Description: In this activity, students work through four ladders that increase in complexity and depth of knowledge levels for the given standard.  Each ladder is a half-sheet that has 3, 5 or 7 problems on it.  Students work with a partner and each student does one problem at a time, switching who is writing for each item (although they are encouraged to work together).  The person who finishes the last problem brings up the ladder to the scorer (teacher).  If the problems are all correct, the teacher keeps the ladder and hands the student the next step to “Climb the Ladder”.  “Experts” for each ladder are used in the classroom to assist struggling partner sets.  The fourth and final ladder is a challenge activity that reaches a Level 3 or 4 Depth of Knowledge.

Focus Math Practices:  1, 2, 3, 6, 7