Using Ninja Life Hacks in Elementary Program Application

Using Ninja Life Hacks in Elementary Program Application

Please read COMPLETELY and CAREFULLY!

Looking for ways to improve your elementary students’ resilience and build their life skills while integrating English language arts and STEM? Apply today for the Using Ninja Life Hacks in Elementary community project. Sixty teacher teams (two teachers from different K-5th grade levels at the same school) will be selected to participate in this program.

The Using Ninja Life Hacks in Elementary Program is a transformative educational program tailored to elevate academic achievement and foster resilience in elementary students. Through harnessing the dynamic potential of Ninja Life Hack Books and Curriculum, this innovative initiative weaves engaging pedagogy with the benefits of nurturing important life skills. By concentrating on five fundamental competencies—self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making—educators will be empowered to help students develop their life skills. Supported by compelling research demonstrating the direct correlation between resilience and academic achievement, this program has the potential of shaping the academic success of students.

Elementary school teachers (K-5th) are invited to apply for this project. This project is offered at no cost and with stipends for selected participants. Applications must be submitted as a team of two teachers from different grade levels at the same school.*

Benefits of Participation in Using Ninja Life Hacks in Elementary Program

• Professional learning from experienced elementary STEMAZing Teacher Leaders, Julie Bradshaw and Martha Bishop, who have been using the Ninja Life Hacks books with their students for years.
• Two sets of the Ninja Life Hacks books for your school (almost 200 books) and the Ninja Life Hacks Lesson Plans valued at more than $2,000.
• Teacher stipends ($250 each) for successfully completing the program.
• Time to share ideas with your peers about how they are using the books and curriculum in classrooms around the state.
• 10 professional development hours

Commitments for Using Ninja Life Hacks in Elementary Program for Teacher Teams (two teachers from the same school but different grade levels) *see note about rural schools below.

1. Participate TOGETHER in ONE of the in-person full-day workshops in either January or February 2024 (8 hours)
2. Develop a Ninja Life Hacks Implementation and Accessibility Plan to make the books and curriculum available to your entire school including other teachers, staff, students, and families.
3. Use the books and curriculum for the remainder of the school year and all of next school year. (at least one book per week). Use the QR code on the books to complete a 2-minute quick reflection after each time you use a Ninja Life Hacks book.
4. Participate TOGETHER in ONE of the virtual end-of-school-year meetings (2 hours).
5. Complete all evaluation surveys related to the program.

*Teachers at rural elementary schools may be allowed to participate alone if their school is very small. Please apply and put NA in the name and grade for the Teacher #2 questions.

Please complete ONE application for your school team of two teachers. Only ONE team per school will be accepted. Note the two teachers applying together must be from the SAME school at DIFFERENT grade levels and you must have discussed your participation in this program with your principal and get their verbal approval BEFORE applying.

This program is made possible with FY23 Community Project Funding request by Representative Raúl M. Grijalva. (https://grijalva.house.gov/fy23-cpf/)