Which term describes grouping children with similar instructional needs, with groups changing as needs change?

• A. Anchor Book
• B. Decoding
• C. Ability Grouping
• D. Comprehension

Answer: (C)

Grouping children by their instructional needs and moving them between groups as those needs change is ability grouping. This approach focuses instruction by placing learners with similar skill levels together so teachers can tailor lessons, use appropriate materials, and adjust groups when a student’s progress shifts. Because the groups are fluid, instruction stays responsive, allowing targeted practice and advancement as students master skills and encounter new challenges. The other terms don’t describe this practice: an anchor book is simply a resource used to support reading, decoding is the skill of sounding out words, and comprehension is understanding text. So ability grouping best captures the idea of fluid, needs-based regrouping.