R.E.A.L.® Teacher Feature: Matt Tilford & Jack Fisher

R.E.A.L.® Teacher Feature: Matt Tilford & Jack Fisher

Thank you to Matt Tilford and Jack Fisher for sharing their REAL lives with us!  Matt and Jack teach history at Woodward Academy in Atlanta, Georgia. Here are their thoughts on discussion, R.E.A.L.®, and learning. Names/Hometowns: Matt Tilford: Joshua Tree, CaliforniaJack Fisher: St. Louis, Missouri Current School: Woodward Academy in Atlanta, Georgia Can you describe…

Announcing the 2nd Annual R.E.A.L.® Discussion National Student Essay Contest

Announcing the 2nd Annual R.E.A.L.® Discussion National Student Essay Contest

Today’s teens spend close to 9 hours per day in front of screens – and devices aren’t going away any time soon. The results of so much screen time (the equivalent of a full work week!) are varied and complex – and one consequence is that today’s kids spend much more time than previous generations…

Let’s Talk About It: Designing Discussions Where Extroverts Practice Listening and Introverts Practice Talking

Let’s Talk About It: Designing Discussions Where Extroverts Practice Listening and Introverts Practice Talking

For today’s students, discussion skills are critical. Yet, as teachers know too well: engaging introverts and extroverts in class discussion can be a challenge. Our research and methods show that it’s possible — and students see the impact immediately. In this whitepaper, we examine: Read on to learn more.

R.E.A.L.® Teacher Feature: Shaila Richmond & William Berry

R.E.A.L.® Teacher Feature: Shaila Richmond & William Berry

Thank you to Shaila Richmond & William Berry for sharing their REAL lives with us! Shaila and William teach seventh grade English and History, respectively, at St. Catherine’s School in Richmond, Virginia. Here are their thoughts on discussion, R.E.A.L.®, and learning. Names/Hometowns: Shaila Richmond and William Berry, Richmond, VA Current School: St. Catherine’s School Can…

Why Our Interns Love Working at R.E.A.L.® 

Why Our Interns Love Working at R.E.A.L.® 

One of the best parts of R.E.A.L.® Discussion is our intern program. As we work tirelessly to create meaningful, usable, research-backed programming for Gen-Z students, we have on our team a slate of bright, passionate Gen-Z college students who help our company run. Unlike some other internships, ours embraces, empowers, and relies upon interns –…

Communication is the Basis of Relationships: a Conversation with Susanne Carpenter

Communication is the Basis of Relationships: a Conversation with Susanne Carpenter

Susanne Carpenter is the founder and principal at Carpenter Leadership, a leadership consulting and executive coaching firm that helps leaders and leadership teams become high-performing and strategy-focused. What follows is a conversation between Susanne and R.E.A.L. ® Founder Liza Garonzik. This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.  Liza: Susanne, we’re so excited to have…

Teacher Feature: Sydney Freibaum & Jennifer Cordero

Teacher Feature: Sydney Freibaum & Jennifer Cordero

Thank you to Sydney Freibaum & Jennifer Cordero for sharing their REAL lives with us! Sydney and Jennifer are sixth grade teachers at Hutchison School in Memphis, TN. Here are their thoughts on discussion, R.E.A.L.®, and learning. Names/Hometowns: Sydney Freibaum, Memphis Jennifer Cordero, Memphis Current School: Hutchison Middle School, where Sydney teaches sixth grade English…

Discussion Skills in the Wild

Discussion Skills in the Wild

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…

A Researcher’s Perspective: 5 Takeaways from Watching R.E.A.L.® Discussion in Action

A Researcher’s Perspective: 5 Takeaways from Watching R.E.A.L.® Discussion in Action

by Harriet Piercy Harriet Piercy has taught English at London secondary schools since 2015 and held a number of roles as a curriculum leader. She is currently joint head of the English faculty at Haggerston School in Hackney. She was recently a Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching scholar at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, undertaking…

Why Mattering Matters: a Conversation with Dr. Sarah Bennison

Why Mattering Matters: a Conversation with Dr. Sarah Bennison

Dr. Sarah Bennison is the co-founder and CEO of the Mattering Movement, an organization focused on combating the pandemic of loneliness and despair—that is, a widespread mattering deficit—that’s harming today’s youth. What follows is a conversation between Sarah and R.E.A.L. Founder Liza Garonzik. This conversation has been lightly edited for clarity. Liza: Welcome, Sarah, we’re…