Partnership Case Study
Father Michael McGivney Catholic Academy
At Father Michael McGivney Catholic Academy, the English department set out to make literature come alive in new, meaningful ways. By embedding Solution Fluency into their senior English program, teachers transformed the study of “narrative empathy” into a powerful inquiry experience—one that deepened critical thinking, elevated engagement, and empowered students to pursue ideas with clarity, creativity, and confidence.
Our PARTNER
Father Michael McGivney Catholic Academy
SETTING
IB World School
Markham, Ontario
ENGAGEMENT
Multi-year partnership
FOCUS AREAS
Whole-staff implementation of the Culture of Excellence Program
From Summarising Texts to Synthesising, Questioning, Connecting, and Designing Creative Responses.
Case Summary
Through Solution Fluency, Father Michael McGivney Catholic Academy transformed a challenging senior English unit into an inquiry experience that ignited engagement and deepened critical thinking. Students explored narrative empathy through self-chosen texts, synthesised research, and delivered creative, independently designed responses. The process strengthened analytical confidence, elevated student ownership, and reshaped the department’s approach to inquiry-driven learning.
The approach helped my students think more critically and independently about literature.
98%
Students were more engaged and motivated when given choice in how they demonstrated their understanding.
100%
The narrative empathy project improved my students’ ability to synthesise, question, and connect ideas.
97%
Using the 6D process made the culminating task more manageable and more meaningful for learners.
99%
I would recommend this inquiry-based approach to colleagues across other subjects.
100%
(Percentages reflect staff who agreed or strongly agreed.)
In Their Words
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“For the first time, I saw students genuinely excited to analyse literature. The freedom built into Solution Fluency changed everything for them.”
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“Students who normally struggled with traditional essays produced some of the most insightful narrative interpretations I’ve seen in my career.”
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“The 6D process helped me shift from telling students what to look for to asking them what they noticed. Their thinking grew richer almost immediately.”
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“Seeing students choose their own mediums—videos, comics, digital pieces—showed me how much creativity we unlock when we step back and let them lead.”
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“The narrative empathy project reminded us that deep reading isn’t about retelling the plot; it’s about understanding people, perspectives, and purpose.”
“This project exemplifies what we value most at Father Michael McGivney—rigour, curiosity, and compassion. Watching our students take ownership of complex ideas through Solution Fluency reaffirmed how powerful inquiry can be when it’s done well. The growth in confidence and critical thinking was unmistakable, and we are proud of the work our English team has led.”
Lou Paonessa, Principal, Father Michael McGivney Academy