Welcome to 2024!

It was nice to take a little break over the holidays, but I’m stoked to be back in your inbox every Tuesday and Friday!

Let’s jump right in. 👇️ 

In today’s issue:

1. Tactical Tuesday: Two easy steps you can take to help your kids crush their goals in 2024.

2. Something to inspire you: These three high schools are embracing entrepreneurship, and we love it.

3. Ivy’s takeaway: Don’t wait for your kid’s school to catch up.

How to teach your kids to crush their goals

Ahhh… January.

It’s resolution season.

And while millions of people are committing to getting in shape, reading more books, or sticking to a budget, only about 6% of folks actually see it through.

The problem isn’t that we all suck at keeping promises to ourselves, it’s that our human psychology isn’t designed to tackle huge goals at the drop of a hat.

But like an athlete trains their body to overcome their competition, everyone can train their mind to be better at achieving goals.

And the best time to start is childhood.

Here are two big tactics for training your kid to crush their goals.

🧠 Think small

The main reason New Year’s resolutions fail isn’t because the goal isn’t realistic, it’s because it requires a huge behavior change.

“People tend to set [goals] that are really big, and they might be achievable, but there are probably 30 steps they need to take before they get to that place. And so they make it unattainable by not setting smaller, more immediate goals,” says Jennifer Kowalsky, a licensed professional counselor.

So one of the best ways you can help your kids achieve big goals is to break them down into small steps.

This is what New York Times journalist Tim Herrera calls the magic of micro-progress:

“Rather than looking at tasks, projects, or decisions as items that must be completed, slice them into the smallest possible units of progress, then knock them out one at a time.”

This is what video games do so well, and why our kids are so addicted to them. Every time they “level-up”, it's a hit of dopamine.

Say the goal is to write an essay for a school assignment...

If you reduce their goal into small steps, they’ll get flooded with dopamine and will be more likely to stay on track.

💪 Hone their habits

Good habits are the foundation of reaching ambitious goals.

Just ask renowned habits expert James Clear, author of the bestselling book Atomic Habits.

James says there are 4 ways to change your kid’s behavior (notice that none of them are nagging, bribing, or threatening):

1. Make it obvious

2. Make it attractive

3. Make it easy

4. Make it satisfying

Let’s say the goal is for your kid to always finish their homework before dinner. Using this method, here’s what it might look like:

🍎 Make it obvious. Use what James calls “habit stacking” by pairing homework with an existing habit in that timeframe, like their after-school snack. Rather than serving them their snack in the kitchen, serve it where they can sit and do their homework.

📺 Make it attractive. What’s the benefit of having their homework done before dinner? They have free time to do whatever they enjoy after dinner. Bolster that time with exciting activities your kid loves.

🔕 Make it easy. Do they have a sibling pestering them? A dog nosing them to go out and play? Remove all distractions and create a space for them that makes it as easy as possible for them to focus and get it done.

🎉 Make it satisfying. The best way to do this with kids is to praise them! Every time they make progress on their new habit, throw ‘em the equivalent of a ticker-tape parade.

By helping your kids develop great habits and breaking down big ambitions into small steps, you’re setting them up for a lifetime of crushing goals. 👊

These three high schools are shining a spotlight on entrepreneurship

Embracing an entrepreneurial mindset is an essential life skill.

That’s a hill I’m willing to die on.

So why do so few high schools offer an entrepreneurship-centered curriculum?

In a culture where sports programs are given wide attention, and folks are demanding more funding for the arts, it appears that entrepreneurship is an afterthought — if it’s even a thought at all.

But these three high schools are making it a priority. 👇

Alpha School — Austin, TX

Alpha School is committed to applied learning with a major focus on entrepreneurship. 

Kids in the lower school (K-6) complete real-world projects, like planning a fundraising gala or operating an Airbnb property, while kids in the upper school (7-12) complete a major multi-year project called a “masterpiece”.

How do they find time for it?

They use app-based learning to complete all of their academics in only 2-hours per day.

Prequel partners with Alpha to help students deliver the masterpiece project, with kids like Rhett Jones launching a world-class mountain bike park and Wade Driscoll creating his own fashion house. 🤯 

Alpha believes kids are limitless, and I agree.

NSITE High School — San Antonio, TX

NSITE is an acronym for:

Northside

School of

Innovation

Technology and

Entrepreneurship

Also located in Texas, NSITE is a magnet school that “provides unique learning experiences by fostering an entrepreneurial spirit of innovation and problem-solving through high quality instruction and a specialized curriculum focused on technology applications, business principles, and project-based learning.”

Students launch their own virtual businesses, and take courses such as Social Media Marketing and Accounting.

They have the option to learn programming languages and earn real-world certifications to give them a remarkable edge before they even graduate from high school.

That rocks.

The IDEAS Institute — Melbourne, FL

Last month, Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy announced its new school, another great acronym, The IDEAS Institute:

Innovation

Design

Entrepreneurship

Applied Solutions

While the school is still under development, it will feature a robotics makerspace, design center, and broadcast studio among other applied learning amenities. 

“The IDEAS Institute will provide the open, flexible, and inspirational spaces our teachers require to deliver their curriculum in more compelling and experiential ways that resonate best with todays’ learners and equip them with the academic know-how and ‘soft skills’ they will need to succeed in today’s world.”

While the space is certainly impressive, schools don’t need a new $10m building to make a meaningful shift in their curriculum and get kids ready for the real world.

They just need committed teachers, engaging programming, and an entrepreneurial mindset. 👊

It’s time to take control

It’s wonderful to see schools embrace entrepreneurship, but like a New Year’s resolution, it’s impossible to make it happen overnight, especially since traditional schools change at a glacial pace.

That’s one of the reasons why Prequel offers BETA Camp for high schoolers and Apollo for middle schoolers.

I don’t expect schools to catch up with the need for entrepreneurship education anytime soon.

But I know that you, as a parent, recognize the importance of it.

So in 2024, I encourage you to light the flame of curiosity in your kid, and learn more about these programs.

Until next time,

Ivy

CEO Prequel, BETA Camp, Apollo

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