Joyce VanTassel-Baska

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 grades 7-8 will learn to comprehend and analyze any reading passage after completing the activities in Jacob's Ladder, Grades 7-8 (2nd ed., previously published as Level 5).Using skill ladders connected to short stories, poetry, essays, and nonfiction, students move from lower order, 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, making inferences, and recognizing main ideas, themes, and concepts. The second edition of the book builds off the previous Level 5 edition, including new readings and ladders for student use.This book provides teachers with an explanation of the nature of supplementary tasks that scaffold reading comprehension. Also included is an overview of the goals and objectives of the Jacob's Ladder tasks and suggestions for implementation, giving every teacher the tools needed to promote successful reading comprehension.Optional Student Workbook PacksIn addition to this teacher's guide, companion student workbooks are available for Poetry, Short Stories, and Biographies. The student workbooks feature ample room for student responses and notes, make reviewing and providing feedback on student work easier than ever, provide students with an easy-to-use reference to use during discussions, and save time, as there is no need to reproduce student handouts.Grades 7-8

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 grades 6-7 will learn to comprehend and analyze any reading passage after completing the activities in Jacob's Ladder, Grades 6-7 (2nd ed., previously published as Level 4).Using skill ladders connected to short stories, poetry, essays, and nonfiction, students move from lower order, 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, making inferences, and recognizing main ideas, themes, and concepts. The second edition of the book builds off the previous Level 4 edition, including new readings and ladders for student use.This book provides teachers with an explanation of the nature of supplementary tasks that scaffold reading comprehension. Also included is an overview of the goals and objectives of the Jacob's Ladder tasks and suggestions for implementation, giving every teacher the tools needed to promote successful reading comprehension.Optional Student Workbook PacksIn addition to this teacher's guide, companion student workbooks are available for Poetry, Short Stories, and Biographies. The student workbooks feature ample room for student responses and notes, make reviewing and providing feedback on student work easier than ever, provide students with an easy-to-use reference to use during discussions, and save time, as there is no need to reproduce student handouts.Grades 6-7

The Jacob’s Ladder Reading Comprehension Program:Targets reading comprehension skills in high-ability learners.Moves students through an inquiry process from basic understanding to critical analyses of texts.Uses a field-tested method developed by the Center for Gifted Education at William & Mary.Enables students in grades K–8 to comprehend and analyze any reading passage after completing the activities.Features optional student workbooks for each book and grade level.The second edition of the program features comprehensive teacher's guides and new readings and ladders for student use. Each complete set includes the teacher's guide and 5 copies of each companion student workbook.

Learning a second language has clear benefits to gifted students. It provides high challenge and the complexity these students crave. This NAGC Select will help teachers and gifted coordinators teach second languages with the learning needs of gifted students in mind as well as provide a talent trajectory to encourage proficiency in two second languages by the time the students graduate from high school.

The Jacob’s Ladder Reading Comprehension Program:Targets reading comprehension skills in high-ability learners.Moves students through an inquiry process from basic understanding to critical analyses of texts.Uses a field-tested method developed by the Center for Gifted Education at William & Mary.Enables students in grades K–8 to comprehend and analyze any reading passage after completing the activities.Features optional student workbooks for each book and grade level.The second edition of the program features comprehensive teacher's guides and new readings and ladders for student use. Each complete set includes the teacher's guide and 5 copies of each companion student workbook.

The Jacob’s Ladder Reading Comprehension Program:Targets reading comprehension skills in high-ability learners.Moves students through an inquiry process from basic understanding to critical analyses of texts.Uses a field-tested method developed by the Center for Gifted Education at William & Mary.Enables students in grades K–8 to comprehend and analyze any reading passage after completing the activities.Features optional student workbooks for each book and grade level.The second edition of the program features comprehensive teacher's guides and new readings and ladders for student use. Each complete set includes the teacher's guide and 5 copies of each companion student workbook.

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 nonfiction 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. Grade 3

The Jacob's Ladder Reading Comprehension Program: Nonfiction 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 be able to comprehend and analyze any nonfiction reading passage after completing the activities in this book.Using skill ladders connected to individual readings related to essays, articles, comparison documents, infographics, and other nonfiction texts, students move from lower order, concrete thinking skills to higher order, critical thinking skills. All of the books, geared to increasing grade levels, include high-interest readings, ladders to increase reading skill development, and easy-to-implement instructions. The ladders include multiple skills necessary for academic success, covering language arts standards such as sequencing, cause and effect, classification, making generalizations, inference, understanding emotion, using and thinking about words, and recognizing themes and concepts.Optional Student Workbook PacksIn addition to this teacher's guide, companion student workbooks are available for Science and Math, Social Studies, and Fiction/Nonfiction Comparisons. The student workbooks feature ample room for student responses and notes, make reviewing and providing feedback on student work easier than ever, provide students with an easy-to-use reference to use during discussions, and save time, as there is no need to reproduce student handouts. Grade 3

The Jacob's Ladder Reading Comprehension Program: Nonfiction 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 4 will be able to comprehend and analyze any nonfiction reading passage after completing the activities in this book.Using skill ladders connected to individual readings related to essays, articles, comparison documents, infographics, and other nonfiction texts, students move from lower order, concrete thinking skills to higher order, critical thinking skills. All of the books, geared to increasing grade levels, include high-interest readings, ladders to increase reading skill development, and easy-to-implement instructions. The ladders include multiple skills necessary for academic success, covering language arts standards such as sequencing, cause and effect, classification, making generalizations, inference, understanding emotion, using and thinking about words, and recognizing themes and concepts.Optional Student Workbook PacksIn addition to this teacher's guide, companion student workbooks are available for Science and Math, Social Studies, and Fiction/Nonfiction Comparisons. The student workbooks feature ample room for student responses and notes, make reviewing and providing feedback on student work easier than ever, provide students with an easy-to-use reference to use during discussions, and save time, as there is no need to reproduce student handouts.Grade 4

The Jacob's Ladder Reading Comprehension Program: Nonfiction 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 5 will be able to comprehend and analyze any nonfiction reading passage after completing the activities in this book.Using skill ladders connected to individual readings related to essays, articles, comparison documents, infographics, and other nonfiction texts, students move from lower order, concrete thinking skills to higher order, critical thinking skills. All of the books, geared to increasing grade levels, include high-interest readings, ladders to increase reading skill development, and easy-to-implement instructions. The ladders include multiple skills necessary for academic success, covering language arts standards such as sequencing, cause and effect, classification, making generalizations, inference, understanding emotion, using and thinking about words, and recognizing themes and concepts.Optional Student Workbook PacksIn addition to this teacher's guide, companion student workbooks are available for Science and Math, Social Studies, and Fiction/Nonfiction Comparisons. The student workbooks feature ample room for student responses and notes, make reviewing and providing feedback on student work easier than ever, provide students with an easy-to-use reference to use during discussions, and save time, as there is no need to reproduce student handouts.Grade 5

Standards have benefits particular to the field of gifted education. In order to ensure equity and systematic talent search and programming, it is essential that current and future teachers are educated in the relevant theory, research, pedagogy, and management techniques important for developing and sustaining classroom-based opportunities specifically designed for gifted learners. By incorporating the 2013 NAGC/CEC Teacher Preparation Standards in Gifted and Talented Education, this guidebook helps university faculty at the undergraduate and graduate levels design or revise gifted education programs and partner with other educators in developing gifted education teachers.

Designed to help teachers of English and gifted learners explore the world of the ancient Romans, Ancient Roots and Ruins focuses on the important role of the Romans in shaping modern language, history, and culture. Short papers highlight and introduce Roman contributions in the areas of language, philosophy and religion, literature, art and architecture, and history, law, and government. Lessons and concepts within the book are designed to be interdisciplinary. Organized around the Integrated Curriculum Model, each unit focuses on a major concept, with essential questions, introductory materials, lessons, activities, and resources. The five major units covered are Time, Space, Power, Innovation, and Expression, each with supporting materials on Latin vocabulary, Roman daily life, Latin expressions, mythology, and connections to other subject areas. Grades 4-8

A well-rounded curriculum needs to address the more formalized development of leadership abilities that will ensure that young people acquire the knowledge and skills essential to assuming leadership roles. Changing Tomorrow 3: Leadership Curriculum for High-Ability Students offers instructional activities for high-ability high school students based on the Common Core State Standards that emphasize critical and creative thinking skills and gives gifted students an opportunity to apply these skills in an integrative and substantive way. This book includes 10 lessons that address leadership skill development and assignments that require students to research and compile biographical information on six influential men and women drawn from multiple disciplines and diverse backgrounds. Instructional questions, pre- and postassessments, and appropriate rubrics are also included.Grades 9-12

A well-rounded curriculum needs to address the more formalized development of leadership abilities that will ensure that young people acquire the knowledge and skills essential to assuming leadership roles. Changing Tomorrow 1: Leadership Curriculum for High-Ability Students offers instructional activities for high-ability elementary school students based on the Common Core State Standards that emphasize critical and creative thinking skills and gives gifted students an opportunity to apply these skills in an integrative and substantive way. This book includes 10 lessons that address leadership skill development and assignments that require students to research and compile biographical information on six influential men and women drawn from multiple disciplines and diverse backgrounds. Instructional questions, pre- and postassessments, and appropriate rubrics are also included.Grades 4-5

A well-rounded curriculum needs to address the more formalized development of leadership abilities that will ensure that young people acquire the knowledge and skills essential to assuming leadership roles. Changing Tomorrow 2: Leadership Curriculum for High-Ability Students offers instructional activities for high-ability middle school students based on the Common Core State Standards that emphasize critical and creative thinking skills and gives gifted students an opportunity to apply these skills in an integrative and substantive way. This book includes 11 lessons that address leadership skill development and assignments that require students to research and compile biographical information on seven influential men and women drawn from multiple disciplines and diverse backgrounds. Instructional questions, pre- and postassessments, and appropriate rubrics are also included.Grades 6-8

The Jacob's Ladder Reading Comprehension Program targets reading comprehension skills in 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 The College of William and Mary. Students in grades K-2 will learn to comprehend and analyze any reading passage after completing the activities in this series. The Primary 2 book, geared for students in grades 1-2, includes stories and ladder tasks carefully selected for young children to develop oral communication and listening skills in addition to the other ladder goals. This level provides stories focused on picture analysis, read alouds, classics, and original works. Grades 1-2