MR / Schenectady, NY / .Yates Arts in Education Magnet School / urban public elementary school / Grade 5.Boy (11) reading in textbook and does workbook assignment during independent work time. Independent work is usually preparation or follow-up for reading or math class lessons done at a different time the same day. The reading program (Scott Foresman) takes a mixed approach to a basic education debate: ability grouping versus whole-class grouping. Some of the students' reading time is spent in whole-class lessons and the rest is spent working independently or else in small groups. These flexible arrangements allow higher-achieving students to extend their knowledge and be challenged while lower-achieving students can reinforce basic skills..MR: AD-g5a Ken4..© Ellen B. Senisi