5The "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 The College of William and Mary. Using three skill ladders connected to individual readings in poetry, short stories, 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, cause and effect, classification, making generalizations, inference, and recognizing themes and concepts. The "Jacob's Ladder" guides provide teachers with an explanation of the nature and substance of supplementary tasks in reading comprehension that will help prepare students for their state assessment tests. At the same time, these tasks will move students from basic reading comprehension to more critical reading behaviors. Also included are an overview of the goals and objectives of "Jacob's Ladder" tasks and suggestions for implementation, giving every teacher of gifted readers the tools needed to create a successful reading classroom. Grades 7-9