Want to build a discussion skills program?
Thank you to Alex Munro for sharing his R.E.A.L. life with us! Alex is a seventh-grade history teacher at Francis W. Parker School in Chicago, IL. Here are his thoughts on the value and practical steps of teaching discussion skills to middle schoolers. This interview has been lightly edited for clarity. Name: Alex Munro Hometown:…
Sidra D. Smith, Ph.D. | R.E.A.L.® Discussion | Director, Independent Schools Program After many years as a school leader, this fall looks different for me. I am not walking into opening faculty meetings or greeting families at back-to-school night. Instead, in my new role supporting R.E.A.L.® Discussion, I spent the summer with hundreds of educators…
It’s been fun to see other founders share the “unhinged” things they have done to build their businesses. But to me, this trend is more than entertainment. It’s an example of authentic interaction in a world that is increasingly AI-dominated, and I’m a relentless champion for human connection.
So, what are some of the “unhinged” things I have done to build R.E.A.L.® Discussion?
Liza Garonzik featured on Millions of Conversations television show and podcast What happens when we teach young people to truly listen, speak with courage, and connect face-to-face? In Episode 8 of Millions of Conversations, hosted by Samar S. Ali and produced by NewsChannel 5 Network, Liza Garonzik joins the show to explore that big, deceptively…
Launching and leading an academic initiative in an independent school can feel like walking a tightrope: what is the balance between fostering alignment and preserving autonomy for faculty? At R.E.A.L.® Discussion, we have partnered with Academic Leaders to launch and lead discussion skills initiatives across 70 independent schools since 2021. Here are two case studies…
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…
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.®…
They might prefer texting to talking, but it turns out Gen-Z believes in-person discussion really matters. As part of the R.E.A.L.® Discussion process, we frequently survey students to gauge how R.E.A.L.® affects them in class and beyond. We always ask: “What is one way you think learning discussion skills will help prepare you for the…
R.E.A.L.® Discussion is a professional development 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…
How students who would rather talk than text imagine discussion in their futures We talk often about the “why” behind our work. We’re passionate about teaching discussion skills because we believe they define humanity – that they’re critical for success in the classroom, the cafeteria, or around the kitchen table. In our tech-centric world, conversation…