CONVERSATION COMEBACK
A Teacher’s Guide to Class Discussion in a Distracted, Divided World
About the Book
Today’s teachers are navigating a Conversation Crisis in their classrooms. When it is time to talk, students shut down, becoming withdrawn, anxious, argumentative, or performative. It is understandable. Kids are growing up in a world where it is easier to text than talk, screens shrink attention spans, algorithms skew perspectives, politics are polarized, and AI undercuts authenticity. The consequence is a generation lacking the real-world skills that sustain classrooms and communities.
Conversation Comeback steps into this gap with R.E.A.L.® Discussion. It offers a research-informed, practice-proven, and optimistic framework for teaching the communication skills our distracted, divided world urgently needs.
Praise for Conversation Comeback
About the Author
Liza Garonzik is the founder of R.E.A.L.® Discussion, which partners with schools to teach, measure, and celebrate conversation skills. A former teacher and school leader, she has worked across classrooms, departments, and boards to help educators lead the Conversation Comeback our world needs. Liza is a frequent contributor to the public discourse on human skills in our rapidly changing, complex world through podcasts, conferences, and print media.
Conversation Comeback Companion Tools
Ready to make R.E.A.L.® Discussion a reality at your school? Here are some freebie resources to get you started.
Learning R.E.A.L.® Skills:
Printable Resource for Middle School Students
Learning R.E.A.L.® Skills:
Printable Resource for High School Students
Learning R.E.A.L.® Routines:
A Teacher’s Guide
Reflecting on R.E.A.L.® Assessment:
A Teacher’s Guide
R.E.A.L.® Discussion Classroom Poster
“Let’s Discuss Discussion:”
Facilitator’s Guide for Conversation Comeback
Sign up for updates on the book, related materials, and events.
Bring Conversation Comeback to School
Join a book talk or event to explore the ideas behind Conversation Comeback.
[Note: Add upcoming dates or a link to an events calendar.]
Looking for workshops for teachers, school or department book clubs, or customized coaching and consulting for your leadership team? R.E.A.L.® Discussion Professional Learning has you covered!
Let’s Keep Talking!
Join the conversation with R.E.A.L.® Discussion on LinkedIn.Don’t see what you need? Email book@realdiscussion.org
(Don’t be shy: you make our day when you reach out!)
Buy the Book
About R.E.A.L.® Discussion
R.E.A.L.® Discussion is a framework for teaching the four foundational skills that make conversations meaningful: Relate, Excerpt, Ask, and Listen. It gives teachers shared language, classroom routines, and evidence-based assessment models while giving students the tools they need to grow as communicators (and listeners!).
