2023
REAL-LY
was a
big year.
2023 Annual Report
Dear Friends,
Remember Computer Labs? When I was growing up, schools had Computer Labs: structured programs where students learned future-focused skills like typing and eye-mouse coordination (yes, that was a thing). Today’s schools don’t need Computer Labs, but at R.E.A.L.® we believe they need Conversation Labs: programs that explicitly teach discussion skills to kids growing up and into a tech-centric, polarized, world.
I am excited to share that in 2023, we brought this "Conversation Lab" vision to life in partnership with 40+ visionary schools. This Annual Report tells the full story.
Highlights from the year? Teachers loved our PD, finding purpose, tools, and community in a world where teaching as we know it is questioned daily. Student growth data was equally positive: across thousands of 5th-10th graders, we saw R.E.A.L.® decrease anxiety, increase trust, improve listening skills, and build confidence disagreeing with “ideas not identities.”
Every day, our growing team serves school partners oriented by our North Star: conversation skills are teachable -- but, in a world where it’s easier to text than talk, they must be taught. Our role is to help schools teach, measure, and celebrate the discussion skills students need to navigate the best, and messiest, parts of the human experience: inquiry, friendship, citizenship, spirituality, love, professional success -- the list goes on! We know that in aggregate, discussions define history -- and, amidst AI, discussions will define humanity. The stakes are high, but our team is always, always here to help.
As we look to 2024, we are excited for what’s ahead, including the launch of R.E.A.L.® Basics (for Grades 2-5) and R.E.A.L.® Family (for Parents), fresh PD offerings, and new partnerships with International Coalition of Girls’ Schools, One Schoolhouse, and The Grauer Institute (to name a few).
One thing that will never change? Our gratitude for your vision, trust, and belief in student voice. Thank you!
Liza Garonzik
Founder, R.E.A.L. Discussion
By the numbers
Student Growth
91%
of students agree with the statement “I feel like my classmates listen to me when I speak in discussion”
after 9 R.E.A.L.® discussions
84%
of students agree with the statement “I use my notes or ideas from discussion in my writing”
after 6 R.E.A.L.® discussions
83%
of students agree with the statement “I can get my voice in if I have something to say ”
after 6 R.E.A.L.® discussions
23-24 PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTs
Screen-Free: To Be or Not to Be?
At R.E.A.L., we love a compromise. When it comes to screens in classrooms, we know two things are true: students need screen-free environments to be their most human selves AND teachers deserve tech tools to run their classrooms.
Our new system meets both needs.
R.E.A.L.® Portfolios Enable Screen-Free Discussion ... and Focused, Active Listening!
With R.E.A.L.®, students build a physical, school-branded Discussion Portfolio where they learn discussion skills, prepare, track, note-take, and reflect on discussion all year long.
This approach is based on research – it makes growth visible, provides cognitive scaffolding, supports deep focus, and facilitates evidence-based assessment.
The lived experience matches up: kids say they love “getting out of Google Docs.” And, in an AI world, teachers are relieved to have an easy way to document live engagement and the human thinking process!
R.E.A.L.® Portal Gives Teachers Unique Discussion Data ... and Professional Community!
Launched in 2023, the R.E.A.L.® Portal is the online hub for R.E.A.L.® Network teachers. It’s the spot to RSVP to PLC events, book coaching, and peruse resources. For a full tour, click here!
Everyone’s favorite part? The R.E.A.L.® Dashboard: visualizations of student growth in discussion skills, belonging and purpose – plus, anonymized qualitative reflections from students.
According to teachers, this feedback offers an “endorphin hit,” a “reminder of WHY I do what I do every day,” and “a roadmap for what we need to work on next as a class.”
For admin: it’s mission-aligned data worth celebrating!
Amanda Lombardo
Department Chair
The Bullis School (MD)
“As a Department Chair, I am thrilled to have a tool like R.E.A.L.® to equip my team to explicitly teach face-to-face communication skills in a tech-centered world. For students, R.E.A.L.® Portfolios build confidence - they know exactly where to turn to find evidence as they begin writing, and they feel less inclined to consult online sources, relying on the record of their own authentic critical thinking instead.
For Teachers, the R.E.A.L.® PD is amazing - it balances alignment and autonomy perfectly! - and the Portal supports reflection with meaningful data about the discussion experience. I already have reports of students employing R.E.A.L.® skills in courses beyond my Department, too.”
SCHOOL CASE STUDY
Breaking Conversation into Teachable Skills
Nativity Preparatory School (MA)
A faith-based, tuition-free boys’ school in Boston uses R.E.A.L. ® to break the art of discussion into teachable, practicable skills for its youngest students.
Read more about our partnership and its impact.
“At Nativity, we are called not to take the easy path. We believe that just as you work hard on the sports field to practice each element of a winning play, so too do you need to work hard to develop the communication skills you need to get through moments of disagreement. That’s why this year, we are teaching R.E.A.L.®.”
SCHOOL CASE STUDY
Building Confidence and Conversation Culture
Girls Preparatory School (TN)
A southern girls’ day school in a politically purple community uses R.E.A.L.® to live into long-held values in today’s world: student voice, civil discourse, and belonging for all.
“A partnership with R.E.A.L.® has become the clear path forward for our school community as we continue to create an environment where all voices are heard and all perspectives are valued.”
ScHOOL CASE STUDY
Blair Academy (NJ)
A mid-Atlantic boarding school with a global student body and public speaking tradition uses R.E.A.L.® to explicitly teach and assess human communication skills in an AI world.
“In a ChatGPT world, R.E.A.L.® gives us a framework to document and celebrate the deeply human processes of idea generation, oral engagement, and writing that builds directly on class discussion. This is, of course, where we have always wanted to be: at the opening of young minds.”
Teaching the Art of Effective Communication
Teachers can’t stop talking about R.E.A.L.®!
Faculty find purpose, IMPACT, and “The BeST PD OF MY CAREER” in R.E.A.L.®
Robby Uhrman
English Department Chair
Hutchison School (TN)
In one R.E.AL.® Discussion, a vocal student stated her position on an issue with clear evidence from the graphic novel. Then, several students shared different interpretations of that same page. Ten minutes later, the original student shared how the discussion changed her perspective.
Her concession made an impact on the class, modeling that it’s okay to change your mind when presented with new information.
This was a powerful moment – one that would not have happened in my old discussion formats. With R.E.A.L.®, everyone has a voice, and mind-changing is part of learning.
Erika Drezner
Upper School Department Chair
Berkeley Carroll School (NY)
I first tried R.E.A.L.® with 10th graders, some of whom were already very fluent discussion participants; I worried that they would think it was hokey. But the other half of the class was routinely silent.
I remember my amazement and joy during our first R.E.A.L® discussion, as I walked around listening and every student was talking. Every student.
And all quoting from the text. And all connecting their ideas to things their classmates had said. And pausing to write. All while I said nothing. I was hooked.
Kennia Reddrick
Middle School Teacher,
Dexter Southfield (MA)
In a R.E.A.L.® Discussion, we were talking about being bullied and seeking vengeance. There was one student who actually had dealt with some bullying earlier in the year. He used R is for Relate to relate the character’s experience to his own – and said that rather than seeking vengeance against my bully, I’d rather they learn from what they did. [...]
He hadn’t talked about his experience before, and his peers were able to be supportive in the moment, verbally and non-verbally. This was a mature and powerful moment.
Brendan Flanagan
High School Teacher, Gill St. Bernard’s School (NJ)
For years, I ran a discussion-based class and thought that discussions were something not every student was going to be “good at,” but R.E.A.L.® makes space for all ideas from all students
– introverts and extroverts alike.
And I love the combo of analog portfolio and digital dashboard. As a tech-aware teacher, I love having the data provided through the dashboard, but being able to keep screens out of the actual discussion has been a huge boon to my students' development of interpersonal skills.”
Thank you to our ’22-’23 school and association partners! We couldn't do it without you.
NJAIS
Thank you for a
REAL-LY
big year.
Join the convo at www.REALdiscussion.org -- we'd love to hear your voice!
