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I Know I Can – 2nd grade – 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 and careers early. I Know I Can is a partnership between the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education, Alaska 529, and numerous school districts and volunteers across Alaska.

 

Now available in Yup’ik translation.

*Please contact shelly.morgan@alaska.gov if you would like to assist with translating the story into other languages.

 

 

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

Is I Know I Can available for distance education and homeschool families?

Program materials are available in traditional hard copy resources and also available digitally. Our website includes a password protected digital storybook and printable activities for students, family resources, program evaluations, parent surveys, and program tips.

How do I bring I Know I Can to my students?

Interested educators are asked to complete the program application as early as possible during the school year, prior to the priority deadline in order to receive priority shipping and ensure supply availability. Digital resources remain available to applicants, even if supplies run low.

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?

The Priority Application Deadline is October 1st. This will ensure timely shipment of materials. Applications will be accepted throughout the school year. Early applications are encouraged to ensure ample time to receive materials and host the activity. Digital materials will be available throughout the year.

How many volunteers are required for the program?

Ideally, we ask for 2 volunteers per classroom, however educators can also host the program without volunteer assistance. ACPE is also available to help connect volunteer readers virtually with in-person or virtual classrooms.

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 5-minute web-based training presentation is available to help volunteers better understand program details and what is expected 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
  • Chatham
  • Craig City
  • 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
  • Kuspuk
  • Lower Kuskokwim
  • Lower Yukon
  • Matanuska-Susitna Borough
  • Nenana City
  • Nome Public
  • North Slope Borough
  • Northwest Arctic Borough
  • Petersburg City
  • Pribilof Island
  • Saint Mary's
  • Sitka Borough
  • Skagway
  • Southeast Island
  • Southwest Region
  • Unalaska City
  • Valdez City
  • Wrangell Public
  • Yakutat City
  • Yukon-Koyukuk
  • Yupiit

List of Communities that have participated in previous years

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



Apply or Volunteer Today!

SCHOOL APPLICATION

Now available for in-school, distance, and hybrid learning models!

Please contact shelly.morgan@alaska.gov or 907-269-7972 if you have questions or difficulty submitting the online application.

Priority applications received by October 1 will guarantee early shipment of program materials. Digital links for distance learning and hybrid models are also available to program applicants.

 

   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 resources and tips are designed to help your students get the most out of their I Know I Can experience. In addition to hard copy books and activities available, a password protected digital download and printable activities can be found below.

 

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
 

Digital Resources:

In addition to a digital copy of I Know I Can, multiple activities and family tips are available to print.

 

Program Tips & Tools:

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

 

I KNOW I CAN

 

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.

 

I KNOW I CAN

 

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.

 

I KNOW I CAN

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 AK 529 Scholarship Account!

Parent Survey

 

Family Tips

There are many practical ways you can encourage your child's success in school and their career. Learn more here!

 

Alaska 529 Education Savings Plan

Alaska 529 is an education savings plan designed to make it easy for parents and loved ones to save for education. The I Know I Can program is co-sponsored by the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education and Alaska 529.