Using Ninja Life Hacks in Elementary Program Application

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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/)


Email *
Teacher #1 Name *
Teacher #1 Grade Level *
Teacher #2 Name *
Teacher #2 Email *
Teacher #2 Grade Level *
Additional teachers - please let us know if there is interest from more than two teachers from your school. We can only support two teachers with stipends but can likely let one or two more teachers join your team if there is interest. If there is room. they could attend the workshop and follow-up meeting to earn 10 PD hours.
School Name (teachers must be from the same school) *
School Street Address *
School City (must be in Arizona) *
School Zip Code *
School District Name (Put Charter or Private if applicable) *
Why is your team interested in participating in the Using Ninja Life Hacks in Elementary Program? (respond with a short paragraph of 3-5 sentences) *
The Ninja Life Hacks books and curriculum are available in English and Spanish. If you are selected into the program, your school will receive two sets of the books and curriculum. Please indicate below if you would like both sets in English or one set in English and one set in Spanish. This might be a detail to discuss with your principal. *
We have spoken with our principal about this project. Our principal understands that the Ninja Life Hacks books will belong to the school. The principal is also excited about us using the books and curriculum with our students this school year. *
We understand we must BOTH commit to attending TOGETHER one of the in-person meetings in December or January. We also understand we will be required to use some of the books and curriculum with our students for the remainder of the school year and all of next school year (minimally one book per week). We further understand we will be required to make a Ninja Life Hacks Implementation and Accessibility Plan for our school detailing how we will make these resources available to other teachers, students, and families. We agree to attend one of the three follow up sessions offered via Zoom at the end of the school year and agree to participate in all evaluation surveys for the program. We also understand that we will be compensated with $150 after we turn in our Ninja Lie Hacks Implementation and Accessibility Plan and another $100 after we attend the final virtual meeting and complete the last evaluation survey. *
You must attend TOGETHER one of the full day (8:00am-4:00pm) workshops listed below. Select your FIRST choice below. You must be available for at least one of the dates and locations listed. If you can also make another workshops date and location, you can select those as your optional SECOND and THIRD choices. *
Select your SECOND choice below. (Not required but could increase your chance of selection if your first choice is full.)
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Select your THIRD choice below. (Not required but could increase your chance of selection if your first choice is full.)
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