On Educating Girls Ep 12: Girls Who Say “Yes, And…”

Loading player...
EPISODE 12 Show Notes: Girls Who Say “Yes, And…”

Quote: This is an unusual podcast….not sure we have a quote that pops out….should I search for one or let it go?

The compelling research leaves no doubt about the reality that between the ages of 8 to 14, girls’ confidence levels can plummet up to 30%. Since the impact of this drop in confidence can be both profound and long lasting, it is no wonder that both parents and educators care deeply about proactively addressing this central challenge in the life of a young girl. The great news for girls and their parents is that there are proven ways to intervene at this critical juncture; ways that foster important skill sets of self-awareness, empathy, intellectual agility, collaboration and resilience.

Jenny Raymond, the Executive Director of the Harnisch Foundation and founder of Funny Girls, joins host Trudy Hall for a lively conversation about teaching pre-teen girls how to think of themselves as leaders in the making. Funny Girls is a research-based curriculum designed to utilize improvisational theater games and strategies to tackle the confidence gap head on. In the process of this fun experimentation, however, far more than leadership skills are honed. As these efforts demonstrate, teaching girls improv might be the perfect, playful way to move a girl from the sidelines to center stage during a formative stage in her life. And parents can join in the fun, too.


The resources you need to know about:

International Coalition of Girls Schools: https://girlsschools.org/

The Confidence Code for Girls: Claire Shipman, Jillellen Riley, Katty Kay

Funny Girls: https://thehf.org/funny-girls/
31 Aug 2022 English South Africa Education · Kids & Family

Other recent episodes

The Connected Girl: Give them a sporting chance with Dr. Nicole LaVoi

Participating in school sports and physical activities is proven to boost confidence, resilience, and the ability to work as part of a team. These benefits extend beyond childhood into adults’ professions and relationships, making a positive difference in almost every aspect of life. But the UN reports that girls drop…
18 Mar 38 min
 trailer  

Introducing The Connected Girl S3

In this new season of The Connected Girl, a podcast series curated by the International Coalition of Girls Schools, we’re exploring agency. The idea that girls have the ability to own their own decisions and their own directions in life. Why does this matter? And how can the adults around…
18 Mar 3 min

The Grown-Ups Guide to Girls: Learning to disagree without disconnecting

👂🤝 In a healthy democracy, it’s inevitable that we will disagree with others. In fact, it’s necessary! What would it look like if we spent more time engaging in debate without tearing each other down? How can we teach respectful disagreement in classrooms and beyond? In this episode, we hear…
4 Feb 11 min

The Grown-Ups Guide to Girls: When Good Enough is the Goal

🏆🥇Do you know a perfectionist who struggles when things don’t go according to plan? A so-called good girl who works hard to please everyone except herself? (Maybe this is you!) For expert guidance, we turn to Nicky Whitham-Blackwell. As associate principal at Westlake Girls High School in Auckland, New Zealand,…
7 Jan 13 min

The Grown-Ups Guide to Girls: Talking to Girls Who Don’t Want to Talk

🖇️💌 Does the question “How was your day?” elicit a one-word reply? Do you find it difficult to connect with a girl you care about? For expert guidance we turn to Ann Muno, a girls’ rights advocate and acclaimed author of Powerful Girls: Raising Strong, Just and Compassionate Young Women…
3 Dec 2025 15 min