The Literacy View

Teachers are tired and want to be excited about teaching again. Too often, professional development is boring, not substantive, or lacks a practical how-to approach. The Literacy View invites viewers to sit with Faith Borkowsky and Judy Boksner to discuss best literacy practices in easy-to-implement ways. The two women are educators and literacy coaches. Faith and Judy encourage all educators to enter lively discussions about literacy's most pressing issues. Faith's Bio-Faith Borkowsky, the founder of High Five Literacy, LLC, is an internationally respected and sought-after literacy consultant, certified dyslexia practitioner, and award-winning author and speaker. She has over thirty-five years of experience in literacy instruction - as a classroom teacher, reading and learning specialist, regional literacy coach, administrator, and private tutor. Faith counsels and provides professional development for school districts and teachers,and offers parent workshops, presentations, and private consultations on science-based literacy practices. She is the author of the award-winning book, Failing Students or Failing Schools? A Parent’s Guide to Reading Instruction and Intervention, and the “If Only I Would Have Known…” series of books, conceived as a roadmap for literacy-readiness and success for parents of young children. Faith regularly blogs about literacy issues and tirelessly advocates for community-based solutions to promote literacy for all children and social justice. She works with school districts and community-based literacy professionals all over the world, and in 2021, Faith was a finalist for the World Literacy Foundation Award for her significant contributions to literacy.Faith is honored to have a role in the 2022 feature-length documentary, The Truth About Reading.Judy's Bio-Judy Boksner has over 25 years of New York City Education experience as an educator, classroom teacher, coach, and reading specialist. Judy works with teachers and children all throughout areas in Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Greenwich Ct. She has extensive training in evidence-based methodologies such as Orton Gillingham, Wilson’s Fundations, and SRSD for Writing Instruction. Judy is also trained in The Hochman Method, also known as The Writing Revolution. Judy's work may be seen and followed on her show The Literacy View YouTube channel andpodcast where Judy and her co-host Faith Borkowsky discuss and interview someof the leading voices in education about shifting to evidence and science alignedpractices to accelerate student outcomes. Judy works with many private clients as a reading specialist and is also teaching mini courses at Manhattanville College. For Professional Inquiries Please Reach Out To: FaithandJudy@gmail.comrealteacherstheliteracyview@gmail.comDISCLAIMER: THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS PUBLICATION ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHORS. THEY DO NOT PURPORT TO REFLECT THE OPINIONS OR VIEWS OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS OR THEIR MEMBERS. THE DESIGNATIONS EMPLOYED IN THIS PUBLICATION AND THE PRESENTATION OF MATERIAL THEREIN DO NOT IMPLY THE EXPRESSION OF ANY OPINION WHATSOEVER ON THE PART OF- CONCERNING LEGAL STATUS OF ANY COUNTRY, AREA, OR TERRITORIES, OR OF ITS AUTHORITIES. THE LITERACY VIEW IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE NYCDOE OR LITERACY TEAM.

Recent Episodes

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Recent Reviews

NewMama07

Great info!

I loved listening to Episode 75 with Anna Geiger. I took notes on it - loved hearing the variety of perspectives and an overview/quick summary of what’s in and what’s out with ELA practices! Thank you!
Kristen@77

A Podcast to Recommend!

This is a podcast that I have shared and recommend! Faith and Judy do a great job! These ladies care about kids and educators! They are both in the field. They will share about past practices they have used that they no longer implement. Can’t many of us relate to that? They have a variety of guests and bring researchers on the podcast too! There are lots of literacy podcasts out there. This has become a favorite! Please keep the episodes coming, girls!
Literacy and Justice For All

Episode 72

I was offended by your attorney guest’s dismissive view of Mississippi’s hard work to improve: “They couldn’t get any lower.” That guest also said that NY should have been on top re: NAEP (paraphrase), but didn’t give a reason. Is that an elitist view? Also, in the (former) home of TCRWP, they would expect high performance?
makenzie132

In reference to the curriculum review show

Interesting that when talking about mandated SOR-stickered curricula, which are not always great, the hosts underscore that “a program is just a tool, teacher knowledge is key.” They never acknowledge this same truth when talking about Units of Study. In that case, for these hosts, curriculum is the root of all evils. Faith and Judy are unbelievably wishy-washy, especially if you’ve listened to 10 or so episodes. Although their opinions seem to change quickly, which is very frustrating as a listener, it’s only when something fits their own opinion that it’s “right.”
PreKTchr20854

My Favorite Podcast!

As an educator, I am very interested in current research and learning all that I can about what other teachers are doing in their classrooms. I feel like I won the lottery when I discovered Faith and Judy’s podcast. I love hearing their perspectives and the guests they have invited to join them is like a Who’s Who of educational authorities and trailblazers . This podcast is for you if you care about what is happening in classrooms today! Teachers, administrators, school board members, and parents will learn and discover what is really happening in schools today. Bravo Judy and Faith! Thank you for your wisdom and wit! It is very appreciated!
Damskimarsha1

Brilliant and Practical

This show is so informative and thought provoking. It brings on viewers with multiple points of view. Every discussion ties conversations back to the research and evidence. The ladies are unfiltered and uncensored. What you see if what you get. Both hosts are still very active in the educational world and are practitioners that work with teachers and kids. When you are looking for breaking news in education this is where you want to go!
Jim Addison

A Must Listen!

Faith and Judy bring their experiences, knowledge, and passion in literacy to this podcast. Despite literacy’s complexities, their podcast looks to find clarity through honest conversation. No agendas, no conflicts of interest, just a search for what’s best for our students. Faith and Judy continue to work in the trenches, serving both students and educators. Add in their incredible guest list, this becomes a must listen!
P.B. A mom and a teacher

Informative an entertaining!

Two lovely engaging and intellectually stimulating an passionate educators that provide informative information and both care so deeply about our kids and the future of education . Highly recommend.
Me inNH

Tone it down!

I really enjoy the topics covered and lively debate. Just wish that you had a sound engineer that could improve the quality. I can’t listen sometimes because I have to be in the right mindset to tolerate the tone and poor quality. Also, please give your guests more opportunity to speak! I feel their frustration. Maybe save some of your discussion for after the guest or something please!
Ed jones1

Required Listening for All Trainers, State leaders, & Ed Professors

This podcast has been my go-to for literacy lately. They are hitting on all cylinders, catching the up-to-the-minute advances in the science of reading; but also opening up to voices from across the spectrum. There’s no company backing or producing this, just two professionals calling it like they see it. And the results are so fun. But don’t let the fun & irreverence fool you: the deepest issues of teaching reading will get a full airing here.
Lit View Listener

Let the Guests Speak!

Faith and Judy have some amazing guests on their show. I only wish they would let them speak more. They speak more than their guests and often interrupt them to chime in with their own experience. I listen to the podcast to hear these amazing experts and wish I could hear more from them and less from Faith and Judy about their personal experiences.
EvidentlyR

A Must-Listen for “Breaking News”

Faith and Judy have been on fire lately! They’ve recently had a series of “breaking news” episodes, inviting guests to talk about the hottest topics that have literacy nerds talking on social media. These help all of us in the field to better understand current issues. I admire Faith’s ability to steer the conversation and Judy’s vulnerability about what it’s like to practice in the field at this given moment.
123098456

Necessity for Teachers, Parents, & ANYONE concerned about literacy

There’s no one I’d trust more about literacy than Faith. I send her books to parents of young kids so they know how to spot reading difficulties and her podcast lets me keep up on the latest conversations on Literacy without the quagmire of social media. Absolutely recommend to parents, teachers, administrators, elected officials, and anyone who cares about literacy.
Happy Pinner!!

Episode 5

I have so many comments but let me focus on one- and to piggyback on your comments about needing all the pieces in the literacy block- when we wonder why a school with Fundations has kids that still can’t read because they have leveled literacy, my mind goes to- if they had Fundations, why COULDNT they decode the leveled readers ??? Shouldn’t they be able to if they are such phonics stars? Shouldn’t this magic bullet be solving the problem?? Phonics is about application, why can’t they? Haven’t we also had phonics instruction in schools decades ago and it didn’t work then, why is it thought that’s the magic bullet? I believe we have a problem and need to examine our practices and make shifts for sure, but when we say half of the country can’t read at above sixth grade level? I want to see this data- I know marginalized populations suffer the most. We need to dig deeper on that. The birth to age five piece is crucial.