • Tuluksak
  • Tuntutuliak
  • Tyonek
  • Unalakleet
  • Unalaska
  • Valdez
  • Wainwright
  • Wasilla
  • White Mountain
  • Willow
  • Wrangell



Apply or Volunteer Today!

SCHOOL APPLICATION

Limited partnerships are available

Please contact shelly.morgan@alaska.gov for additional details

Applications due September 15 each year (late applcations may be accepted based on supplies)


   Apply Now!

Sign Up to Volunteer in YOUR community!

Each school participating in I Know I Can will need 1-3 volunteers (depending on class size) to spend an hour working with students in 2nd grade classrooms.

Apply TODAY! or contact shelly.morgan@alaska.gov for more details.

 
  • Read and discuss the I Know I Can story with a class of 2nd grade students
  • Review the story with the class
  • Assist students with activity where they draw their career dreams on postcards
  • Talk with students during activity about important school subjects needed for their careers
  • Encourage students to share cards with class to promote public speaking skills
  • Collect postcards and return to coordinator/ACPE
  • Distribute books for students to take home
  • Complete online evaluations
  • Volunteer Training video, and Tips& Tools are available online

Tips & Tools

TEACHERS

Teachers

The following documents and tips are designed to help you get the most out of your I Know I Can classroom experience.

 

Primary Responsibilities:

  • Submit completed application (including preferred program dates/times)
  • Ensure all student postcards are pre-addressed (or provide coordinator with addresses/labels)
  • Decide whether to send home and collect the Optional Parent Address Form
  • Send Win Big! parent survey cards home – collect and mail (postage paid)
  • Return completed, pre-addressed postcards to ACPE
  • Complete program evaluation
 

Program Tips & Tools:

Understand how to best prepare for I Know I Can and learn tips to further enhance your program.

 

 

Parent Address Form:

Schools can either provide pre-printed labels for student postcards or send the Parent Address Form home to be returned. This template can be modified to include the correct month and due date as appropriate.

 

Parent Survey:

After the classroom event, please email a link to families that will take them directly to the online Parent Survey button found in the Parent Tab below. Please also send home the paper surveys found in each book.

*Parent Surveys received by June 10 will be entered into a drawing to win a $2,000 UA College Savings Plan Scholarship Account!


Coordinators

The following documents and tips are designed to help you coordinate the best I Know I Can experience for your local school(s).

 

Primary Responsibilities:

  • Work with schools to submit completed application (including preferred program dates/times)
  • Solidify date of event with school
  • Ensure all student postcards are pre-addressed (ask school for addresses/labels in advance)
  • Recruit 2 volunteers per classroom
  • Provide volunteers with tips and training details
  • Return completed, pre-addressed postcards to ACPE.
  • Complete online program evaluation and share evaluation links with volunteers and teachers, as appropriate.
 

Program Tips & Tools:

Understand your responsibilities as a local coordinator and learn tips to improve your I Know I Can program.

 

 

Volunteer Recruitment Tools & Templates

These volunteer recruitment tools and templates can be modified to fit the recruitment needs for your local I Know I Can event.

 

 

Press Release Template:

This press release template can be modified to include your specific event information.

Volunteers

Each classroom participating in I Know I Can will need 1-2 volunteers who have college and/or career training for a 1-hour classroom visit/activity.

 

contact shelly.morgan@alaska.gov to sign up today.

 

Primary Responsibilities:

  • Read and discuss the I Know I Can story with a class of 2nd grade students
  • Review the story with the class
  • Assist students with activity where they draw their career dreams on postcards
  • Talk with students during activity about important school subjects needed for their careers
  • Encourage students to share cards with class to promote public speaking skills
  • Collect postcards and return to coordinator/ACPE
  • Distribute books for students to take home
  • Complete online evaluations
  • Volunteer Training video, and Tips& Tools are available online
 

Volunteer Tips & Tools:

Understand what to expect as an I Know I Can volunteer and review suggested disscusion questions and activities.

 

Evaluations

Please help us continue to improve our programs by completing the appropriate evaluation.

 

Evaluations can be downloaded here.






 

Parent Survey

After the classroom event, please email a link to families that will take them directly to the online Parent Survey button below. Please also send home the paper surveys found in each book.

*Parent Surveys received by June 10 will be entered into a drawing to win a $2,000 UA College Savings Plan Scholarship Account!

   Parent Survey