Jacob's Ladder Reading Comprehension Program

The Jacob's Ladder Reading Comprehension Program targets reading comprehension skills in high-ability learners by moving students through an inquiry process from basic understanding to critical analyses of texts, using a field-tested method developed by the Center for Gifted Education at William & Mary. Students in grade 3 will learn to comprehend and analyze any reading passage after completing the activities in Jacob's Ladder, Grade 3 (2nd ed., previously published as Level 1).

Each set of student workbooks includes 5 student booklets, divided by grade level and area of emphasis (short stories, poetry, nonfiction). Corresponding to the activities in Jacob's Ladder, Grade 3 (2nd ed.), students read high-interest passages, then complete skill ladders connected to the poetry readings to move them from concrete thinking skills to higher order, critical thinking skills. The ladders include multiple skills necessary for academic success, covering language arts standards such as sequencing, determining cause and effect, classifying, inferencing, and recognizing main ideas. Student workbooks are also available for the short story activities and the nonfiction activities.

The Center for Gifted Education at The College of William and Mary, a research and development center, was established in 1988 under the direction of Dr. Joyce VanTassel-Baska. The center provides services to educators, policy makers, graduate students, researchers, parents, and students in support of the needs of gifted and talented individuals. Located in Williamsburg, VA, the center has established a national reputation for excellence in research, curriculum development, and service. Several major grants, including funding from the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act, have provided significant support for the work of the Center.

Joyce VanTassel-Baska, Ed.D., is the Jody and Layton Smith Professor Emerita of Education and former Executive Director of the Center for Gifted Education at William & Mary in Virginia, where she developed a graduate program and a research and development center in gifted education. She also initiated and directed the Center for Talent Development at Northwestern University.