The “Asking” Skill: A Challenge and Opportunity for Students and Adults

The “Asking” Skill: A Challenge and Opportunity for Students and Adults

Last week, we were thrilled to welcome friend-of-R.E.A.L.® Jeff Wetzler to give a keynote presentation to our intrepid R.E.A.L.® educators. Jeff, the former Chief Learning Officer of Teach for America, is the co-founder of Transcend, an organization that strives to support school communities as they create extraordinary, equitable learning environments, and the author of Ask:…

The Pros and Cons of AI in Class Discussions

The Pros and Cons of AI in Class Discussions

It’s clear that AI will have a role in the future of schools – and teachers are (perhaps surprisingly) receptive to that idea. A 2023 Walton Family Foundation survey found that 61 percent of teachers see legitimate educational uses for ChatGPT. In our conversations with R.E.A.L.® faculty grappling with the impacts of ChatGPT on class…

Journeying on Wisdom Road: A Conversation with Grant Lichtman
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Journeying on Wisdom Road: A Conversation with Grant Lichtman

Grant Lichtman is a renowned thought leader on the transformation of K-12 education who works with educators to develop a comfort and capacity for change in a rapidly changing world. Grant spent two years on a cross-country journey exploring deep wells of cultural wisdom that our tech-centered culture has eroded. What follows is a conversation…

R.E.A.L.® Teacher Feature: Hannah Higgin
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R.E.A.L.® Teacher Feature: Hannah Higgin

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…

Teaching Face-to-Face Communication Skills as Preventative Care

Teaching Face-to-Face Communication Skills as Preventative Care

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…

When Discussion Across Difference Gets Difficult

When Discussion Across Difference Gets Difficult

What Teachers Can Do to Help Students Through Moments of Polarity This summer I spoke with hundreds of teachers across nearly a dozen workshops about a near-omnipresent anxiety: how can teachers help students navigate moments of polarity with their peers during this U.S. Presidential election season? It’s worth noting that at R.E.A.L.®, we are big…

R.E.A.L.® Trainer Spotlight: Patrick Farmer

R.E.A.L.® Trainer Spotlight: Patrick Farmer

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…

R.E.A.L. IRL: How Our Gen-Z Interns Plan to Approach Discussion This School Year

R.E.A.L. IRL: How Our Gen-Z Interns Plan to Approach Discussion This School Year

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…