It’s been a BIG year at REAL! Read more in our Annual Report
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Name: Hannah Higgin Hometown: Wallingford, CT Current School & Teaching Assignments: History Department Chair at the Westover School in Middlebury, CT. Describe yourself as a student in three words: Curious, studious, and engaged. Who was your favorite teacher and why? I loved my high school English teachers. Two who meant the most to me are…
Every teacher of young people today knows that, in many cases, the kids are not alright. Anxiety and depression are at an all-time high, cancel culture runs rampant, and many young people spend more time conversing on-screen than they do in-person. As educators, what can we do? How can we arm students with the skills…
Kids these days. Adults have been shaking their heads and repeating that phrase about younger generations for…generations. It’s as true today as it ever was, and the kids of Gen Z – who’ve grown up as digital natives, during a global pandemic, at the cusp of an AI boom – can sometimes seem impenetrable to…
Name/Hometown: Patrick Farmer, Newton, Massachusetts Current Role and School: Sixth grade lead teacher at Nativity Preparatory School of Boston. How did you learn about R.E.A.L.®? I used to work at Shady Hill School, where Liza had done her teacher training. One of Liza’s mentors is also one of my mentors, and she saw that we…
As we head back to school, questions and concerns regarding AI’s role in students’ lives resurface. In an AI world, what do students actually need to learn? How should they communicate? Is class discussion still relevant? Our short answer: yes! Especially in a world dominated by machines that serve individual needs, discussion skills are a…
This summer, we were delighted to welcome another amazing group of interns to the R.E.A.L.® team. As the summer draws to a close, our interns are heading back to college campuses – and after eight weeks spent thinking, breathing, and living discussion, they have new approaches to in-person conversation. We asked four of our interns…
Dr. John Austin is the Head of School at Deerfield Academy and the lead author of “Thriving in a World of Pluralistic Contention: A Framework for Schools.” The Framework was produced by a Task Force of Heads of School in partnership with the E.E. Ford Foundation. What follows is a conversation between John and R.E.A.L….
Name/Hometown: Sumner McCallie, Chattanooga, TN, McCallie School Current Role and School: Dean of Faculty & Curriculum at McCallie School in Chattanooga, TN. How did you learn about R.E.A.L.®? [R.E.A.L.® Founder] Liza Garonzik had presented at a conference, and our Middle School Principal came back and said, “you’ve got to be connected with her. She has…
Penny Austen is the founder of ThinkGive, a SEL program that helps students build character, confidence, and connection. What follows is a conversation between Penny and R.E.A.L. ® founder Liza Garonzik. This conversation has been lightly edited for clarity. Liza: Penny, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to have you, as…
R.E.A.L.® Discussion is a program that equips faculty to teach, measure, and celebrate discussion skills – which students use in the classroom, in the cafeteria, on the court, and, even, at the grocery store (said one sixth grade girl) and on dates (shared a ninth grade boy)! The system is based on the four R.E.A.L.®…
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