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I Know I Can – 1st- 3rd grade – Activity 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, careers, and other training options 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.

Also available in Yugtun (Central 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 1st-3rd 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 two years later as a reminder of their early goals
  • Students are encouraged to practice their public speaking skills by sharing their dreams with the class
  • 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, homeschool families, and extra-curricular programs?

Program materials are available to families, extra-curricular programs and schools, in both print and digital format. 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! ACPE is also happy to connect volunteer readers with your in-person or virtual classroom.

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
  • Elim
  • Emmonak
  • 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
  • Pelican City
  • 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
  • Klukwan
  • Kobuk
  • Kodiak
  • Kongiganak
  • Kotlik
  • Kotzebue
  • Koyuk
  • Kwethluk
  • Kwigillingok
  • Manokotak
  • McGrath
  • Mekoryuk
  • Mentasta Lake
  • Metlakatla
  • Mountain Village
  • Napakiak
  • Napaskiak
  • Nenana
  • New Stuyahok
  • Newtok
  • Nightmute
  • Ninilchik
  • Nikiski
  • Noatak
  • Nome
  • Noorvik
  • North Pole
  • Northway
  • Nunapitchuk
  • Oscarville
  • Palmer
  • Pelican
  • Petersburg
  • Pilot Station
  • 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!

PROGRAM APPLICATION

Available for synchronous & asynchronous learning in schools, homes, and extracurricular programs. Distance, in-person and hybrid learning options available.

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 will be sent to program applicants using Constant Contact email service. Please opt-in to ensure we can reach you regarding your participation in I Know I Can. This is separate from the application button found below.

 

   APPLY NOW!
 

To receive important program details, please Opt-In to Constant Contact, our primary mode of communication.

SIGN UP FOR COMMUNICATION

VOLUNTEER TODAY!

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 1st-3rd grade classrooms.

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


To receive important program details, please Opt-In to Constant Contact, our primary mode of communication.

SIGN UP FOR COMMUNICATION


Volunteer Expectations

  • Read and discuss the I Know I Can story with a class of 1st-3rd grade students
  • 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 career dreams with class to promote public speaking skills
  • Collect postcards and return to coordinator/ACPE
  • Distribute books for students to take home
  • Complete online evaluations
  • Review online volunteer training video, tips & tools

Tips & Tools

TEACHERS & PROGRAM LEADS

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 online 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

 

Family Address Form:

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

 

Family Survey:

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

*Family Surveys received by June 10 will be entered into a drawing to win a $2,000 Alaska 529 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)/program(s).

 

Primary Responsibilities:

  • Work with schools/organizations to submit completed application (including preferred program dates/times)
  • Solidify date of event with school/organization
  • Ensure all student postcards are pre-addressed (ask school/organization for addresses/labels in advance)
  • Recruit 2 volunteers per classroom or coordinate with ACPE for volunteers
  • Provide volunteers with tips and training video/details (digital/printed)
  • Return completed, pre-addressed postcards to ACPE.
  • Complete online program evaluation and share evaluation links with volunteers, teachers, and program leads, 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 site or classroom participating in I Know I Can will need 1-2 volunteers who have college and/or career training for a 1-hour in-person or virtual event.

 

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 discussion 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.






 

Family Survey

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

*Family 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.