Small group teaching means that I can get to know each child as an individual. It means that I can teach each child at their point of need. I have used ability grouping before, for reading and math. Currently I don't. Why? The biggest reason is that the children learn from each other. Another reason is that the activity we do in a small group is open enough for each child to do it at their own level. An important reason is that I haven't been teaching reading. That's something I think I would teach in an ability or interest group. There may be a time I ability group in the future but for now, it's mixed ability.