Our Mission

Our mission is to provide parents and caregivers with the tools, resources, and services they need to nurture literacy in the lives of their children. By doing so, we can come together to help children flourish in their literacy journeys and help families share meaningful literacy experiences that build relationship, yield conversation, and create avenues for growth.

My Inspiration

When I’m asked what inspired the idea for The Lit. Nanny, my response is always “becoming a mama to my two boys.” My sons, ages 13 and 10, turned my world upside down in the best way possible when I became their mom. I was eager and excited to love them, know them, and watch them become who they were meant to be. Also…I kinda couldn’t wait to prepare them for something I knew very well- the academic world. Yes, I was that mom! I still am (sometimes). Hear me out. I was a passionate full-time classroom teacher when my boys entered my world. It’s no surprise that I was eager to build a foundation for learning, so I planned on teaching them not only about life but the books too. From the time they were in the womb, I read to them. Even then, it was such a precious way to bond before I could even hold them. Little did I know that this daily act would significantly change everything! And by everything, I mean what I would focus on while parenting, our family goals, how we spent our time, my passions, and even my career.

Our daily reading rituals continued after giving birth. It’s true that reading to my children inspired a desire for me to be THE FIRST to teach them how to actually read (I can still hear those very first words), and then inspired me to teach other children how to read (cue career move), but something even more transformative happened. Day after day, I witnessed why our motivation for sharing reading moments with our children should go beyond wanting to set them up for a future of academic success, which is only one of the benefits of reading to our children early on. With every turned page, I saw how reading books together with my boys became a way to build our relationship. Reading together gave us endless opportunities to enjoy laughter, go on “adventures," listen to each other’s thoughts, learn new lessons, snuggle up, and make memories. I wouldn’t trade any of that for the world. I became more captivated by the value I was finding in taking in the right-now and the right-here moments. In those moments with them, I was completely present and attentive. When they grow up and look back at our time together, that’s what I want them to remember- their mom was fully present and invested in building a relationship with them.

See, reading to and with our children is an experience in every sense of the word. I learned firsthand that nurturing literacy has MANY benefits for the child and the family, not just one, and as a parent I want to enjoy them WITH my boys for as long as possible. I want you and your child to know and experience ALL of those benefits too, even if or when any reading struggles come up.

And so… I created The Lit. Nanny. It’s for you. It’s for your children. It’s for all of us 💛. 

Educational Background

Gina Jelinski, M.Ed., is a New Jersey state licensed educator with seventeen years of teaching experience. She spent nine years teaching in K-12 classrooms and eight years as an adjunct professor for Concordia University, serving as an instructional mentor for educators completing the M.Ed. program. She holds state certifications as a Teacher of English, Teacher of Elementary School, Teacher of English Language Learners, and Teacher of Preschool. She completed the Urban Education Program at Rutgers University in 2006. In 2012, she earned her Master of Education Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Concordia University, with a concentration in English to Speakers of Other Languages. In recent years, she has completed professional development and course work with a focus on structured literacy, teaching struggling readers, and the science of reading. Currently, Gina is completing certification as a Brain Friendly Reading and Dyslexia Specialist. As a literacy consultant, reading tutor, and the founder of The Lit. Nanny, it is her pleasure to bring her growing knowledge and experiences to families near and far.