The Ladder of Learning helps students see how their thinking grows as they read. Each rung of the ladder represents a new idea, clue, or discovery that deepens understanding. Students begin with what they thought at the start of the story, add insights as they read, and finish by reflecting on what they know now.

Best for grades 3–5, this tool can be used with any book and works for both fiction and nonfiction. Students can choose to track how their thinking changes about a character’s growth, a lesson or theme, or new information they learn along the way. It’s an easy way to make metacognition visible and strengthen comprehension skills.