Concept Ladder

What is it?

-a frontloading or post-reading strategy that helps students develop questions OR develop a concept around key vocabulary or “big idea”

What is the purpose?

-helps establish a purpose for reading or develop background information for specialized vocabulary

How do we use the Concept Ladder?

1. Teacher chooses the key concept or “big idea” to develop.

2. Teacher prepares the concept organizer dependent on whether she/he wants to develop questions or develop key concept vocabulary.

3. Students write key words and begin developing concepts in pairs as they answer the questions going down the ladder

OR

the students generate questions on a “blank” organizer.

4. Teachers and students need to work together to complete a ladder several times before students work in pairs or independently.