Dr. David Reynolds of Pembroke Hill School shares why great discussion benefits everyone in the classroom, helping students grow while teachers learn through listening in this R.E.A.L. Discussion Teacher Feature.
In this Teacher Feature, three educators from Villa Duchesne share how R.E.A.L. Discussion helps students build confidence, strengthen critical thinking, improve listening skills, and find their voice. From quiet students speaking up for the first time to peers learning to challenge ideas respectfully, their stories show why teaching discussion skills matters now more than ever.
Thank you to Maggie Iuni for sharing her R.E.A.L. life with us! Maggie is an English teacher at Berkeley Carroll School in Brooklyn, NY. We loved hearing about Maggie’s experience using R.E.A.L. to help her students grow their curiosity and perspective-taking, and discover their own “why” when it comes to learning discussion skills. Name: Margaret…
Thank you to Anastacia Ike-Foreman for sharing her R.E.A.L. life with us! Anastacia is a seventh and tenth-grade English teacher at Tarbut V’Torah Community Day School (TVT) in Irvine, CA. She shared her perspective that listening is the heart of discussion and that structured dialogue helps her students move beyond black‑and‑white thinking toward more nuanced…
Thank you to Kacie Neville for sharing her R.E.A.L. life with us! Kacie is an English teacher at Cleveland Central High School, a public high school in Cleveland, MS. Here are her thoughts on discussion, R.E.A.L.®, and learning. This interview has been lightly edited for clarity. Name: Kacie Neville Hometown: Chapel Hill, North Carolina, but…
Thank you to Jessica Wilson, Katherine Hammond, and Maggie Haire, the fourth grade team at Hutchison School (Memphis, TN), for sharing their R.E.A.L. Basics experience with us! R.E.A.L.® Basics is our research-based discussion skills program for elementary-aged students. Can you describe yourself as a student in three words? Jessica: Overachiever, rule-follower… maybe a little anxious….
Thank you to Eamon Thornton for sharing his R.E.A.L. life with us! Eamon is a high school English teacher at the McCallie School in Chattanooga, TN. Here are his thoughts on discussion, R.E.A.L.®, and learning. This interview has been lightly edited for clarity. Name: Eamon Thornton Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia, but I was actually a boarding…
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…
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…
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…