The Literacy View

Ep.168

Value

In this episode of The Literacy View, we have an amazing conversation with Assistant Superintendent Lynn Gaffney about why so many school initiatives fail and what actually leads to meaningful, lasting change. We dig into the realities of implementation, initiative overload, leadership decisions, and what schools need to stop doing if they want improvement efforts to truly stick.

Promise

An honest, practical conversation for educators and leaders who are tired of watching schools jump from one initiative to the next without real results. No buzzwords. No fluff. Just real talk about what actually works when it comes to improving schools and supporting students and teachers.

Bio-Lynn Gaffney is the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction and Chief Diversity Officer for the Watertown City School District. Passionate about empowering student success, she is committed to supporting educators, strengthening instructional practices, and creating school systems where all students can thrive academically and personally.

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Decodify Website:https://www.decodifylearning.com/

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Ep.167-What Actually Works In Schools

The Literacy View live from researchED.

VALUE:
In this episode with Jim Heal, we call out the truth most schools avoid. We are not failing because teachers are not working hard. We are failing because we keep chasing everything instead of committing to what actually works. Jim breaks down mental models, worked examples, and the science of learning in a way that actually makes sense for real classrooms. This is where research meets reality and where a lot of what schools are doing gets exposed for what it is.

PROMISE:
You will leave knowing exactly what to stop doing, what is worth doubling down on, and how to make your instruction actually stick. No more guessing. No more wasted time. Just clear, actionable moves you can use tomorrow that will actually impact student learning. No fluff. No hiding. No BS.

Jim Heal’s Resource Link:

https://www.learningsciencepartners.com/resources

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 Join Us This Saturday Live In NYC!💜

🚨 WE’RE GOING LIVE RESEARCHED NYC 2026 🚨

No fluff. No boring PD. Just real conversations that actually matter.

Join us live 👇

🎤 Lynn Gaffney 9:00 AM
Making It Stick: Why School Initiatives Fail and What Actually Works
👉 https://www.youtube.com/live/4ismP8GCM3w?si=KXJZrHHlOaAeZPiQ

🧠 Zaretta Hammond 11:30 AM
If Students Aren’t Doing the Thinking, They Aren’t Learning
👉 https://www.youtube.com/live/JCpr3ulYvf0?si=Aw-TIPqJjrA_4hKa

🎙 Jim Heal 2:50 PM
The Initiative Carousel: Why Nothing Sticks and What Actually Works
👉 https://www.youtube.com/live/P6mtNiu7nLM?si=9ENJCfej9tu6h4m4

🎥 General Livestream All Day
👉 https://www.youtube.com/live/QcJ6wOygLOs?si=TJq90-dqBFYPqxUa

📅 May 2, 2026

👇 Clickable schedule attached below
Open it and tap any session

Let’s go. No BS. 🍻

👉 Drop I’M IN if you’re joining live and share it!

📎 ATTACH
👉   👇 ResearchEd NYC 2026 Clickable Schedule
https://drive.google.com/file/d/10F0ZYzsvqX5YTeLbwZ7yWeKiSKdZlMpQ/view

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Official Sponsor of this episode!🎉👏🏻

Decodify is a supplemental, structured literacy toolkit that allows for reading practice in an engaging, purposeful, and educational format. It helps students unlock the code and own the word. For an exclusive 5 % discount on your decodify purchase  email [email protected]

Decodify Website:https://www.decodifylearning.com/

Work or Partner with Judy and The Literacy View

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (917)207-7654

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Phone: (917)207-7654

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Ep.165

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Decodify is a supplemental, structured literacy toolkit that allows for reading practice in an engaging, purposeful, and educational format. It helps students unlock the code and own the word. For an exclusive 5 % discount on your decodify purchase  email [email protected]

Decodify Website:https://www.decodifylearning.com/

Work or Partner with Judy and The Literacy View

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Phone: (917)207-7654

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Phone: (917)207-7654

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NEVER BEFORE‼️
The Controversial Four! 

Ep.164

1) SoR gone wrong 
⚠️$$$$$$ 🤔

Article: https://hechingerreport.org/new-york-ten-million-reading-instruction/?fbclid=IwdGRleARTu3JleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeqbWxaS5IvvzlW4XxIdG4RN3kgnT7cDuSDppB69uyRhEscHxSzV6xlJ8Um3E_aem_2PbKgzuF_DYLzkAMMolz4g

2) LETRS 

Article:https://epaa.asu.edu/index.php/epaa/article/view/8621?fbclid=IwdGRleARTu-FleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeTZsqlLJ8uzBNbJh9BfsWwgGfLKZ7rlb8ue1HtgDCPGfCrpj6Kf0vAIoYHLQ_aem_zlmljByvtOiU7MRi2dp-0g&utm_id=97758_v0_s00_e0_tv0

3) IReady-https://open.substack.com/pub/thedigitaldelusion/p/i-ready-13-million-students-zero?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

4) Chromebooks
⚠️$$$$$$ 😤

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/29/technology/chromebook-remorse-kansas-school-laptops.html?unlocked_article_code=1.XFA.vfJk._ZwHxPwLRLGW&smid=nytcore-ios-share&fbclid=IwdGRleARTvBxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEe5vL57xFfJIeLBE9jAV1_QPvSo5BSY-aZ9df74t3t6cgr_J-DilVKLhF12vk_aem_oNIMmFa5gVfXdMQopDAAwQ

Do you see a theme here?

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Decodify is a supplemental, structured literacy toolkit that allows for reading practice in an engaging, purposeful, and educational format. It helps students unlock the code and own the word. For an exclusive 5 % discount on your decodify purchase  email [email protected]

Decodify Website:https://www.decodifylearning.com/

Work or Partner with Judy and The Literacy View

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (917)207-7654

Contact me at: [email protected]

Phone: (917)207-7654

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Ep.163

VALUE 🔥

This episode is about the power of strong foundations and why they matter in every subject. We break down how the science of learning applies across literacy, math, science, and social studies so you can make smarter instructional decisions every single day. You will walk away knowing exactly what to prioritize, how to spot gaps early, and how to build knowledge and skills that actually stick.

PROMISE 🎯

We are saying the quiet part out loud. If foundational skills are not solid, students will struggle no matter the subject or grade. The brain is the brain. This is a real conversation about our responsibility as educators to build and strengthen those foundations from the start so students do not fall behind later. No fluff. No blaming. Just what works.

SCIENTISTS IN THE MAKING

Multiplication Facts in High School

How to Rebuild Weak Math

Foundations

MS. SAM

FEB 28, 2026

Marcie Samayoa is a tenth-year high school science teacher from Los Angeles, CA. 

Article Discussed: https://open.substack.com/pub/scientistsinthemaking/p/multiplication-facts-in-high-school?r=6k3ev&utm_medium=ios

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Official Sponsor of this episode!🎉👏🏻

Decodify is a supplemental, structured literacy toolkit that allows for reading practice in an engaging, purposeful, and educational format. It helps students unlock the code and own the word. For an exclusive 5 % discount on your decodify purchase  email [email protected]

Decodify Website:https://www.decodifylearning.com/

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Phone: (917)207-7654

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Phone: (917)207-7654

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Ep.162

VALUE 🔥

What if we have been thinking about small group instruction all wrong?

In this episode, Nell Duke brings the real talk on what actually matters in literacy instruction right now. We dig into the role of knowledge building, why science and social studies cannot keep getting pushed aside, and what it really means to use small group reading instruction wisely.

This is not surface-level PD. This is the kind of conversation that makes you rethink your schedule, your blocks, and what students truly need to become strong readers.

PROMISE 🎯

You will walk away knowing exactly why your literacy block may need a serious shift and how to start thinking differently about small groups, comprehension, and knowledge building.

If you have ever wondered

Are we overdoing small groups?

Are we sacrificing knowledge for skills?

What should literacy actually look like during the day?

This episode delivers answers you can actually use tomorrow.

Article: https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/opinion-yes-small-group-reading-instruction-works-but-use-it-wisely/2025/12

New Resource: https://greatfirsteight.org/

Guest Bio:Nell K. Duke is the executive director of the Center for Early Literacy and Learning

Success at Stand for Children, a professor of education and psychology at the University of Michigan, and the co-director of Great First Eight, a full-day early-childhood curriculum.

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Official Sponsor of this episode!🎉👏🏻

Decodify is a supplemental, structured literacy toolkit that allows for reading practice in an engaging, purposeful, and educational format. It helps students unlock the code and own the word. For an exclusive 5 % discount on your decodify purchase  email [email protected]

Decodify Website:https://www.decodifylearning.com/

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Phone: (917)207-7654

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Phone: (917)207-7654

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Ep.161

🔥 Value

If you are questioning whether screens are helping or hurting your students or your own kids, this episode gives you clarity. We break down what screens may be doing to attention, language, and learning, and what actually matters in real classrooms and homes. You will walk away with concrete things to think about, discuss, and watch for.

🔥 Promise

This episode will challenge you to think more carefully about screen use and consider how it may be affecting kids in ways we cannot afford to ignore.

Article discussed:https://hechingerreport.org/ipads-in-kindergarten-youtube-videos-at-snack-time-parents-are-pushing-back-on-screen-time-in-the-early-grades/

Additional Articles:

https://www.educationnext.org/logged-in-tuned-out-fifteen-years-billions-of-dollars-later-what-has-learning-tech-accomplished/

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Official Sponsor of this episode!🎉👏🏻

Decodify is a supplemental, structured literacy toolkit that allows for reading practice in an engaging, purposeful, and educational format. It helps students unlock the code and own the word. For an exclusive 5 % discount on your decodify purchase  email [email protected]

Decodify Website:https://www.decodifylearning.com/

Work or Partner with Judy and The Literacy View

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (917)207-7654

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Phone: (917)207-7654

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Ep.160

Does Teacher Talk Really Matter? What the Evidence Shows with Dr. Yan Jiang

In this episode of The Literacy View, we sit down with Dr. Yan Jiang, Postdoctoral Scholar at the Stanford Center on Early Childhood and coauthor of a major meta analysis published in Review of Educational Research.

Her study analyzes more than one hundred studies examining the relationship between teachers’ language practices and children’s language development from preschool through third grade.

There is growing conversation in education about the role of classroom talk, oral language, and teacher interactions in shaping language development. But what does the research actually show?

We take a close look at how researchers approached this question, how teacher language practices are studied across classrooms, and what patterns begin to emerge when the evidence from many studies is examined together.

Value

In this episode we explore

• What researchers mean when they talk about teacher language practices

• How studies attempt to capture and measure classroom talk

• Why the distinction between quantity of talk and quality of interactions matters in research

• How large scale meta analyses combine findings across many different studies

• What educators should think about when hearing claims about language rich classrooms and oral language instruction

This conversation helps unpack how research in this area is conducted and why interpreting findings about classroom language requires nuance.

Promise

In this episode we promise to take you inside a new meta analysis that examines more than one hundred studies on teacher language practices and children’s language development.

Together we unpack how researchers study classroom talk, what they actually mean when they talk about teacher language practices, and why measuring something as complex as classroom interaction is not as straightforward as it might sound.

You will walk away with a clearer understanding of how this research was conducted, what kinds of teacher language practices researchers are examining, and how educators should think about claims connecting teacher talk and student language growth.

.

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Official Sponsor of this episode!🎉👏🏻

Decodify is a supplemental, structured literacy toolkit that allows for reading practice in an engaging, purposeful, and educational format. It helps students unlock the code and own the word. For an exclusive 5 % discount on your decodify purchase  email [email protected]

Decodify Website:https://www.decodifylearning.com/

Work or Partner with Judy and The Literacy View

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (917)207-7654

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Phone: (917)207-7654

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Value

In this episode with Reid Lyon, we go straight to the source of the modern reading research movement. You hear firsthand what the research actually revealed about how children learn to read, where implementation has gone wrong, and why misunderstanding the science continues to create confusion in classrooms. This is not secondhand interpretation. It is direct insight into the evidence, the history behind it, and the consequences of getting it wrong. You walk away with deeper clarity about literacy acquisition and stronger conviction about what matters most.

Promise

We will not water this down.

We will not rewrite history.

We will not soften the hard truths about research and implementation.

We will examine the science.

We will confront the misinterpretations.

We will connect the evidence to real classroom practice.

No spin.

No agenda.

Just research, accountability, and clarity you can stand on.

Kicking off March Madness with the LION OF READING! 🦁

The ONE

THE ONLY

Dr. Reid Lyon 🎉🎉🎉🎉

This episode is probably the most important one we recorded on The Literacy View! 🥳🥳🥳

Please share far and wide!

Reid’s LinkedIn Bio-https://www.linkedin.com/in/reid-lyon?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios

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Official Sponsor of this episode!🎉👏🏻

Decodify is a supplemental, structured literacy toolkit that allows for reading practice in an engaging, purposeful, and educational format. It helps students unlock the code and own the word. For an exclusive 5 % discount on your decodify purchase  email [email protected]

Decodify Website:https://www.decodifylearning.com/

Work or Partner with Judy and The Literacy View

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (917)207-7654

Contact me at: [email protected]

Phone: (917)207-7654

Support the show

Donate to support the show so it stays real, research-aligned, and independent.💜https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=88DP4YMVETHFQ

🚨 Partner with The Literacy View No BS All Impact🫵

 Coaching, PD, Retreats & Events

 💜We collaborate with universities,schools, districts, leaders, teachers, and parents.
 👉 Get Personalized Coaching That Works

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📢 Put your brand front and center in a fast-growing literacy community.
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Conferences & Summits
🎤 Bring the No BS Literacy View to your event. High-energy keynotes, live podcast tapings, and research-driven presentations that inspire and last.
👉 Invite me to Your Event

Stay Connected
🌐 Visit The Website
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