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And the Awards Go To…

Each year, we have the opportunity to award some deserving high school seniors with a $10,000 scholarship. We also select one of our winners to be our top winner; this individual receives an additional $5,000 to continue their project. Each applicant has completed a community improvement project, based on a need they saw in their community. We choose winners based on a few different criteria, with long-term potential for the project to continue benefitting the community being one of the main criteria. Every year, we are so inspired and moved by the many projects that are submitted– there is so much good in the world! This year was no exception, and we are thrilled to announce the winners of the 2026 HGU Build A Better Future Scholarship.

TOP WINNER:

Parker Bohr- Pioneer Pantry

When the food pantry Parker was volunteering at closed down, those facing food insecurity in his community were left wondering what to do. Parker’s concern for these families pushed him to find a solution. Working with school staff, he was able to secure an unused room at the school. Soon, the Pioneer Pantry was born. He held food drives, created a website, and provided food for many families. The Pioneer Pantry will continue to bless the lives of people in the community because of the work and dedication Parker put into it. In addition to helping families in need, the life skills/transition class, which is right next door to the pantry, has been able to help out stocking shelves, preparing food to be given, and so on. This has allowed these students to be given some real-life experience, and has helped them gain important skills as they transition out of high school and into the adult world. 

Great job, Parker!

OTHER WINNERS:

Mason Below- Bilingual Buddies Program

Mason noticed a disconnect at school: many of the newly immigrated students weren’t attending extracurricular activities. After doing some investigating, he realized it was because there was a big problem with language barriers getting in the way. These new students were struggling to learn English, and therefore, not engaging in activities because they simply did not understand. Mason sought out to find a way to help this problem. Together with a counselor and teacher at his school, they created a list of newly immigrated students and what language they spoke. Next, they generated a list of established students who also spoke foreign languages. Finally, using those lists, they pair a newly immigrated student with an established student who spoke their language. These “Bilingual Buddies” help new students navigate academic and extracurricular things at school, thus helping the new students to feel more comfortable and more aware of what is going on around them. What a great idea, Mason! Every high school should implement a system like this!

Aditi Muduganti- Roots & Rise: A Youth Pocket Forest

Aditi noticed that students were learning about environmental issues, but didn’t really have access to nature to observe these issues in real time. Rather than sit back and let it continue, she got to work. Aditi authored a children’s book about sustainability and responsible environmental practices. She visited schools and read her book to the students there. She also noticed that there was a large patch of land that wasn’t being used at one of the elementary schools. She began formulating a plan: using this space, she would plant a pocket forest, using the Miyawaki method. Essentially, she would create a real forest that is compact and sustainable. This forest could then be used to educate students about nature. With the help of her community, she planned a planting day and planted the pocket forest. Students can now come and observe and learn from the forest in this new outdoor classroom. 

Great work, Aditi!

Samarah Agrawal- Recycle & Repurpose Initiative 

When she was only 14 years old, Samarah came across a story about a garbage truck catching on fire because of one improperly disposed of battery. She began to observe a gap between the dependence on batteries and accessible and proper disposal of those batteries. Samarah discovered that there were battery recycling options, but that those opportunities were few and far between. Realizing that there had to be a better way, Samarah began the Recycle & Repurpose Initiative. She created battery recycling boxes and began placing them around town. Soon, she began to see those boxes being used. So, she continued to press on, making more boxes, creating a website, and teaching the community about proper battery disposal. In the few years she has been working on this project, she has successfully obtained and properly disposed of over 40,000 batteries! She continues to leave boxes around her town, and people continue to use them.

Impressive work, Samarah!

Isn’t it amazing what one person can do? These brilliant young minds saw a need and found a way to address it, impacting their communities, and changing lives. We are so proud of these four seniors and their drive, determination, and passion. Stay tuned for more detailed posts about each winner and their project. 

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Connecting to Literature Through Realistic Fiction

Finding books that teens and preteens will actually read and enjoy can be a little tricky sometimes. By this point in their education, many kids have lost their love for reading, which is unfortunate; reading has so many benefits! As teachers, though, we have the opportunity to help these reluctant or uninterested readers find books that they will enjoy and want to read. But with so many genres available to choose from, it can be difficult to narrow it down to something they will like. In the event that you find yourself in this position, look no further! I’ve created a list of a few book recommendations in each genre. You can see my historical fiction recommendations here, and my dystopian novel recommendations here. 

Up on the docket today: Realistic Fiction! Books in this genre contain fictional characters who are placed into situations that have happened or could potentially happen. These stories could be based on true events. In this genre, we will find books about characters who are working through hard things at home, school, or with friends, characters who embark on an epic family vacation, or even characters who find themselves in the thick of illness or other hardship. Because these stories are based on real life events, students often find it easier to build a connection with the book and the characters– they can see themselves in the characters. Check out the books below and share with your students who need a good book!

Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper

Melody Brooks is an eleven year old fifth grader who happens to have cerebral palsy, which has taken away her ability to walk, write, and talk. Adults and children alike often assume she is mentally challenged because of her inability to speak or write, but that couldn’t be further from the truth! Melody is brilliant and has an incredible photographic memory– she just can’t express that to others. She is finally given a chance to use a computer device that allows her to type what she wants to say. The device then speaks for her by reading what she has written. It’s only once she is able to start communicating like this that people start to realize how smart she really is. 

You May Already be a Winner by Ann Dee Ellis

Olivia and her sister, Berkeley live together with their mom in Sunny Pines Trailer Park. Olivia wants so badly to be able to leave the trailer park and find a better life for her and Berkeley. She devises a plan to enter several sweepstakes with the hope of winning a million dollars. She longs to live a “normal” life where she doesn’t have to miss school to babysit her sister, and a life free of poverty. She wants to escape from the challenges her mother faces that make life more difficult for the family. Through all of this, she makes friends with her quirky neighbor, and learns that sometimes family is who you least expect it to be. This book is a perfect combination of humor, difficult realities, and finding happiness where you are.

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko

It’s 1935, and Moose Flanagan is twelve years old when his father takes a job as an electrician and guard at the infamous Alcatraz Prison. Moose and his family move to the island prison to begin their new life. His sister, Natalie, has autism and is admitted into a school for students with special needs. Moose befriends a girl named Piper, who also happens to be the warden’s daughter. Piper is constantly coming up with creative ways to make money with the hope of escaping the island. Her latest scheme involves using the prison inmates to do laundry for the other kids at school, and she convinces Moose to join her efforts. Their underground operation is stopped when the warden finds out, and Moose and Piper then have to find something else to fill their time. When Natalie gets kicked out of school for befriending one of the prisoners, Moose eventually enlists the help of the famous prisoner Al Capone to help get her back into the school. Choldenko continues Moose’s adventures across two more books, each equally as fun as this one.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

This book follows Auggie Pullman, who was born with a facial difference. He wants to be treated like everyone else, and quickly finds that others can be cruel, and don’t want to be his friend. Fortunately, though, he is also able to form friendships with Jack, Will, and Summer. Auggie’s story is told from multiple perspectives, including Auggie’s, his sister Via’s, her boyfriend’s, as well as other friends. This unique story telling format gives the reader a broader picture of Auggie’s life from many points of view. Wonder is a heart warming story about kindness, acceptance, and the desire to fit in.

Counting by Sevens by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Counting by 7s is also told from multiple perspectives, bringing insight and dimension to the story. Willow Chance is a twelve year old girl who finds herself in a really hard situation– both of her adoptive parents are killed in a car crash. Willow must then figure out how to navigate grief, life, and what it means to be a family. She finds comfort in counting by 7s and plants and forms an unlikely friendship with her school counselor and a taxi driver, who both encourage her and help her figure out this new life.

Matt Sprouts and the Curse of the Ten Broken Toes by Matt Eicheldinger

Matt Sprouts is just living his ordinary life when, one day, he accidentally injures his neighbor. Soon after, he breaks one of his toes, which leads him to believe he is now cursed with “the Curse”, a made-up curse started in his hometown. The story follows him as he continues to break more toes all while navigating friendships, sibling relationships, and tough coaches. Filled with humor, this book is a fun read, and, as a bonus, includes two other books to round out the series. 

Each of these books dives into different challenges or situations kids might face today. These stories connect readers to relatable characters, and allow readers to feel seen, understood, and heard.

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Say What?!

Happy as a clam. A picture is worth a thousand words. Every dog has its day. A penny saved is a penny earned. What in the world do these even mean?! Unless you are familiar with these kinds of phrases, they probably sound a bit silly, probably don’t make a whole lot of sense, and might even be confusing. Sayings like these can be idioms, like we talked about last week. Sometimes, though, they are known as proverbs: short sayings meant to convey some kind of moral or life lesson. 

As adults, we are likely pretty familiar with common proverbs and idioms. We hear them and say them without really thinking twice about it; we just know what they mean because we’ve known them for so long. For many of our students, however, these kinds of phrases are unfamiliar, and may sound like gibberish to them. 

Just like everything else, these must be learned. We can’t expect our students to understand them and know what they mean if we don’t expose them to proverbs and other phrases. To help you with this, I’ve created a simple worksheet you can use. On it, you will find a list of the beginning half of several proverbs or idioms, followed by a blank line. After reading the first half of the saying, students can write what they think the rest of the saying is. No doubt you’ll get some funny answers, but that’s the fun of it! 

** This printable is for personal or classroom use only. Do not resell, repost, or claim as your own. **

Say What!Download
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Having Fun With Idioms

The English language can be tricky. It’s a lot of “do this” and “don’t do that”, and a lot of words that are spelled the same, but have different meanings. Or, my favorite– words that sound the same, but are spelled differently and have different meanings, and that’s just how it is, because someone a long time ago made up the rules, so you have to memorize which word to use when. And then, on top of that, we have language devices that have their own rules and uses– metaphors, similes, hyperbole, oxymorons, personification, onomatopoeia, and idioms. It’s a lot to learn, a lot to remember, and can be a lot to teach. 

But… even though it can be a heavy load to learn and teach, the English language can be fun. Language devices, or figurative language, specifically can be fun. They help bring writing to life and can provide depth to writing. There are a plethora of engaging activities you can do with all grade levels to teach these concepts. 

Idioms can be especially fun. Kids often find the sayings funny, so it engages them. Below is a worksheet you can use with your students. It contains a list of idioms, with a place for students to write in what they think it means. The responses students give are always entertaining, and sometimes insightful.

** This download is free, and is for personal or classroom use only. Do not sell, post, or claim as your own. **

IdiomsDownload
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Creative Thinking in the Classroom

A couple of weeks ago, I introduced the concept of using the 7 Cs of Education in your classroom. Last week, I talked about critical thinking, which is such a crucial skill not only within a classroom setting, but also in many other settings throughout life.

The second of the 7 Cs is creativity. Creativity can be daunting to some, and may feel very risky to a lot of kids. Even so, creative thinking is so important, and it’s absolutely worth pushing your students to try it. When presented with a problem or situation that needs solving, analyzing, or exploring, looking at it through a creative lens can generate some really unique, innovative ideas. Some kids come hardwired to think creatively, but many do not, and that’s okay! Keeping this in mind then, how do we teach and encourage this kind of thinking? 

Truthfully, there are so many ways to promote creativity for every kind of learning style and every content area. Anytime we can get students to let go of black and white thinking is a big win and a step in the right direction toward creative thinking. Below you will find some ideas you can implement in your teaching. Remember, there is no right or wrong way to encourage creative thinking; every student is different, but all can think outside the box!

  • Encourage movement- physical activity can clear the brain of extra “noise”, which then leaves room for deeper, more creative approaches to solving problems. If possible, let kids move around outside. Movement + fresh air = amazing results!
  • Read! When kids read or are read to, they begin to see beyond their own space. Seeing characters in books facing similar situations as they do can encourage students to approach problems in new, creative ways.
  • Use mistakes and failures as ways to reframe thinking. Learn from the mistakes, take note of what did and did not work, and proceed with a fresh set of ideas. Mistakes aren’t an ending, but rather a chance to try again.
  • Use open ended questions to force students to push their thinking beyond yes/no answers. Asking “why” promotes deeper, more creative thinking.
  • Ask questions that allow students to use their imaginations. “What if” questions are really great for imaginative and creative thinking. Silly questions can also be great tools. 
  • Let kids play on their own. Give them free time. When we step back and let their minds work on their own, you see amazing things start to happen. Sometimes the pressure of a hovering adult can suppress creative thinking. Removing that pressure can help kids feel more relaxed and free to be silly, imaginative, and creative.
  • Let students know that any idea is valuable, especially when in the beginning stages of solving a problem. If they feel like they can contribute their ideas no matter how “out there” they may seem, they are more likely to feel comfortable sharing with others.
  • Make your classroom a safe space for expression, where everyone feels valued and included. Creating a judgement-free zone is super important when creating a safe space.
  • Be flexible. Just because you’re the adult doesn’t mean that your idea or your way is the only idea or way. Be open to new ideas, and encourage your students to do the same.
  • Keep things fun! It’s hard to think creatively when there is pressure and criticism. Many kids will shut down when faced with strict, uptight rules and thinking. 
  • Allow for students to work together. Combining brain power can lead to really great outcomes.

Some of the greatest solutions and ideas have come from creative thinking. As we encourage our students to think in creative ways, their minds begin to open up to all sorts of possibilities. A box goes from a cube of cardboard to a car, spaceship, shopping cart, lawn mower, doll house, or any other number of things. A blank piece of paper and a writing prompt can turn into a magnificent adventure or a mystery full of twists and turns. The options are endless when it comes to creative thinking!

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Count, Tally, & Graph

Much of what we teach our students is taught in layers, starting with foundational skills and knowledge, then we move onto the next level of difficulty, then the next, and so on. You can’t expect a preschooler to be able to do multi step equations when they are still learning to count, nor would you assume a third grader can tell you the differences between types of cells when they don’t even know what a cell is. It just wouldn’t make sense, and would lead to frustration on all sides. 

Skill building is especially important when dealing with math. Sometimes as adults, we don’t realize how much we already do know, because working through the processes and methods we’ve learned is almost automatic for our brains. We know what addition is. We know what it means to make a tally mark. We understand what a graph is and how to make one. 

This week in preschool, my daughter learned how to count objects, tally them up, then make a graph. It is such a simple skill for my older kids (and for me), that it made me pause and realize that she’s just learning how to do those things. And you know what? That’s exciting! She’s learning new concepts and figuring out how to do things, and I love it!

So… if you teach preschool or even kindergarten, and you are working on graphing (or will be soon), I’ve got a fun worksheet you can use! Below is a download for a transportation themed Count, Tally, and Graph activity. Feel free to print it and use it in your classroom. 

** This download is for classroom or personal use only. Do not sell, repost, or claim as your own. **

Count, Tally, & Graph TransportationDownload