REAL Discussion Summer Series
R.E.A.L Discussion Summer Series
June 23-24, 2021
11 am- 4 pm EST
$375/educator
It is recommended that each school send a minimum of 2 educators and this program is limited to 30 schools, so register early.
What to expect
Beginning in the Summer of 2021, NNSP and R.E.A.L. Discussion will partner to offer teachers in NNSP member schools a unique opportunity to investigate how student-led discussion can be used as a tool to foster equity, belonging, and growth for all students’ voices in rigorous academic contexts.
In many NNSP member schools, student-led discussion is celebrated as a signature learning experience -- and yet, as great teachers have intuited and recent social media movements (e.g. Black@, Woke@) have proven, too often, these class discussions are riddled with patterns of inequity. Too many students in our schools feel as if they don’t belong, their voice doesn’t matter, and they don’t have what it takes to be successful in discussion. Too many teachers feel unprepared and unsupported in their desire to create a safe classroom space in which all students feel heard and challenged when discussing real world issues. This joint venture by NNSP and R.E.A.L. is a reflection of our shared belief in the necessity and power of a targeted intervention to raise all our students’ voices, beginning in class discussion.
Join us to learn about R.E.A.L.: a discussion method that helps all students find their voice in academic discussions. R.E.A.L. equips teachers to “demystify” discussion, breaking great conversation down to the basics: Relate, Excerpt, Ask, and Listen. The system is student-led and research based, aligning best practices from DEI and CBL (e.g. portfolio-based assessment). Every teacher who has used R.E.A.L. reports that it makes discussion more equitable and more rigorous.
R.E.A.L. is a great fit for schools that are exploring curricular audits, developing interdisciplinary courses, and relying on seminar models in upper grades. Before asking Gen-Z students to “Harkness,” try teaching them how to be R.E.A.L. -- with and for each other. Learn more at: www.REALdiscussion.org
After the series
The NNSP cohort will be invited to five virtual salons for R.E.A.L. practitioners throughout the 2021-22 school year. Teachers will connect with educators from a cross-section of geographic and educational contexts, all passionate about students finding and using their voices.
NNSP and R.E.A.L. are deeply committed to equity and inclusion. If you require financial assistance, please contact Blake at bkohn@schoolsinpartnership.org