Scotch Plains-Fanwood Public Schools
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Two practical starting points: build the fluency students need to tackle harder texts, or remove barriers before the lesson begins. Every session runs 50 minutes.

Built for Busy Educators

Designed for PLCs and planning periods

  • Classroom-Ready Routines

    Routines, protocols, and tools teachers can use the same week.

  • Step-by-Step Demonstrations

    Watch every move modeled by an experienced educator before trying it with students.

  • Learning That Sticks

    Interactive practice in every session — teachers do the work, not just watch presentations.

Take a Look Inside

Watch a course session before you enroll

See how Gerrit combines concise instruction, classroom examples, guided reflection, and practical tools you can use right away.

 

Meet Gerrit Jones-Rooy

Instructional Leader • Adolescent Literacy Specialist

Gerrit Jones-Rooy has spent nearly two decades helping students become stronger, more engaged readers. He began in a fifth-grade classroom in New Orleans, where he learned how much can change when teachers remove barriers, build engagement, and make rigorous reading accessible.

Since then, Gerrit has taught high school English, served as Director of Literacy across five schools, and developed literacy initiatives in the United States and internationally through Columbia University's Consortium for Policy Research in Education. His classroom work was also featured on the final episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Today, he brings that experience to practical workshops and online courses designed to help educators turn good literacy ideas into daily practice. He lives in New Orleans and New York City with his three pets and, to the mild disappointment of his parents, zero children.
GJR Literacy presenting to educators in Thailand

What Teachers and School Leaders Say

“Gerrit's work helping to grow kids' identities as readers and writers changed the trajectory of my teaching and the identities of my students. When Gerrit teaches them how to think like a reader, he makes texts — even ones above their reading level — more accessible and more fun. There's no better gift for teachers and students.”

Nora McGann - Teacher of the Year, Finalist (New Orleans, LA)

“Gerrit is one of the strongest reading practitioners and coaches I know. He was instrumental in setting up programming at our school and set a high bar for rigor. As a teacher, I also saw him build the best reading culture I have ever seen.”

Benjamin Davis - Principal (Chicago, Ill)

“The World is gonna be okay if Mr. Jones-Rooy is still teaching”

Colby N. (Gerrit's Student)

Ready when you are!

Practical courses. Classroom-ready routines. Real reading growth.

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Get practical literacy ideas, course updates, and new tools for helping all students read, engage, and grow.

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