Author Description

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 4 will be able to comprehend and analyze any nonfiction reading passage after completing the activities in this book. Each set of student workbooks includes 5 student booklets, divided by grade level and area of emphasis (science and math, social studies, fiction and nonfiction comparisons). Corresponding to the activities in "Jacob's Ladder: Nonfiction, Grade 4", students read high-interest passages, then complete skill ladders connected to the social studies 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, cause and effect, classification, making generalizations, inference, understanding emotion, using and thinking about words, and recognizing themes and concepts. Student workbooks are also available for the science and math activities and the fiction and nonfiction comparisons.