In addition to the the previous article I published on Why Entrepreneurship Should be Taught in 1st Grade https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140702190942-18761896-why-entrepreneurship-should-be-taught-in-1st-grade?trk=mp-reader-card
I'd like to take a moment and explain why the U.S. Department of Education should seriously consider how students will benefit from being exposed to entrepreneurship education, regardless if they decide to start a business or not.
The Top 10 Reasons Why Entrepreneurship Education Should be introduced in 1st Grade in all US Schools
10. Think Differently - Entrepreneurship Education teaches kids to think outside the box and nurtures unconventional talents and skills regardless of student's socioeconomic backgrounds.
9. Innovation - Creates an innovative culture that encourages students to make use of their resources around them and helps students engage in their other classes and surroundings.
8. Thrive, not survive in a Global Economy - Learn through failure and inspires students to become more creative, inventive, persistent and innovative.
7. Just Do it - Entrepreneurship opens the door for students to apply the knowledge they are learning using experiential learning outside the classroom.
6. Fear/Failure - Entrepreneurship requires students to step outside their comfort zone and learn new skills, find new ways, view obstacles as opportunities and adapt.
5. Teams - Students will work in teams using experiential learning. Students learn the necessary skills of how to work effectively and communicate, which teaches critical skills for future, regardless of chosen career paths, whether they want to be a doctor, teacher, chemist, business owner, computer programmer, etc.
4. Ideas are 1%, Execution is 99% - They will learn new skills and lessons they can apply to any job or vocation or business they decide to enter into in their future because they acquired these skills through experiential learning.
3. Turn ideas into reality --- Companies, Organizations, Non Profits, For Profits, Schools, etc. Need people who know how to launch new initiatives, products, services and/or fundraise, build organizations whether they are non-profit or for profit.
2. The Mindset - Entrepreneurship Education instills a mindset that students can apply to any path they choose in life.
1. My Path & Strengths - It will help students find what they are good at, tap into their strengths and build confidence so they can begin to find their path in life and begin to unleash their potential.
As mentioned in the previous article, I have personally tested and proved that Entrepreneurship can be taught in 1st Grade and the students will engage. The students were very innovative, engaged and excited and did an amazing job presenting their ideas in front of the class. The lesson plans I created for these classes worked out very well and could be used by facilitators in classrooms all across the United States.
(Reflective of previous article) Final Thoughts - I found that the ideas the kids came up with were very creative, inspiring and the students were hungry to launch them. I saw first hand, how empowered the second graders became and I realized the importance of exposing young children to entrepreneurship at such an early age. This hands on experience and journey has proved that entrepreneurship can in fact be taught in first grade.
Successful entrepreneurs will tell you, the more you do it the better you get at it. Imagine if kids are exposed to entrepreneurship classes starting in grade one and throughout their school years, how far ahead they will be by time they reach adulthood.
Link to original LinkedIn article: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140702190942-18761896-why-entrepreneurship-should-be-taught-in-1st-grade