R.E.A.L. Discussion

This week on the blog, we interview Dean of Faculty and R.E.A.L. Trainer Sumner McCallie. Check out the article for insights on everything from faculty development to student-led discussion. Our favorite parts? His reflections about teaching older students that active listening is part of a "communally-responsible discussion." Check out the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eek9VYC9 #REALDiscussion #EdTech #StudentSuccess #EdReform

? Few people on a campus have more hard conversations than a Dean. That's why this week, we sat down with Bridget Johnson Founder of Deans' Roundtable to pick her brain ?? about how and why discussion skills matter for students, faculty, and parents in a school community. Our biggest takeaway? Norms need to be alive every day -- not just at the beginning of the year or right before a scheduled "hard conversation." ? Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eYmm-TbV #REALDiscussion #DailyHabits #EdTech #DiscussionSkills

?? Thinking back to an amazing time at NAIS Thrive last week ?? Thank you National Association of Independent Schools for an inspiring conference, full of big questions and real discussions ?? Was especially fun to see longtime clients and advisors like Lauren Hamilton Sumner McCallie Sidra Smith, Ph.D. Meredith Ford Claire Goldsmith Mike Flanagan Peter Nilsson Jen Evers #REALDiscussion #NAIS #EducationInnovation #EdTech

Anxiety is one of the biggest obstacles kids tell us they face in? discussion. It comes up on every single set of survey responses. It? looks different for different students -- for some, it's talking live and? feeling "on the spot;" for others, it's a fear of being wrong; for many it's? feeling like they might get "cancelled" for what they say. For students with? clinically diagnosed anxiety, class discussion can be one of the hardest? activities of the school day! R.E.A.L. Discussion is designed using research-based practices to reduce? anxiety so that students spend their precious working memory engaging? in the discussion -- not worrying about it. #StudentSuccess #REALDiscussion #StudentMentalHealth #TeachingStrategies

We are big fans of Matthew Kay's recent piece in ASCD - "Busting the Myth of Equitable Class Discussions" -- and particularly his insight that the goal of a class discussion should NOT be to have every student talk for a perfectly equal amount of time. That's not realistic, authentic, or equitable! As he says: so many the existing discussion systems "trick teachers into valuing the quantity of raised hands over the quality of students’ contributions." At R.E.A.L., we've built a system for differentiating success so all students can achieve it....and we've built the assessment frameworks teachers need to go deeper than counting raised hands and minutes talked! Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eEvztynZ #Mythbusting #EdTech #StudentSuccess #REALDiscussion

When it comes to leading academic initiatives in schools, balancing teacher autonomy and alignment is an art! ?? At REAL, we have had a front row seat to great Academic Leadership as we've partnered with seventy schools to design and implement discussion skills programs.??? Our newest case study highlights two Academic Leaders who have?inspired us as they've balanced faculty autonomy and alignment with R.E.A.L. Discussion.? Alyssa Villarreal at Hutchison School and Nora Landon William Penn Charter School - thank you for your leadership, partnership, and belief in the power and urgency of discussion skills! ?? And Sarah Hanawald at the Association for Academic Leaders -- thank you for your framing of these big challenges academic leaders tackle every day. Check the case study here: https://lnkd.in/e9kh_VC8 #EdTech #CaseStudy #EducationalLeadership #REALDiscussion

We hear from students all the time that R.E.A.L. Discussion skills have impacted their "real lives" beyond school. But in reading the WEF Skills for the Future Report, what is clear is that R.E.A.L. Discussion skills aren't only helpful for navigating teenage years: they are some of the most in-demand skills by employers. Tomorrow's employers want communication, critical thinking, leadership and social influence, and collaboration skills -- ahead of technical skillsets like Quality Control. https://lnkd.in/dgZdBKP4 The good news? These skills are teachable. At R.E.A.L., we have built the first research-backed methods for explicitly teaching them. Reach out to [email protected] to learn more! #REALDiscussion #EdTech #StudentSuccess #EffectiveCommunication

Big news: R.E.A.L. is hosting our first in-person PD this summer in collaboration with the Grauer Institute at Pomfret School from June 16-20, 2025! And, in the words of visionary Gwyneth Connell it'll be "teacher nerd summer camp vibes!" Whether you are a seasoned R.E.A.L. practitioner or want to come pilot the method next year, there's a track for you. Learn more about the vision and program design and sign up today! Link to Full Article: https://lnkd.in/dAGy3CGq #TeacherDevelopment #EdTech #EducatorTraining #REALDiscussion

If there's one thing teachers can do differently to increase the effectiveness -- and staying power -- of discussions, it is this: End discussion seven minutes before the end of class (no matter how well it is going!). Ask students to reflect in writing for two full minutes about the discussion experience and then spend the last five debriefing. Let them give each other shout outs. Offer your own insights. Set goals for what you want to do better next time. As a coach, you'd never let your team get back on the bus without a final huddle debriefing the game. Reflection is how we learn -- don't skip it! #ClassroomEngagement #StudentSuccess #TeachingTips #REALDiscussion

We are thrilled to share that Dr. Sidra Smith will join R.E.A.L. Discussion as the Independent School Program Director in June 2025. Sidra is a career educator, certified coach, and builder-at-heart who brings a deep commitment to our mission. She's run R.E.A.L. programs and served as an informal advisor since our founding, so we are excited for her to step into this official role. To learn more about Sidra, click the link below. Welcome, Sidra, to the R.E.A.L. Discussion Team! Link to article: https://lnkd.in/ecsa4ZJF #WelcomeAboard #TeamGrowth #CollaborationIsKey #REALDiscussion