Climbing the Literacy Ladder

A novel idea for literature extensions

Table of Contents

What are literature ladders?

Why are they useful tools?

What is on the rungs of information?

What types of extension activities are included?

What does the final product look like?

How do I make my own?

Where do I get more information?

What are literature ladders?

Literature ladders were originally described by Dr. Annette Lamb, a professor at Indiana University- Indianapolis.

They were innovated to be engaging and active learning objects that use book-technology connections to extend learning.

Dr. Annette Lamb

What are literature ladders?

The goal of literature ladders is to transform reading from a passive practice to an enriched, multi-dimensional experience.

Each “rung” of the “ladder” takes the reader to a new learning task. Unlike a webquest, which leads the learner on a journey

that converges into a final product, a literature ladder is a collection of divergent activities that expand ones knowledge of a book.

Like a webquest, literature ladders are not just a series of web-based experiences, but rather a collection of activities that promote higher-order thinking.

Concept Diagram

6 - Theme

5 – Character Study

4 – Novel vs. Movie

3 – Historical Context

2 – Setting

1 - Author

Today’s Literacy

Traditionally, literacy has been associated with the ability to read words on paper. BooksNewspapersJob applications

In the 1991 National Literacy Act, Congress defined literacy as: "an individual's ability to read, write, and speak in English,

and compute and solve problems at levels of proficiency necessary to function on the job and in society, to achieve one's goals, and develop one's knowledge and potential."

Fulfilling the definition

“Literature ladders challenge students to think beyond the text and connect it to their lives and to the society in which they live.”

Why are they useful tools?

Literature ladders…Help students to build background knowledge. Add depth and breadth to the book being read. Help teachers to weave the

technology content standards into their content area standards.

Allow students to make personal connections. Can be used in traditional and online courses.Can make interdisciplinary connections.Generate enthusiasm for reading.

In essence, they invite experience rung by rung!

What is on the rungs of information?

Author & IllustratorHomepagesInterviewsBiographiesOther worksHow to draw

CharactersBiographical informationCharacter study

Setting Travel sitesVirtual globesAudio & visual clipsHistorical background

InterdisciplinarySubject matter sites

Book-to-movieComparison/contrastCast your ownMeaning of music selections

Theme-related AwardsGenre StudySocial IssuesPersonal TiesVideo and Audio clipsModern Day connections

What type of extension activities are included?

Now that you have your rungs of information, how do you determine what to do with the information? Think Creativity! Think Differentiation!Think Multiple Intelligences!Thinks Bloom’s taxonomy! Think Learning Styles! Think Making It Personal!Think Critical Thinking!

Activity Ideas

Technology based activitiesWikisBlogsMind Maps

Write/edit/verify a Wikipedia article

Compilation Tasks Mystery tasks Retelling tasks Consensus building tasks Traditional writing assignments

Short answer & extended response questions

Essays

Judgment tasks Self-knowledge tasks

Journal ideas Analytical tasks Persuasion tasks Creative product tasks Design tasks Journalistic tasks More journaling ideas Literature response ideas Diversity activities Finding textual evidence Ethics activities

Creative Activities Limited only by your imagination

• Multi-genre connections• Critical thinking activities• Scrapbooks• Double-Entry Journal• Create a video/promo material• Musical interpretations

• Top 10 songs on your characters iPod

• Write a song that retells the story

• Convert novel to a picture book •ABC books•More literature responses

What does the final product look like?

It’s your literature ladder, so the final product is up to you!

It can be built in PowerPoint, Word, or on a wiki.

Here are a few examples: The Great GatsbyOf Mice and MenA Stranger Came Ashore

How do I create my own?

Choose a book! Cast a wide net

Begin exploring all the web has to offer. • Find author and illustrator info. • Search for book info and lessons.• Identify topics and resources

Evaluate the quality of the sites you find.Consider how much time students will spend

completing the literature ladder and what percentage of the grade you will allocate for their work.

How do I create my own?

Decide how many “rungs” will be on your ladder. Develop meaningful activities and learning

experiences. Include explicit instructions on what your expectations for

students are on each rung of the ladder. Implement & evaluate

Get it done! Create your own!

Where do I get more info?

Web English Teacher : Learning activities that correspond to specific books.

Literature Studies: primary level book studies created by gifted students using Bloom’s.

Teacher Tap: provides access to practical online activities and resources.

The Literacy Center: a wiki with information from some of the 2008 Literacy Center conference, including information on literature ladders.

Works Cited

http://eduscapes.com/ladders/index.htmhttp://webquest.sdsu.edu/taskonomy.htmlhttp://webquest.org/index.phphttp://projects.edtech.sandi.net/staffdev/buildingblo

cks/p-index.htmhttp://www.vcu.edu/cte/resources/newsletters_arch

ive/oc0801.pdf