Hands-On Equations Fractions, developed by Dr. Henry Borenson, provides students with a concrete introduction to fractional linear equations. Students represent the equation on a flat laminated balance using their fraction block manipulatives and numbered cubes. They then use "legal moves" to solve the equation.

Where this differs from Hands-On Equations is that the variables are now represented by fractional unit shapes (hexagon = 1, trapezoid = ½, rhombus = ⅓, and triangle = ⅙) instead of pawns. Students still use the cubes to represent the known whole numbers in the equation. 

If you want to see the first lesson in action, take a look at this YouTube video that explains how it works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmiWAgkrg8Q 

Jacob's Ladder targets reading comprehension and critical thinking skills in high-ability learners. In the form of three skill ladders connected to individual readings in poetry, myths/fables, and nonfiction, students move from lower-order, concrete thinking skills to higher-order, critical thinking skills. For example, Ladder A moves students from Sequencing to Cause and Effect to Consequences and Implications. The skill ladders in Jacob's Ladder correspond with the higher-level critical thinking skills targeted in the William & Mary language arts units; both are based on Paul's (1992) Reasoning Model. 

In addition to the fictional texts, Jacob’s Ladder also includes non-fiction units as well. 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. 

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. 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.

The William and Mary Center for Gifted Education developed the Literature Web as a model designed to guide interpretation of a literature selection by encouraging a reader to connect personal response with particular elements of the text. The web may be completed independently and/or as a tool for discussion. The web has five components:

• Key Words: interesting, unfamiliar, striking, or particularly important words and phrases contained within the text

• Feelings: the reader's feelings, with discussion of specific text details inspiring them; the characters' feelings; and the feelings the reader infers the author intended to inspire

• Ideas: major themes and main ideas of the text; key concepts

• Images and Symbols: notable sensory images in the text, "pictures" in they reader's mind and the text that inspired them, symbols for abstract ideas

Structure: the form and structure of the writing and how they contribute to meaning; may identify such features as use of unusual time sequence in narrative, such as flashbacks, use of voice, use of figurative language, etc.; style of writing