Environmental Literacy (Reading the Room)

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Literacy doesn't end at the edge of a page. Environmental Literacy is the ability to walk into a space and understand its "story." Who lives here? What do they value? What is the "vibe" of this environment?

When we teach kids to "read the room," we are building their situational awareness and empathy. We are helping them move from the "lead vest" of being self-conscious (worrying about how they look) to being conscious of others (observing how others feel). This shift is the ultimate social safety net.

Here’s the plot twist, with more people immersed in screens, how do you learn to read that room? Require cameras to be always on? Create a new way of deciphering meaning from short bursts of text? This one truly stumps me and I’m curious how you read the digital room?

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