Step 1 - Identify the Barrier

Learn to identify the biggest obstacle in a given lesson.

Step 2 - Choose the Boost

Select the best strategy to address that obstacle.

Step 3: Launch Student Success with a 10-Minute Routine

Equip students with the strategy they need to take on any lesson.

About the Course

Every student deserves access to meaningful, challenging work. Too often though, lessons break down before they even begin. Students may struggle with the text, find the lesson objective out of reach, or feel unsure how to respond through writing. Without the right support, even strong lessons can stall. This course shows you how to get ahead of those challenges. You’ll learn how to identify what’s getting in the way, make the right move, and use targeted 10-minute routines to prepare students to take on any lesson. Designed for grades 3–12.

Meet the Creator

I’ve spent my career working with students and teachers to make reading instruction actually work, especially for students who find it difficult. In my own classroom, this approach led to some of the strongest reading growth in the city and a culture where students genuinely saw themselves as readers. That work even drew national attention, with my class selected to appear on the final episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show for the reading culture we built together. Since then, I’ve continued teaching while also working with schools and educators across the country and internationally, helping teachers solve a common challenge: what to do when students can’t access a lesson. Together, we focus on identifying what’s getting in the way, making targeted adjustments, and ensuring all students are prepared to take on the work in front of them Unlocking Grade-Level Reading: A 10-Minute Playbook comes directly from this work. It’s a practical system to help you diagnose what’s getting in the way, make the right move, and use focused routines to prepare students to tackle any lesson.

Curriculum

6 Chapters · 22 Lessons

  1. 1

    Before you Start - Your Core Tools

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Your Core Tools: Download Before You Begin

  2. 2

    Session I: Course Overview & How to Diagnose the Barrier

    1. Course Overview (& When to pre-teach) Free preview
    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Reflect (2–3 minutes)

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Identifying the Barrier

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Quiz Which Barrier Is Biggest?

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Extra Resources - Session I

  3. 3

    Session II: When the Barrier is the TEXT

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Barrier A Walkthrough: When the Barrier is the Text

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Identify the Text Trouble Type (2–3 Minutes)

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Barrier A Demonstration: Building a Text Pre-teach

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Quick Application: Hype the Text (5 Minutes)

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Extra Resources - Session II

  4. 4

    Session III: When the Barrier is the TASK

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Barrier B Walkthrough: When the Barrier is the Task

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Pick the Strongest Sentence Frame (2–3 Minutes)

    3. Barrier B Demonstration: A Task Pre-teach in Action Free preview
    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Quick Application: Preview the Plot

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Extra Resources - Session III

  5. 5

    Session IV: When the Barrier is the Answer (Writing)

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Barrier C Walkthrough: When the Barrier is the Writing

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Quick Practice: Pick the Practice Type & Writing Drill (2–3 Minutes)

    3. Barrier C Demonstration: Verbal Rehearsal Free preview
    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Quick Application: Connect to Build Esteem (3–5 Minutes)

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Extra Resources - Session IV

  6. 6

    Certificate Performance Task

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Certificate Performance Task

Student Testimonials

Testimonials build trust — fast. Edit this section to show how your product is making a difference and help your audience purchase with confidence.

”
Gerrit is one of the strongest reading practitioners and coaches I know. He was instrumental in setting up programing 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 D. (High School Principal)

Chicago, Ill 

”
I trusted him immediately when I saw how he worked with our students. 
Heather W. (Lead Teacher) 

Oakland, CA 

”
"The world is going to be alright if Mr. Jones-Rooy is still a teacher" 
Colby N. (Gerrit's 5th Grade Student" 

New Orleans, LA 

”
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 M (Louisiana Teacher of the Year)

New Orleans, LA

”
"Gerrit has a rare ability to help students fall in love with reading, particularly those who struggle or lack confidence. His use of purposeful routines led to exceptional reading growth, and his impact extended far beyond his classroom through his work supporting and developing other reading teachers"
Adam Meinig (Principal of Gerrit's School)

New Orleans, LA 

”
With Gerrit, you never get rote methodologies. You get someone well versed in great practices to support literacy - and he helps you decide on best approaches that fit your class and their needs.
Amanda O (Teacher) 

Bogota, Colombia

Start Engaging Your Students Today!

Break barriers and create a dynamic learning environment. Enroll now and revolutionize your teaching approach.

$399.00

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