Ep.74-APM Reports Journalist Christopher Peak Breaking News Episode!

The Literacy View

Send us a Text Message.

The One About…
APM Journalist Christopher Peak Breaking News Episode!
Sold a Story Christopher Peak joins us to discuss his THREE APRIL articles with us about the collapse of literacy giants: Reading Recovery, Lucy Calkins, and Fountas and Pinnell, along with Heinemann Publishing.
Christopher Peak Bio:
Christopher Peak is an investigative reporter who covers education for APM Reports. He co-reported “Sold a Story,” a podcast about a disproven approach to teaching reading used in
many elementary schools. The series was one of Apple’s most shared podcasts in 2023. It won a DuPont-Columbia, a National Edward R. Murrow Award, an IRE Award, a Third Coast Award and
two Scripps Howard awards, and it was nominated for a Peabody. Following its release, at least 16 states passed new laws about reading instruction, and school districts nationwide, including New York City, announced they would no longer use programs covered in the podcast. Peak
previously covered schools for the New Haven Independent. He was a finalist for the Education
Writers Association’s national award for beat reporting, and he won numerous regional awards,
including Connecticut SPJ's First Amendment Award. Peak has also written for Nation Swell, the Point Reyes Light, Newsday and the San Francisco Public Press.
Christopher Peak APM Reports
https://www.apmreports.org/profile/christopher-peak
April 4, 2024
As states refocus reading instruction, two universities stick with a discredited idea
Other schools are backing away from a disproven theory about how kids learn to read, but programs started by Irene Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell train literacy coaches to believe in it.
https://www.apmreports.org/story/2024/04/04/retraining-science-of-reading-ohio-state-
Lesley-University
April 11, 2024
Reading Recovery organization confronts financial difficulties
as schools around the country are dropping Reading Recovery, the nonprofit that advocates for the tutoring program tapped into its cash reserves to push back against journalists and legislators.
https://www.apmreports.org/story/2024/04/11/reading-recovery-financial-difficulties
April 30, 2024
‘Science of reading’ movement spells financial trouble for publisher Heinemann
The educational publisher raked in hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue during the 2010s
selling reading programs based on a disproven theory. The company now faces financial fallout, as schools ditch its products.
https://www.apmreports.org/story/2024/04/30/publisher-heinemann-financial-trouble-
science-of-reading
Faith Borkowsky’s books:
Amazon Author Page
https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B07YM3X395
Support the Show.

The Literacy View is an engaging and inclusive platform encouraging respectful discussion and debate about current issues in education.
Co-hosts Faith Borkowsky and Judy Boksner coach teachers, teach children to read, and hold master's degrees in education.
Our goal is to leave listeners thinking about the issues and drawing their own conclusions.
Get ready for the most THOUGHT-PROVOKING AND DELICIOUSLY ENTERTAINING education podcast!